The Marriage That Never Was Real

The next morning, I woke to the sound of voices downstairs. I dragged my aching body downstairs. The first thing I saw was the scene at the dining table.

Luisa sat beside Enrico with Cinzia between them. The three of them were chatting and laughing, looking every bit like a real family.

The moment Luisa saw me, she stood up with an enthusiastic smile plastered on her face. "Isabella, you're awake? I made breakfast especially for you."

She brought over a bowl of oatmeal.

I looked at her without taking it. "I'm not used to eating food made by others."

Enrico frowned. "Luisa's just being kind. Don't be like this."

I took the bowl and sat down at the table. I forced myself to eat a few spoonfuls despite the discomfort churning in my chest.

There was something in the food. Not long after I swallowed it, my stomach began to ache. The pain came in waves, growing sharper and sharper. I set the bowl down and pressed a hand to my abdomen. My face turned pale. "What did you put in this?"

Luisa's eyes instantly turned red. She looked at Enrico with wounded innocence. "Enrico, I didn't do anything. I just made the oatmeal the way you told me to. How could I hurt her?"

She reached out as if to help me, her voice filled with concern. "Isabella, are you feeling unwell? Let me help you go rest."

Yet as her hand neared me, she deliberately stumbled. She fell hard to the floor, her forehead striking the corner of the table. Blood immediately bloomed across her skin, and tears streamed down her face.

"Isabella, I know you don't like me, but I really didn't hurt you. How could you push me?" She clutched her head, crying pitifully.

Enrico immediately pulled Luisa to her feet and checked her forehead with worry. When he turned to look at me, his eyes were full of reproach.

"Isabella, you've gone too far! Luisa went out of her way to make you breakfast, and instead of being grateful, you pushed her?"

I clutched my stomach, doubled over in pain. Watching him protect Luisa felt like a knife carving into my heart. "I didn't push her. She fell on her own. There's something wrong with the oatmeal. My stomach hurts."

"What could possibly be wrong with the oatmeal? Luisa made it herself. Why would she hurt you?" Enrico frowned, his tone impatient.

"Stop making such a fuss. Luisa's forehead is bleeding. I need to take care of her wound first." He scooped Luisa into his arms and turned to leave.

Luisa glanced back at me with a triumphant smile. She mouthed silently, "Someone without status will never compare to me."

The pain in my abdomen intensified. A heavy, sinking sensation spread through my lower belly. I reached down and felt something warm and wet.

This was the first time anything like this had happened since I became pregnant. Terror seized me instantly.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Enrico's number with trembling hands. The call rang for a long time before he finally picked up. I could hear Luisa's fragile sobbing in the background, followed by Enrico's irritated voice.

"What now? Luisa's still in pain. I don't have time for your dramatics."

"Enrico." My voice was so weak I could barely hear it myself. Another sharp pain tore through my stomach. I could not suppress a low groan. "My stomach hurts badly. Come back. I need you to take me to the hospital."

I thought hearing this would make him worry. I thought he would come back. This was when I needed him most.

Luisa cried even harder on the other end. "Enrico, my head hurts so much. Am I bleeding? I'm so scared."

Enrico's attention immediately shifted to her. He spoke hurriedly into the phone. "Luisa's hurt pretty badly too. I need to take care of her first. Go to the hospital yourself. Stop making such a big deal out of everything."

Then, he hung up.

Making a big deal out of everything? A matter of life and death, but in his eyes, I was just overreacting. I stared at the ended call as tears poured down my face.

Five years. I had bet everything to follow him, gave up my family, severed all ties. And now, when my child and I were facing a life-or-death situation, he was holding another woman in his arms, telling me I was overreacting.

He said I was his only wife, yet he refused to give me even a legal marriage certificate. He said I was the only one in his heart, yet when I needed him most, he chose to take care of another woman. He said he would give me everything, yet he let me become a joke, an unwed mother whose child had no legal standing.

I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

Enough. It was truly enough.

I steadied myself and walked to the bedroom. I pulled out the forged miscarriage certificate I had prepared long ago and left it on the table.

Since he thought I was unreasonable and vicious, I would let him believe his indifference had cost him this child.

A car horn sounded at the estate gates. The people Papa sent had arrived.

I did not look back as I walked out of the estate I had lived in for five years. I walked out of the elaborate lie Enrico had spent five years weaving.

The driver at the gate respectfully opened the car door. "Signorina, the Don instructed us to escort you safely. We'll take you home now."

I climbed into the car. As it slowly pulled away from the estate, I gently touched my abdomen and whispered, "Sweetheart, I'm taking you away from here. No one will ever hurt us again."