Chapter 2 - The Wife Who Didn't Say Yes
I woke three days later.
My entire body hurt.
My throat burned.
And there was a gold ring on my finger.
A nurse noticed my eyes open.
“Sofia?”
I tried speaking.
Nothing came out.
She pressed a button.
Within minutes, doctors surrounded me.
Then I saw Dominic standing behind them.
Black shirt.
Black trousers.
No tie.
His face looked exhausted.
I lifted my hand.
The ring caught the light.
My voice came out as a whisper.
“What… is this?”
Every doctor suddenly became fascinated with something else.
Dominic approached.
“We should talk.”
“That's usually what people say before telling you something terrible.”
“You're alive.”
“That's the good part?”
“Yes.”
I raised my hand again.
“And this?”
Dominic pulled a chair beside me.
“We're married.”
I stared at him.
The heart monitor accelerated.
A nurse glanced nervously toward us.
I whispered, “I'm sorry?”
“We're legally married.”
“You married an unconscious woman?”
“Yes.”
“Are you insane?”
“Possibly.”
“Divorce.”
“When you're safe.”
“Today.”
“No.”
I tried sitting up.
Pain shot through me.
Dominic immediately reached forward.
“Don't.”
“Don't touch me!”
He stopped.
The room became quiet.
I looked at the ring.
“Why?”
“Because the man who ordered the attack knows you survived.”
“Victor Costa.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“How do you know that name?”
“I heard you talking outside.”
He leaned back.
“Costa understands one thing: consequences. Killing a catering worker is cleanup.”
“And killing your wife?”
“War.”
I stared at him.
“So I'm a shield?”
“No.”
“A hostage?”
“No.”
“Then what am I?”
His answer came quietly.
“Alive.”
The door opened.
Isabella entered.
She walked straight toward me and took my hand.
“You saved my life.”
“You don't owe me.”
“I know.”
“Then tell your son he's crazy.”
“I've been doing that for thirty-eight years.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
Pain immediately punished me.
Dominic almost smiled.
Isabella sat beside me.
“There is something else.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“Mother.”
“She deserves the truth.”
“Not yet.”
I looked between them.
“What truth?”
Dominic stood.
“Later.”
“No.”
“Sofia—”
“You married me while I was unconscious. You don't get to say later anymore.”
That stopped him.
Isabella opened her purse.
Dominic said sharply, “Mother.”
She removed an old photograph.
A younger Isabella stood beside another woman.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
My face.
My smile.
My mother's necklace around her throat.
My breathing changed.
“Who is that?”
Isabella looked at Dominic.
He answered.
“Her name was Elena Bennett.”
My fingers tightened around the photograph.
“My mother's sister?”
“No.”
Dominic's voice became quieter.
“Your mother.”
I stared at him.
“My mother's name is Ellen.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
Dominic stepped closer.
“The woman you call Ellen Bennett didn't give birth to you.”
The room went completely silent.
May you like
“And Victor Costa,” Dominic continued, “has spent twenty-six years making sure you never discovered why.”
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