Mistaken for a Gold Digger: The Billionaire's Lifelong Regret

Ten minutes ago, my water broke. Warm liquid ran down my legs and was now slowly freezing on the ground beneath me.

He stood on the other side of the bulletproof glass. In those eyes, I could no longer find even a trace of the man I once loved.

In the Bellanova brigade, bloodline comes before everything, and birth order is an iron law that cannot be broken: the firstborn male will inherit the entire criminal empire.

My sister-in-law Sophia and I were both pregnant, our due dates just one day apart.

To make sure his older brother's child would claim the throne first, my husband coldly chose to sacrifice our own child.

"My brother's child must be born first." Riccardo's voice came through the intercom, colder and sharper than the cutting wind. "This is what you owe them."

He not only pushed me into this freezer, but just moments ago, his men forcibly held me down and injected something into my vein, just to stop my labor.

I desperately wrapped my arms around my swollen belly.

I could clearly feel the little life inside me, once struggling and kicking frantically, growing weaker and weaker.

I'm sorry, my child... Mommy is so sorry.

01

I crawled toward the door with all my strength, but just before I could touch it, Riccardo's man grabbed me and dragged me back.

"Already got the shot and still won't stay put?"

Following Riccardo's orders, Niccolo slapped me hard across the face.

"Please," I crawled over and grabbed Riccardo's pant leg.

"Get me a doctor. The baby will really die if this continues."

"Get you a doctor? Sure." He looked down at me, his smile not reaching his eyes.

"Bark like a dog twice, and I'll get you a doctor."

Under the mocking and spectating gazes around me, I swallowed my humiliation and knelt before Riccardo.

"Woof... woof..."

"Ha," Riccardo lifted my chin with the tip of his shoe and spat on me.

"See, you'll do anything to survive."

"But I always keep my word. I'll get you that doctor I promised."

A glimmer of hope sparked in me. Clutching my belly, I crawled forward on my knees, dignity forgotten.

"Really? Then..."

Before I could finish, Riccardo impatiently kicked me away.

An evil smile crossed his face.

"But I never said when."

Riccardo watched my expression turn to despair with satisfaction, then tossed the syringe aside.

"Don't worry. Once Lia safely delivers her baby, I'll send you to the hospital."

"The baby won't last that long, Riccardo. I'm begging you."

"This is your child too." I clutched my belly, the pain making me almost voiceless.

"How can you be so heartless?"

"I'm heartless?" Riccardo impatiently kicked at my belly.

"You should have seen this coming."

"You should be grateful you're pregnant. Otherwise, I would've had someone throw you out to feed the fish long ago."

"You killed my brother, then deliberately schemed your way into my bed, and now you have the nerve to call me heartless?"

"If it really dies," Riccardo clicked his tongue.

"Then it dies. Better than being born from your belly and turning out as cheap as you."

I curled up on the ground, trying desperately to protect the fading warmth in my belly.

"Still trying to use the baby to climb the ladder at a time like this?"

Riccardo sneered. "Makes sense. A woman like you who craves power sees status as more important than life itself."

"A baby you got by drugging someone—how could you bear to let it go?"

I wanted to speak.

I wanted to tell him that I wasn't the one who was with his brother, that I wasn't the one who drugged him.

That I was a victim too in what happened back then.

But I couldn't get the words out. At minus ten degrees, my body was numb from the cold.

"Stop playing dead," Riccardo scoffed.

"Don't worry. For the sake of the baby in your belly, I won't kill you."

"I keep my word. Once Lia's baby is born, I'll send you to the hospital."

"A money-hungry woman like you definitely won't want to die."

A phone suddenly rang in the freezer.

"What's wrong? Lia?"

Riccardo's voice instantly turned impossibly gentle.

"I'm hurting a little, Riccardo. When are you coming?"

The phone was loud. I could hear the woman on the other end whining with a wronged tone.

"What's happening?"

Riccardo's face visibly tensed up.

"Is the baby coming?"

"The doctor says it's soon," Lia said with a sob in her voice.

"I'm a little scared, Riccardo. When are you coming?"

"Very soon," Riccardo's gaze fell coldly on me, nearly frozen stiff on the ground.

"Don't worry, Lia. I got you the best medical team in the world."

"Everything will be fine."

"Rest assured, no matter what, I'll make sure you and my brother's child become the rightful heir."

At that moment, the little life in my belly kept struggling.

In the freezer at minus ten degrees, cold sweat soaked through my thin clothes.

Seeing me let out a painful moan, Riccardo instinctively covered the phone.

Seeing this, Niccolo immediately stuffed something in my mouth.

Riccardo glared viciously at me struggling on the ground, then said softly.

"Be good, I'm just dealing with a disobedient dog. You stay at the hospital, I'll be there soon."

After hanging up, Riccardo yanked the gag from my mouth.

Cold air rushed into my lungs. The cloth was stained with spots of blood I'd coughed up.

After ending the call, Riccardo was rushing out when he ran into Sophia walking in.

"Sister? What are you doing here?"

"The butler said you were here," Sophia glanced at me on the ground.

"You go to the hospital to look after sister-in-law. I'll handle things here."

"Good. Remember, before Lia gives birth, no matter how much medication it takes, you must keep her under control. Don't let her deliver that baby."

Before leaving, Riccardo ground his foot on my face. "You better pray Lia's baby is safe and sound."

"Otherwise, you and that bastard in your belly with your blood—neither of you will survive."