Chapter 2

I slipped into the only evening gown Alexander had ever given me and shrank into the corner of the banquet hall.

"Hiding out here all alone?"

A deep voice drifted from my side.

I turned. Victor Costa. The Don of the Costa family—the only rival who stood on equal footing with the Rizzos.

My body stiffened.

We were on Rizzo turf. He was the head of a rival family, yet he had actively sought me out in this corner. Whatever his motive, it was going to get me killed.

He was completely unbothered by the stares beginning to lock onto us. "You're beautiful. I just wanted to introduce myself."

Before I could ask him to leave, Chloe’s voice cut through the center of the crowd.

"Eleanor!"

"Wow, you're amazing! You just got here and already have Mr. Costa keeping you company..." Chloe covered her mouth, her tone laced with manufactured innocence. "You guys look like you're having so much fun. Am I interrupting something?"

Every eye in the hall snapped to Victor and me in the corner.

I could read the implications in their stares: the lawful wife, sitting with a rival Don at her husband's own party.

Alexander’s face was as dark as a looming thunderstorm.

He strode over and yanked me to my feet.

"Eleanor, what the hell are you doing?"

"Alexander, I was just—"

"Shut up."

He turned to Victor, his eyes flashing with lethal intent. "Keep away from my wife, Victor."

Victor met his gaze quietly. "I approached her. Taking your anger out on a woman is hardly what a Don should do."

Alexander locked eyes with Victor and flicked his wrist. Four Rizzo soldiers immediately stepped forward, boxing Victor in.

Victor looked at me, lowering his voice.

"Seems you don't have it easy in this house."

Alexander snarled, "My family's business is none of yours."

I didn't want this to escalate. I kept my voice low, pleading with Alexander, "Don't do this. Today is Chloe's birthday."

I thought using Chloe's name would sober him up.

Instead, he snapped his head toward me, pure fury blazing in his eyes. He thought I was protecting Victor.

"You're protecting him?"

"Eleanor, you sicken me."

He dropped my wrist and shifted his grip to the gown he had given me.

The sound of tearing fabric was deafening in the dead quiet of the ballroom.

"You don't deserve to wear this."

He turned, took Chloe's hand, and walked away without looking back.

The guests' stares pinned me like needles.

I stood there, paralyzed, my fingers instinctively curling over my abdomen.

Victor stripped off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

The heavy fabric shielded my exposed skin, and with it, the predatory gazes.

Suddenly, a fierce cramp seized my stomach.

I doubled over. Cold sweat instantly soaked my back as the edges of my vision faded to black.

When I woke up, I jolted upright, instinctively clutching my stomach.

"You're awake?"

Victor sat in a chair beside the bed.

"Your stress levels triggered a severe shock response. You need rest," he said.

The door was suddenly kicked open.

Alexander stood in the frame, his eyes bloodshot, radiating pure murder.

Victor moved to stand between the bed and the door, but Alexander's men forcibly shoved him aside.

"Eleanor." Alexander stalked toward me, his voice so low it sounded like it came from hell. "What are you doing here?"

"I passed out. Mr. Costa brought me—"

"Passed out?" He let out a cold laugh. "How convenient. My men were just bombed. Chloe almost died. And you just happen to pass out into the arms of a rival Don."

My parents walked into the room from behind him.

"It was you!" my father, Carmine, roared, his face twisted with hatred. "You leaked the transport route to the Costas so they could murder your own sister!"

"Chloe was almost blown to pieces!" Rosalyn shrieked.

I struggled to sit up. "I didn't leak anything."

Victor cut in. "Eleanor was with me. She collapsed and has been unconscious since. She couldn't have leaked a thing."

"Don't speak to me about evidence!" Alexander snapped. He lunged forward, grabbing Victor by the collar. "You've been hovering around her. Maybe you two planned this little ambush together."

Chloe stood behind them, teary-eyed.

"I don't blame Eleanor...I'm just so scared..."

Alexander looked back at Chloe, the murder in his eyes instantly melting into heartache.

Then, he turned to me.

"Eleanor. You betrayed the family. You betrayed me."

"You deserve to die."

Victor said coldly, "You shouldn't accuse your wife without evidence."

Alexander released Victor and took a step back.

Suddenly, he drew his gun.

The bullet grazed Victor's cheek before burying itself into the wall behind him.

Victor didn't flinch. A vicious tear opened on his cheek, dark blood dripping down his jawline.

But his eyes turned completely glacial.

"That's a warning," Alexander said, holstering his weapon. "Next time, I won't miss."

He turned to his men. "Take her."

I was shoved into a car.

They hauled me down into the Rizzo family's subterranean water dungeon. There was absolutely no light. Only ankle-deep, freezing, stagnant water.

I curled up in the corner, holding my arms tightly over my stomach.

Baby, you have to hold on.

From the stone corridor outside, I heard Chloe's voice.

"I shouldn't have been in that car," she sobbed. "It's all my fault..."

"Stop," Alexander's voice was agonizingly soft. I had never heard him use that tone with me. "I didn't protect you. If I had known you would ever return, I never would have married her. She’s nothing but a substitute."

My heart shattered into a million pieces in that exact second.

I had always known that the one he loved first was Chloe.

Years ago, Chloe had sneered at his violent, blood-soaked world, ruthlessly leaving him behind to chase after a more refined man.

For the past five years, I had poured my entire heart and soul into this marriage. I foolishly believed my absolute devotion had finally melted Alexander's heart, that he had finally fallen in love with me.

But every gentle touch over the last five years, every midnight whisper—none of it was meant for me.

I was just a pathetic stand-in.

The next day, I was hauled out of the dungeon.

I curled up on my bed, clutching my abdomen.

My phone screen lit up.

A text message from Victor:

"Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this misunderstanding."

"If you need help, tell me."

I stared at the screen.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard.

Then, finally, they pressed down:

"I need to leave."

"Help me."