Chapter 5
Sunday morning light streamed through the stained glass windows of St. Antonio Cathedral toward the altar. I sat in the corner of the back row, wearing a faded black dress–the only color I was now allowed to wear.
Three days had passed since my brutal punishment in the basement. It was old Godmother who had me brought up, claiming that “even family sinners must confess before God.” But this wasn’t mercy–it was another form of public humiliation. I was now a servant in the mansion, my bandaged fingers still throbbing with pain as I worked.
The church was packed. Dominic sat in the front row, dressed in his finest navy blue suit, gazing solemnly at the altar. Isabella sat beside him, her snow–white dress making her look like a Madonna.
The priest had just finished the regular mass, and as everyone prepared to leave, Isabella slowly stood up. Her hand gently caressed her flat abdomen, her face glowing with a radiance I had never seen before–or rather, a performed radiance.
“Please wait,” her voice echoed through the church, clear and moving, “I have a special announcement to share with everyone.
All heads turned toward her. I could see Dominic’s body tense, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly—he clearly had no idea what was coming.
Isabella took a deep breath, pressing her hand more firmly against her stomach. “God has heard our prayers and blessed the Correone family with new life. I… I’m pregnant, two months along.”
The church instantly erupted in thunderous applause and
cheers.
For a split second, I watched Dominic’s face freeze completely.
His smile became rigid, and a flash of ice–cold fury flickered in
his eyes. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, he leaped up from his seat, his face flushing red with what appeared to be
overwhelming joy.
“What? Really?” His voice carried just the right amount of
tremor, but I caught the deadly undertone beneath it. “This is
incredible news!”
“It’s true, darling.” Isabella said tenderly, opening her arms to
embrace her husband.
“This is a miracle!” Dominic held her tight, his voice booming throughout the church with theatrical enthusiasm, “God hasn’t abandoned us! Our family will have an heir!”
As he spun Isabella around, I saw him whisper something in her ear that made her stiffen slightly. His embrace looked loving to the crowd, but his grip seemed almost punishing.
The crowd erupted in cheers again. I watched old Godmother
excitedly wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, bodyguard Antonio wearing a carefully controlled expression, and other family members rushing forward with congratulations.
The priest also descended from the altar, hands clasped
together. “Let us pray for this sacred new life, and give thanks for God’s blessing.”
Everyone around me was immersed in celebration, no one noticing me in the back row. That was perfect–I could carefully observe everyone’s reactions.
The celebration then moved to the church’s side hall. This was an ornately decorated room with portraits of past Correone family leaders hanging on the walls. Old Godmother Maria hosted a private celebration ceremony.
“My children,” the eighty–something old godmother stood trembling in the center of the room, her voice still strong, today is one of the most important days in our family’s history.”
I was positioned at the very edge of the crowd, invisible. Everyone’s attention was focused on the center of the room, where Isabella was receiving blessings.
The old godmother slowly walked toward Isabella, holding a blood–red necklace. It was her heirloom–a massive ruby surrounded by diamonds, reportedly worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Isabella, my child,” the old godmother’s eyes filled with tears, you are an angel sent by God to save our family.”
She personally placed the necklace around Isabella’s neck. The ruby sparkled under the lights, conspicuous as a drop of blood.
“From today forward, you are the hope and future of our family, “the old godmother declared, “May this child grow healthy and become the pride of the Correone family.‘
Isabella gently touched the necklace, deliberately looking in my direction. “I hope this baby grows healthy, unlike some… unblessed children.“
Her words pierced my heart like a blade. Light laughter rippled
around the room–everyone knew who she meant.
toward me, her
The old godmother also followed Isabella’s gaze expression instantly turning stern. “Valentina! Come here!”
I slowly walked toward the center of the crowd, feeling every gaze burning into me. My injured fingers throbbed with each step, but I kept my expression neutral.
“Kneel!” the old godmother commanded harshly, “Show respect to the true Correone woman!”
The room fell silent. Everyone was watching me, waiting for this humiliation to be completed. Dominic stood beside Isabella, his smile never wavering, but his eyes held a dangerous glint as he watched both of us.
I slowly knelt down, my knees hitting the cold marble floor. The humiliation of this moment nearly suffocated me, but I forced myself to stay calm.
“Congratulations… congratulations, Miss Isabella.” I ground out these words through gritted teeth, each syllable squeezed from my throat.
“See, Valentina,” Dominic’s voice was smooth as silk, but there was steel underneath, “this is how God rewards those who deserve it. Isabella is truly blessed.”
His words carried multiple layers of meaning, and I saw Isabella‘ s hand tremble slightly on her stomach.
I looked up at them. Isabella’s smile grew even brighter, even gently stroking her stomach as if comforting the child inside. The old godmother nodded with satisfaction, others whispered among themselves, enjoying this drama.
‘Keep performing,‘ I thought to myself, ‘all of you. Let me see how long you can maintain this charade.‘
After the celebration, I was sent to work in the garden. Pruning the rose bushes was one of my new tasks–how ironic, I had once been the mistress of this garden, now I was the gardener. My bandaged fingers made the work painful, but I welcomed the physical discomfort. It kept my mind sharp.
At dusk, as the sun set, golden light filtered through the leaves onto the petals. I mechanically trimmed branches, my mind elsewhere. Everything that happened today was too sudden–I needed to reassess the situation.
Suddenly, I heard voices from the living room. Since the garden adjoined the living room’s floor–to–ceiling windows, I could clearly see what was happening inside.
Isabella was sitting on the sofa, having changed out of her white dress into a silk loungewear. To my surprise, bodyguard Antonio was also in the room, and they were alone.
I instinctively crouched down, hiding behind the rose bushes. This position allowed me to see them while remaining unseen.
Antonio walked toward Isabella, his movements filled with tenderness and intimacy. This intimacy exceeded the normal relationship between a bodyguard and employer.
“My darling, you performed perfectly today.” Antonio said softly, kneeling before Isabella and tenderly kissing her stomach. I nearly gasped aloud.
“Our baby, I can’t wait to meet him.” Antonio continued, his hands gently caressing Isabella’s abdomen.
Isabella reached out to stroke Antonio’s hair. “Don’t worry, Dominic bought the whole act. He’ll never suspect the truth.”
Her voice carried a note of smug confidence.
“That fool thinks God gave him a miracle,” Isabella continued.
Antonio stood up, and they kissed deeply.
“When the baby is born, we proceed with the original plan?” Antonio whispered in her ear.
“Of course.” Isabella’s voice carried cold calculation, “Dominic’s sterility will be our secret weapon. When the time comes, this child will be our key to taking everything.‘
Isabella and Antonio–Dominic’s most trusted wife and most
loyal bodyguard–were conspiring to betray him.