BOUND BY DECEIT, BROKEN BY REVENGE.

CIERRA

Five years of being married to Damon Moretti, yet this was how he treated me as payback. Not something romantic you’d expect after spending half a decade together.

Rather, it was betrayal.

I came back from the hospital that morning, thinking it was another day for a positive pregnancy test after throwing up for days and feeling sick in my stomach.

But it was negative as usual.

I wasn’t looking for him, that was the cruelest part. My eyes had narrowed after seeing a sleek SUV parked in the garage. And it wasn’t familiar because Damon didn’t have one.

When I got to the hallway, distant voices echoed through the space, filtering into my ears. At first, I forced myself to believe that it was Damon talking over the phone, but as I got closer to his study, I realized that he was in there with someone else.

A woman. I heard her soft voice and laughter that made a knot tighten in my stomach. My grasp on my bag’s strap tightened, and slowly, I dragged my feet against the marble floor.

“You said it wouldn’t take long,” the woman’s voice whispered, but it was loud enough for me to hear as I stood a foot away from the door. “Why is she still here?”

Damon’s voice rang out huskily. “My family wouldn’t let me get rid of her because of the alliance formed with the Valente family…”

My heart raced when he said that. He was right…

Twenty years in a cramped apartment with parents who loved me in obligation more than affection, only to be told I belonged to the Valente family instead.

They said the switch was an accident. A fire had occurred at the hospital, and a nurse went missing. Tears and apologies were delivered too late to mean anything, begging for me to return to them.

Instead, I’d been married within three weeks of returning.

Damon Moretti needed a bride untouched by internal politics. The Valentes needed legitimacy. I needed… I hadn’t known I was allowed to need anything.

So I said yes, wore a wedding dress, and signed my name, stepping into a life that never once felt like it was meant for me.

Being married to one of the ruthless mafia dons had to do with my mental health more than I realized.

“Then do something else,” she snapped. “I’m tired of hiding in the shadows, Damon. Not when we’re expecting a baby.”

I froze, her last words echoing in my ears. They were expecting a baby? I clung to disbelief, my jaw dropped as I forced my knees to hold my weight.

I pushed myself forward, eyes staring into the slightly ajar door. The lady was perched on Damon’s desk like she owned it, her silk dress hiked up her thighs, her hair falling loose down her back.

Damon stood in front of her, one hand hovering around her waist, while the other held her chin.

I caught sight of her face and immediately knew that she wasn’t a stranger like I’d expected.

Scarlett Valente.

My supposed adopted sister, who had left her three years ago without saying a word.

What was she doing there… cuddling and snuggling with my husband?

I’d heard rumors about her relocating to New Orleans after a speculated breakup with her fiancé, but she’d never made a comment about it.

Yet she’d returned, hiding in the shadows as the secret mistress of my husband and carrying his baby, who could become the heir of the Moretti empire.

Dressed in a halter neck gown that stopped on her thighs, she clung to Damon, their faces only an inch apart from touching.

The scent of vanilla filled the air, and it smelled just like the one I’d caught a whiff of in Damon’s clothes whenever he was back from New Orleans.

“You’re pregnant?” He asked excitedly.

I’d never seen Damon react that much to anything. We barely had time to talk to each other because he was always away, traveling and having meetings with the council as their Don.

Scarlett nodded once, squealing as Damon carried her in his arms, giving her a little twirl around. Sounds of her laughter filled the room, and I stood there like a hindrance to their happiness.

Tears formed in my eyes, blurring my vision as I watched them. For years, I battled with the pain and emotional torture of not being able to get pregnant, yet Damon had said nothing about it.

He wasn’t even bothered, at least not to my face. And he kept reminding me that we’d have a baby at the right time. I should have known it was all an act to keep his mistress hidden.

“This is the best news I’ve ever received.” He kissed her forehead gently. “Thanks for making one of my dreams come true.”

I couldn’t hold back the tears that streamed down my cheeks. My fingertips moved to my lips as I tried to muffle my sobs.

Never in my wildest imagination would I ever think of Damon and Scarlett having an affair or betraying me.

Scarlett smiled. “I’m ready to do whatever you want. But keeping that silly wife of yours around is only going to slow things down.”

“You don’t have to worry a thing about her,” he reassured. “I’ll make sure she gets out of this house before my birthday.”

His birthday. That was only three days away, and I’d spent the last few weeks curating gifts and making big plans, only for me to receive his betrayal in return.

Scarlett’s gaze flicked toward the door suddenly like a sharp blade. I stepped back just in time, pressing myself against the wall, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure it would give me away.

Fortunately, she didn’t come out. The door stayed closed, and their voices died down for a few seconds.

I took a step back, desperately thinking of a way out of my predicament. My fingers wiped off the tears on my cheeks, and I straightened my shoulders because crying wasn’t going to solve anything.

When I finally moved, I didn’t run.

I walked back to my bedroom slowly, carefully, the way you do when you’re carrying something fragile and dangerous inside your chest.

I locked the door behind me immediately after I stepped in.

Then I sat on the edge of the bed—the one I shared with Damon, and stared at the wall, tears streaming down my cheeks.

They hadn’t just betrayed me; they were planning to raise a baby and toss me out of the picture like trash meant to be discarded.

They were planning to take everything.

My life. My marriage. My sweat and sacrifices.

I pressed my hand flat against my stomach, breathing shallowly, steadying myself the way I had as a child when there wasn’t enough food and there were too many expectations.

As I sat there sobbing quietly, raking my fingers through my hair, I realized the real truth and why my biological family came back for me.

I hadn’t been brought back because I was wanted or missed. I had been brought back because it was easier to use me in getting everything they wanted.

And Scarlett?

She'd never wanted a sister. I knew for a fact that she hadn’t been cool with the idea of having me back. Not when she already knew she was the illegitimate child.

She’d been waiting years to have her life back.

I lay back on the bed without undressing, staring at the ceiling, my pulse finally slowing as something cold and precise settled into place.

They thought I was easy to control.

They thought I was stupid.

They thought I wouldn’t see it coming.

But they were wrong.

And since they were making plans that would destroy me, I had to take one step ahead. I wasn’t going to let them take me out that easily.

I’d leave before they even got the chance to strike.