Chapter 3

In my car, my phone rang. It was Maria, our housekeeper.

"Ava, you haven't been home to see your mother in three months." Maria's voice was reproachful.

"What's wrong? I just talked to her."

"Her cancer has spread. The doctor says two months at most." Maria's voice choked up.

"She's been hiding it from you, afraid it would affect your wedding. She says she wants to see you marry into the Moretti family. So don't let her down."

The phone slipped from my hands. Two months. My mother only had two months left.

For the sake of the child in my womb, for the sake of not disappointing my mom, I had to marry Lorenzo.

I wiped away my tears and dialed Lorenzo's number.

"Lorenzo, the wedding will proceed as planned." My voice was surprisingly calm.

But I knew this was just a performance.

Once it was over, I could say goodbye to all of this forever.

——

On the morning of the wedding, golden light streamed through the stained glass windows of St. Andrew's Church.

Mom wore her finest dress. Though gaunt and pale from illness, her eyes shone with quiet pride.

"My daughter is the most beautiful bride in the world today." She clasped my hand, her voice weak but resolute.

Maria stood ready in the corner, emergency medications clutched in her grip.

"Mom, if you feel unwell at all, please tell me immediately." I fought back tears.

I knew Mom had insisted on leaving the hospital for my wedding, despite her doctor's vehement protests.

Lorenzo's friends sat in the front row, whispering to one another.

"Lorenzo's finally making his mistress respectable."

"Did you notice he only invited people he trusts? None of his own family showed up."

"As long as it doesn't interfere with family business, the old man probably won't object."

I listened to their words, swallowing the sharp pain in my chest.

But I had no choice but to continue the charade.

The music began.

Mom struggled to rise from her wheelchair, gripping my arm tightly.

"Let's go, sweetheart. Let me walk you down this aisle properly."

Mom took my arm as we walked down the aisle - she was filling in for Dad. Lorenzo waited at the altar, gorgeous as always in his perfect suit. But his cold stare cut right through me.

Everything proceeded smoothly until the moment we were to exchange rings.

Suddenly, the church doors burst open.

Elena appeared in the doorway, pale as death, swaying on her feet.

She wore a simple dress, looking so fragile she might collapse at any moment.

"Lorenzo..." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have come... but I wanted to... wish you both well..."

Before she could finish, she crumpled to the floor.

The congregation erupted in shocked murmurs.

"That's Elena Moretti!"

"Lorenzo's legal wife!"

"What is she doing here?"

My heart hammered against my ribs as I grabbed Lorenzo's wrist.

Lorenzo's eyes widened in panic at the sight of Elena's collapsed form. His instinct was to rush off the altar.

I held him back desperately, my voice trembling:

"Lorenzo... just ten minutes... let us finish this ceremony... please..."

"My mother is watching. Don't let her think I chose wrong... this might be the last time she sees me happy..."

"Just play along with me, please?"

I forced a brittle smile through my tears.

Lorenzo's brow furrowed, his voice ice-cold,

"Elena could be dying, and you want me to stand here doing nothing? How did you become so heartless?"

The words struck me like a physical blow.

I was the one who'd been deceived for five years, yet somehow I was the heartless one?

Lorenzo wrenched his hand free so violently that I lost my balance, crashing into the flower arrangements behind me.

Before the stunned congregation, he strode toward Elena's motionless form.

"Lorenzo!" I called out with every ounce of strength I had left.

Clutching my aching abdomen where I'd been struck, I said desperately,

"This is your last chance! Walk out that door and we're finished FOREVER!"

The church fell into deathly silence.

Lorenzo only glanced back at me with disgust.

"The way you're acting right now makes me sick."

Then he scooped Elena into his arms and walked away without another look.

The priest stood frozen in awkward silence. Guests stared at each other in shock.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the cold marble floor.

Sharp pains shot through my lower abdomen.

I looked toward Mom—her face had gone ashen, one hand pressed to her chest.

"Mom!"

She fell heavily backward with a sickening thud.

I crawled toward her, my pristine wedding dress dragging across the floor. The pain in my belly grew more intense.

Warm liquid began trickling down my legs, staining the white fabric crimson.

——

Shortly after getting in the car, Elena's eyes fluttered open.

She leaned against Lorenzo's chest, speaking weakly, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to ruin your wedding... I was just feeling so faint..."

Lorenzo responded absently, but Ava's final, desperate look kept flashing before his eyes.

An inexplicable unease gnawed at him, quickly replaced by irritation.

Women were nothing but trouble. Making such a fuss over some ceremonial formality, with no regard for anyone else.

Halfway through the drive, Marco's call came through.

Lorenzo answered impatiently, "What is it?"

On the other end, Marco's voice carried obvious tension.

"Don, you need to get back here NOW... something's happened to Ava..."