Chapter 4

Victoria

Despite the PR mess from the night before, Vincent actually behaved. He showed up to our morning sit-down right on time.

After the meeting, we walked down the hall to the Boss's office.

I pushed the heavy doors open. Bianca was waiting. She threw herself at him, crying like a scared kid.

"Vinny, I'm pregnant," she sobbed, grabbing his jacket. "I don't know what to do."

Vincent froze. He shot a quick look at me, real shock flashing in his eyes. Then he snatched the ultrasound from her hands. His face turned to stone.

"If you don't want a baby, I can get rid of it," Bianca sniffled, burying her face in his chest.

"We're keeping it," Vincent ordered. He pulled her close. "You're moving into the estate today. I'll put a full security detail and nurses on you 24/7."

"But..." Bianca peeked at me through fake tears. "Is your wife going to be okay with that?"

Vincent scoffed. "Who cares what she thinks? Victoria can't give me a kid anyway. Am I supposed to just let the Castellano bloodline die out?"

My hand twitched. I touched my flat stomach on instinct, then curled my fingers into a tight fist.

Vincent caught the movement. He sneered.

"What? Pissed off because you're barren? Don't play the victim, Victoria. How many times have you actually let me touch you in five years?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed Bianca's hand and walked right past me.

Out in the hall, half the crew was watching. I kept my face dead blank and ignored them.

My phone buzzed. A text from my lawyer in Chicago.

The divorce papers are ready.

Vincent moved fast. When I got back to the estate, designer luggage littered the foyer. Bianca was already moved in.

"The master suite is Bianca's," Vincent said, following me upstairs. "You take the guest room."

I walked into what used to be our room. The bed was stripped. My tailored suits and dresses were dumped in a careless pile on the floor.

I didn't yell. I didn't break a single thing. I just picked up my clothes and walked down the hall.

"You're really just going to roll over like this?"

Vincent blocked the guest room door. His jaw was clenched tight.

"Cry for me, Victoria. Just f*cking beg," he growled, trapping me in the doorway. He leaned in, desperate and furious. "Do it, and maybe I tell her to get rid of it."

I pushed his chest aside and gave him a polite, hollow smile.

"Congratulations on the kid, Vincent."

The blood drained from his face. He stared at me for half a second before he stormed off, slamming his door so hard the drywall shook.

The massive house went dead silent.

The next morning, Vincent called an emergency sit-down with the board.

Sitting at the head of the mahogany table, he made his move. He proposed transferring twenty percent of our underground casino shares straight to Bianca and her unborn kid.

Then, he called a formal vote to kick me out of the inner circle.

Vincent leaned forward on his elbows, staring me down. "This family is for the Castellanos. You're an outsider, Victoria. You don't belong on the board to begin with."

The old capos and underbosses muttered in agreement.

"The Don is right. She's held the reins for way too long."

"Vincent can run things now. The wife should step back and enjoy the luxury."

"We can't have Rinaldi blood running our books anyway."

The room went dead silent. Every thug in a custom suit watched me, waiting for the Ice Queen to snap. They expected me to pull a gun or start a war.

Instead, I just nodded.

"Fine. I'm out."

The truth was, I was done keeping that chair warm for him anyway.

I stood up and buttoned my jacket. "But..." I paused, looking down at Vincent, giving him one last warning. "Think long and hard before you hand over those casino shares. Reconsider."

Vincent leaned back and smirked. "Jealous? All you care about is money and power anyway, Vic."

He waved a hand toward the door, dismissing me in front of his men. "Go home, Victoria. The family's business is mine now."

My face stayed blank.

I taught him to be ruthless. He learned well.