My Don’s Deadly Choice

Bianca gasped, covering her mouth in delight. "Massimo, you're too good to me!"

She rose onto her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

The air in the living room went still.

Massimo took an awkward step back. "Bianca's just… excited," he explained, looking at me. "We grew up together, she's always been more affectionate. She just had a baby, no husband around… try to be understanding, Arabella."

Understanding? I watched Bianca's coy smile and felt my stomach churn.

"Massimo's right," Bianca cooed, running her hands over the expensive leather. "You've always been the only one who's good to me."

Her fingers brushed against the back of Massimo's hand, a touch so intimate it felt like a challenge.

Catching my glare, Bianca suddenly clutched her forehead, swaying as if she was about to faint, and collapsed into Massimo's arms.

"I… I feel so dizzy all of a sudden. So tired. Can you take me upstairs to rest?"

Massimo’s arms shot out to catch her by pure instinct. In his haste, his elbow slammed into my side.

"Ah—"

I lost my balance and fell hard onto the rug. A searing pain tore through my barely-healed surgical wound.

But Massimo didn't even look at me.

His eyes were wide with panic, fixed on Bianca. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"I… I'm dizzy," Bianca whispered weakly into his chest.

"Okay, okay. I'll take you upstairs to rest."

He swept her into his arms—a perfect princess carry—and disappeared up the stairs, never once looking back at me.

I lay on the floor, watching them disappear around the corner.

From start to finish, he never looked at me. It was like I wasn't even there.

"Look at her. Our 'Donna'," Maria's voice dripped with contempt.

"Can't even stand on her own two feet. What an embarrassment."

The whispers started among the other family members.

"No wonder Massimo has a soft spot for Bianca."

"Right? What's this one good for besides a pretty face?"

"All that talk about her 'artistic talent' fixing the family's art business… she never even got close to the real operation."

Maria sneered. "Massimo only married her out of pity. Now that Bianca's back, he finally has a real woman by his side."

I struggled to my feet, my legs shaking.

I couldn't break down here. I wouldn't let them see me cry.

I limped towards Massimo’s study, clutching the divorce papers I had already prepared.

I reached the second-floor landing and froze. I heard them before I saw them. Moans. Coming from the study.

I crept to the door and peered through the crack.

The scene inside made me want to scream.

Bianca was sitting on Massimo's lap, unbuttoning her dress.

"Massimo," she purred, "it hurts so much. My milk has come in and there’s no baby to feed. Won't you… help me?"

"Bianca, no," Massimo's voice was strained. "You're still recovering."

But his hand was already on her waist.

"I don't care," Bianca said petulantly. "I only want you."

She grabbed his head, pulling it towards her chest.

Massimo was barely resisting, his mouth saying "no" while his hands roamed her body.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck.

"My baby…"

I couldn't watch anymore. My stomach revolted. I clamped a hand over my mouth and ran out of the villa.

The cold air burned my lungs, but it couldn't chase away the disgusting image.

I stumbled into the garden behind the estate.

There was a field of tulips here. Massimo had planted them for me with his own hands.

"When spring comes, you'll see a whole field of tulips," he'd promised. "Red, for my burning love for you."

Such a sweet lie.

I fell to my knees among the flowers, letting my tears fall onto the petals.

"You look like you're in pain."

A sickly sweet voice came from behind me.

I turned. Bianca was standing elegantly on the path.

Her clothes were perfectly arranged, her face flushed with satisfaction.

"Does it hurt? Seeing me and Massimo together?" Bianca stepped closer. "Oh, right. You should be used to it by now."

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to tear her apart.

"You know," Bianca crouched down, her lips close to my ear, "if I hadn't gotten married in Europe, the spot next to Massimo would never have been yours."

"He was always mine," her voice was pure venom. "You should have been gone the second I came back."

"But then you got pregnant," Bianca sneered. "Such an inconvenience. Though, in the end, you saved me the trouble of getting rid of you myself."

She paused, a crazed light in her eyes.

"Do you want to know how your pathetic little boy really died?"

My heart stopped.

"I paid the midwife. The second he was born, she simply... held a pillow over his face until he went still. I had your son murdered, Arabella."

Blood rushed to my head.

I raised my hand and swung, aiming for her smug face.

But she was faster.

Bianca grabbed my wrist and then threw herself backwards.

CRACK!

Her forehead slammed against the stone steps of the garden path.

Blood instantly gushed from the wound.

"HELP!" Bianca shrieked. "ARABELLA PUSHED ME! SHE'S TRYING TO KILL ME!"

The next second, Massimo burst out of the villa.

He saw Bianca, her face covered in blood, and his eyes lit with fury.

He shoved me to the ground without a thought, then carefully scooped Bianca up.

Cradling her in his arms, he turned and roared at me, "ARABELLA, ARE YOU INSANE?!"