No Grave for the Donna

Julian froze, a look of disbelief and profound hurt flashing across his face.

"Darling, what are you talking about?" His voice trembled. "I know losing the child was a massive blow, but you can't say things like that."

When I didn't respond, his tone softened into pleading. "It's my fault. You're exhausted and not thinking clearly. I shouldn't have told you to apologize. I know how much pain you're in. You just need to rest."

He sighed. Though he still held Scarlett, his gaze was fixed on me, filled with worry. "Please, stop saying things you don't mean. It's killing me."

He ordered a bodyguard to "escort" me back to my room.

He then arranged a generous compensation for Scarlett and had the best private doctor attend to her superficial scratches. He still believed I had pushed her. A suffocating sorrow constricted my chest.

At ten o'clock that night, he entered the master bedroom.

He held a bouquet of white roses—my favorite.

He sat on the edge of the bed and gently rested his head on my shoulder as I lay with my back to him.

"Darling, don't be angry anymore." His voice was hoarse with exhaustion and vulnerability.

"I know you're in pain. I'm devastated about the baby too. That wasn't just your child; it was mine."

He wrapped his arms around my rigid body, his touch a familiar comfort that now felt like a cage.

"About Scarlett… I know she was wrong. She shouldn't have touched Leo's room. We can deal with it when you've calmed down. But when you talked about ending our marriage… it terrified me. It broke my heart."

"The doctor said as long as you recover, we can have more children. Please, don't push me away. Don't torture me with angry words you don't mean, alright?"

Watching him perform this tender scene, his eyes red and his face a mask of affection, was nauseatingly ironic.

He was always like this. It was why I had truly believed he loved me, and that Scarlett was merely a responsibility.

But I wouldn't be fooled again.

Tomorrow, after I say a final goodbye to my son, my brother will come for me.

The next morning, we went to the family cemetery.

It was the hallowed resting place of the Volkovs. We were there to place a memorial plaque for our unborn child.

Halfway through the ceremony, Julian's phone buzzed. A critical shipment at the docks had been hijacked.

A flicker of conflict crossed Julian's face, but he didn't hesitate for long.

"Darling, there's an emergency. I have to go."

He waved to Scarlett, who was standing a short distance away.

"Scarlett will stay with you. I know her mind isn't right, but she's family. I'll rest easier knowing she's with you. Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

Julian hastily kissed my forehead, then turned and left with his men.

A minute after he was gone, the vacant smile on Scarlett's face vanished. She strolled over to the memorial plaque and kicked over the white roses Julian had just placed there. "Does your little bastard deserve flowers this expensive?"

Smack!

I didn't waste a single word, just swung my hand with all my strength and slapped her hard across the face.

Scarlett was stunned. She clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief. "You… you dare hit me? Julian will be back any minute. He won't let you get away with this."

"You think I'm afraid to hit you?" I sneered, then drove my foot into her knee.

Scarlett screamed. She glared at me, her eyes blazing with rage.

But a few seconds later, a strange, chilling laugh escaped her lips. "Fine. You've got guts. But you won't be feeling so arrogant for long."

She pulled out a burner phone and dialed a number.

In less than a minute, a dozen thugs bearing the tattoos of a rival family emerged from the surrounding woods, encircling us.