The Cost of Castellano

After that night, Grayson slowly faded from my life.

He poured all his energy into Amber, only sending me a half-hearted "You okay?" text late at night.

I never replied. Eventually, he stopped asking.

When I was three months pregnant, I bumped into his sister, Victoria Castellano, at one of our family's hospitals.

Victoria’s face was a mask of shock. She snatched my pregnancy report from my hands as if it were on fire.

"You cheated on Grayson? You're pregnant with some other man's child?"

I froze. "The baby is Grayson's. I didn't cheat."

She let out a sharp, cruel laugh. "Still lying? You princesses, born with silver spoons in your mouths, you wouldn't know loyalty if it bit you."

Yes, I knew she didn't like me.

But I never expected this level of humiliation.

There was no mercy in her eyes. Just pure, unadulterated hatred.

A small crowd began to gather around us.

They pointed. They whispered.

I bit my lip so hard my chest ached, the air feeling too thick to breathe.

I tried to leave, again and again.

But Victoria blocked my path every time.

Finally, I snapped. "What do you want from me? I told you, the baby is Grayson's. Call him if you don't believe me!"

She scoffed. "Stop the act. The only one having Grayson's baby is Amber. He's with her right now."

Her voice dripped with venom. "Did you really think he'd leave you alone here if this baby was his? You're a disgrace. Just wait—the Castellano family doesn't let women like you get away with this."

She waved her hand.

A few of her soldatos appeared, as if on cue.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I scrambled for my phone.

Before I could even dial, crack!

Her slap sent stars dancing in my vision as my phone clattered to the floor.

She grabbed me by the hair, her eyes icy. "Still expecting Grayson to save you? Dream on."

The next thing I knew, I was shoved into her car.

We drove straight to the Castellano estate.

Grayson and Amber were in the garden—he was gently helping her walk, a tender arm around her. She looked radiant, glowing with triumph.

And me? I was a wreck. Hair a mess, blood on my lip, my clothes wrinkled and stained.

Victoria marched in, her voice ringing with satisfaction. "Grayson, she betrayed you. Pregnant with another man's bastard. I caught her red-handed."

I lifted my head, my lips pale, my cheek burning.

I thought he’d say something. Anything.

He didn't even spare me a glance.

His voice was ice cold. "Lock her in the cellar. And nobody opens that door without my command."