Thirteen Days Until Freedom

My chest tightened. I kept my head lowered, pretending I didn't notice, but Dominic did.

His voice turned sharp. "If you two keep treating Seraphina like this, then don't expect us to come back again."

The room went silent until Salvatore slammed his hand against the table, making me flinch. "Watch your mouth. Are you really saying you'd turn your back on your family for this woman?"

Before I could step away, Dominic caught my hand, threading his fingers through mine, holding me still. "Father, I've said this many times. Seraphina is the woman I love. The one person I can't bear to hurt. I won't even raise my voice at her, and yet you give her this coldness every time. Do you know what that does to me?" His grip on my hand tightened. "If this happens again, I won't just walk out of this house. I'll walk away from this family for good."

The Don everyone feared, the man who could order a hit with a flick of his hand, who ran the Ferrante empire like a closed fist around the eastern seaboard. But right then he sounded like a devoted husband willing to burn his whole world for me.

Pathetic. He thought I didn't know about his affair.

The room went quiet after Dominic threw his words out like a knife. He looked like the perfect protective husband, standing there like a shield in front of me. But I didn't feel safe. I just felt… tired.

Elisabetta sighed and finally muttered, "Fine. Let's eat first."

At the table, the only noise was the clink of silver against porcelain. The dining room of the Ferrante compound smelled of slow-cooked ragu and cold money. Elisabetta kept making those little annoyed sounds, and my hand tightened around my fork. I knew it was coming.

Sure enough, she dropped her fork and said, "It's been nine months. Enough grieving. You lost a daughter, fine. But it's time to give us a grandson. You can't just end the Ferrante bloodline."

Her husband nodded, cold eyes fixed on me. Salvatore pointed his index finger at me, jabbing the air between us. "That child died because you didn't care for her properly. A simple stomach ache, and she never came home from the clinic. Stop playing the victim, Seraphina. Conceive again and do it right this time."

The words sliced straight through me, but before I could open my mouth, Dominic set his fork down. His voice was calm, but sharp enough to cut. "I already told you. Seraphina is scared of pain. I won't let her suffer like that. If we never have kids, so be it."

Their faces dropped, heavy with disdain, and the air grew thick. They were about to start another round when I finally spoke. My voice was steady, even.

"You'll have a grandchild in half a month."

The room froze. Three pairs of eyes cut toward me.

Dominic squeezed my hand, his face painted with that sweet, fake concern. "Sweetheart… You don't have to force yourself for me. I'll protect you."

I almost laughed. Protect me? He couldn't even stop himself from running into Giselle's arms every chance he got.

I smiled anyway. "You two want a grandson so badly. Let's make it happen for you."

They softened instantly, pleased with my answer. But Dominic looked uneasy, like he could smell something wrong but didn't know where it was coming from.

Then his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and I caught the name. Giselle.

"Dominic, some guy wants a quickie, would it be okay?"

I counted in my head. One. Two. Three.

He stood right on cue. His jaw clenched and his neck rolled once, a single controlled motion, before he spoke. "Seraphina, I have to handle something at the club. Stay and finish dinner. I'll come back for you later."

He didn't wait for me to answer. Just grabbed his jacket and left.

The second the door shut, Salvatore and Elisabetta dropped the fake politeness.

Elisabetta straightened the pearls at her throat, drawing the triple strand smooth between her thumb and forefinger. She'd already decided.

"We'll give you less than a month. If you don't conceive again, don't ever dare show your face in this house. You come from nothing! Both your parents gone, no name, no family. Without Dominic, you're no one. The Ferrante name gave you everything, and don't think we'll tolerate you forever."

Their words kept cutting, sharper each time, until it felt like the walls themselves were pressing in. Through the window, I could see the compound guards pacing along the gate, oblivious. No one in this house would come for me.

And Dominic? He never came back.

Dominic finally showed up that evening, calm as ever, like nothing happened. We got into the car, the leather still warm from the sun.

I glanced out the window and asked lightly, "You done with work?"

He hesitated, just for a breath, then said softly, "Yeah." His fingers tapped against the wheel, steady, rhythmic. That was his little tell when he was in a good mood.

The silence stretched, and then he asked, "Did my parents give you trouble after I left?"

I was about to answer when my eyes caught something under the seat. A pair of torn silk stockings. Not mine.

So that's where he'd been. I knew about Giselle, but I hadn't expected he'd use this very car. The car with the Ferrante crest discreetly etched into the dashboard.

Seven years of marriage and I'd always been… careful. I wasn't wild, I wasn't daring. Sometimes I even asked him if he wanted me to change, if I was boring him.

Back then, he just held me close, kissing my hair, whispering, "Sweetheart, I only want you. Even if you wore rags, you'd still be the one I'd choose. Don't force yourself to be anything else. I love you the way you are."

But the man who said those words now reeked of lies.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "What do you think?"

He thought I was talking about his parents. He had no idea I'd already seen through him.

He suddenly hit the brakes, pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry, Seraphina. I shouldn't have left you alone. I promise, it won't happen again."

His embrace felt like a cage.

I pressed my hands against his chest, pushing him off gently. "Just drive, Dominic. I'm tired."

Because I knew deep down. There was no future left for us.