“Madam you have miscarried. We are really sorry that we could not save the baby.” tears of agony trailed down my cheeks as I dialed my husband’s number with trembling fingers barely able to hold in the heart-wrenching sobs threatening to break free.
After two calls he still refused to pick up and when I dialed the third time, a strange woman received my call.
“Xander! Some ‘Elena’ is calling you!”
“What is it?” The phone was kept on speaker and Xander’s faraway cold voice made my throat choke with sadness.
“I am at the hospital, I fell down-“ Before I could complete the sentence I heard him telling the woman.
“Just hang up already, she must be throwing another fit.”
This morning, I fell down the stairs while doing the household chores and lost my consciousness, only to wake up and find blood tainting my lower half with injuries on my arm.
When I lost my baby in the unfortunate incident, Xander, my husband of five years, the mafia don of America was with another woman and did not bother to check how I came home limping with my insides feeling like they were on fire.
The same night when I vomited the food I ate, unable to consume anything at all as images of my dead child wrapped in blood continued to haunt me, I saw a pair of foreign lingerie thrown in the washing machine for me to wash.
Even if our two mafia families arranged our marriage but I had loved Xander for the past five years so much so that I was willing to work day and night, strengthening his mafia regime while also performing the duties of a housewife. Still, here he was, making me wash the clothes of a female he was having an affair with.
I splashed my face with cold water, completely wiping off the remnants of tears before looking at my reflection in the mirror.
The only daughter of Mafia Boss Valentine Durati.
Elena Valentine Durati.
I dialed an unknown number, and it was picked up on the very first ring.
“I agree to be your woman Mikhail Giovanni.” Silence followed and soon a manly laughter bloomed from the other side.
“Welcome to Italian Omerta, Elena.”
I agreed to sell my body and soul to the devil himself.
Just the moment I hung up, Xander opened the door of our bedroom and came out seemingly tired, hoping to be served dinner.
"Who was that on the phone?"
"Just someone" Sharp eyes looked at me demanding an answer.
I did not speak at all and rather typed calmly on my laptop, sending my marriage certificate to the Italian mafia for them to draft a divorce paper and to also prepare for my new marriage with their leader.
“Elena, serve me dinner.”
“It’s on the table, serve yourself.”
The food on the table was not home cooked and something I just ordered from outside, Xander looked at it and his face looked rather displeased.
“I got a call from the hospital that you lost your footing and fell down the stairs, they have sent me some medicines, you can take it."
"Alright," I said without looking up, still typing.
Earlier, in such a circumstance I would have fought with Xander, crying and complaining, hoping that he would understand how much it pained me but now I sat quietly without another word.
It was just last month that a fight broke out between the American mafia soldiers and the Italian Mafia lord Mikhail Giovanni and I personally had to intervene, three bullets got embedded in my arm by accident and I lost a lot of blood.
How ironic it was that Xander did not show up when I was hanging between life and death and the enemy, Mikhail Giovanni, carried me in his arms to the hospital.
The doctor told me today that It was already my fifth month of pregnancy and due to that incident a month ago my body was too fragile, if I could have been brought to the hospital even an hour earlier for treatment I wouldn't have lost my baby.
My dead eyes coupled with the absolute indifference made Xander feel uneasy thus he came to my side to see what I was doing, ironically it was at that moment his phone beeped with notifications.
“I am going out for dinner since you haven’t made any for me.” He coldly declared before shutting the door with a bang.
Hours passed and I received a notification on my Instagram account.
A picture was newly posted by my husband’s personal secretary -Diana.
Xander was holding Diana in his embrace as they posed for a photo with a caption.
[He got on his knees to apologize for being late and even spoiled me with my favorite wine, but I am still angry with him.]
The place in the background was my favorite diner with the view of the sea. Once I asked Xander to sit with me on the open side, only for him to refuse my request as immature and stupid.
Now it looked like he booked the entire floor to spend time with Diana.
The next morning, when I woke up, I saw a bouquet of fresh pink roses on the counter.
As soon as I gently touched their petals, reminiscing about my marriage flower bouquet, which was very similar to this, my hand was slapped as the flowers were snatched by Xander.
“Don’t touch them!” Xander glared at me furiously.
I froze for a second before realizing—these weren't for me. They were for his assistant—for Diana. A miserable smile graced my lips, and I went inside to bring out a packet.
"Before leaving, take these, I have washed them."
Xander took the parcel and as soon as he saw the lingerie inside his face wasn’t good. Watching my blank expression he opened his mouth to explain only to close it again.
"It was careless of Diana; I will talk to her."
I refused to answer and when Xander saw me not saying a word he said.
"I will call a servant to help you around with your work today."
My heart was so trampled upon that I refused to feel how his words jabbed my heart.
In our five years of marriage, I was merely his maid who would have sex with him whenever he wished for but when it came to Diana, he would kneel down for her, apologize for his mistakes and even hire servants to help her around in office.
Chapter 2“Xander, do you remember what day it is today?” Xander was smiling as he typed a message most likely to Diana when I asked that question, making him frown.
“Today you have a meeting with the French, right? Hmm, do it well, don’t disappoint me.” I stumbled backwards when Xander turned around without sparing me another glance.
A surprise gift that I had hidden in his wardrobe a week ago now seemed like a joke as I realized that my heartless husband did not even remember that it was our anniversary today.
“I am getting late, so prepare an extra lunchbox today before coming to the headquarters.” As soon as the door closed, I could not hold any longer and fell down the floor, my body in fetal position as I cried, not able to hold in any longer.
This was a nightmare.
Today when I entered the headquarters of American mafia, the guard did not take me directly to my personal space but to another side which belonged to Xander’s mother- Lily Stone.
I straightened my back despite feeling nervous.
It was my mother-in-law Lily Stone who proposed an alliance to my mother, practically pleading for me to become Xander’s bride.
“Ma’am” I addressed my mother-in-law and only sat down when she ordered me to. Despite being the perfect bride for his son, she was never satisfied with me.
“Are you dissatisfied with my son Xander?” I used to look up to the poised madam earlier and could not help but answer her carefully every time she had asked me intrusive questions, this time however I looked straight without wavering.
“I had a miscarriage yesterday. And the doctor said my child could have been saved if I was taken to the hospital earlier. I messaged Xander, even called him but he was with his mistress.”
Color drained my mother-in-law’s face as she could not speak a word, not thinking that I would be so straightforward.
“Little Elena you have been such a good daughter-in-law so how about you forgive Xander, and I will take care of his mistress for you? I am not happy with Xander this time and will scold him plenty.”
“If my father knows that his only daughter is treated worse than a servant, he won’t be happy either. About Xander or his girlfriend, I am least concerned. He has already broken me enough. Any more and I will die.” This time I did not bother hiding my disdain and calmly smiled, not waiting for my mother-in-law to reply.
I ended up working late. It was midnight and I was trying to work as much as I could, not to help Xander but to collect information.
"Elena, you are still here?” Xander called me from behind, tidying up my desk which was scattered with documents.
“Why didn’t you pick up my call?”
“I was busy. What do you want?”
Without saying another word, a bouquet of fresh white roses along with a bottle of red wine was kept in front of me.
Was he trying to appease me after what happened in the morning?
I just gave it a glance and didn’t touch the gift, making Xander’s mood deteriorate as his arm clutched mine forcing me to look up at him.
“Wouldn’t you drink with me?” In the first year of our marriage, we used to go on long drives at the beach and savor my favorite red wine with seafood. From then till now, everything has changed.
"The doctor has asked me to avoid alcohol.” I twisted my arm out of his grip before saying indifferently.
“It is getting late, stop working now.” I closed the laptop and got up with my purse and phone in my hand. Xander, who expected me to take the flowers that I cherished usually, was frozen when I walked past him, leaving his present lying on my desk untouched.
“Isn’t this what you wanted in the morning? Why are you throwing a tantrum now?”
“I will look at them later..” Xander, seemingly displeased, did not say anything and moved out of the headquarters first and soon my phone beeped with notifications.
Diana posted a new picture of being surrounded by thousands of white roses with caption.
[Do you want to bury me in flowers?]
As soon as I got home, I did not wait for Xander to exit the car and headed straight to my room.
It was this day when we got married five years ago and it would be today when we should part.
I had already packed all the things that I bought from my parent’s house in a suitcase and left whatever Xander bought for me.
As soon as Xander entered the room he was surprised to see a suitcase lying yet he did not ask me anything.
"The French have invited us to their celebration in a week, do you want to attend as a couple?”
I didn't even hesitate. "No, I am busy."
Xander gritted his teeth and held my shoulders in a tight grip.
“Haven’t I already compensated you for those damn flowers?! Why are you still being so petty?”
“It’s a small matter, why would I mind?” I feigned ignorance.
“Alright, I will take Diana with me then!” I hummed, not minding or showing any reaction to which Xander stormed out of the room.
In the five years of our marriage, our fights were always initiated by Xander whenever he was angry and argued with me.
Considering his stress as the leader of the American mafia, I let him vent out his emotions on me before carefully trying to calm him down and propose a solution.
Despite not committing any mistake I always apologized first yet this time I tucked myself in the bed and slept peacefully.
The next morning, I did not cook and ordered a takeout for myself.
Xander came out of his room in a foul mood and when he saw me eating by myself, he ordered with a cold glare.
“Prepare the culinary dishes today for lunch. Don't slack around doing nothing!”
Chapter 3“I dont want to.”
“Enough with the fucking drama Elena, do as I say! You are my wife, all these household chores are your fucking job!” I did not speak a word and looked at Xander who just stood there quite surprised when I sighed, my breath shaky.
When I was married Xander, my mother-in-law gave me tips to impress him, one of which was learning culinary skills of savory light foods because my husband couldn’t tolerate spice.
With time I eventually had to cook not only for my husband but also for the mafia delegates that came for an important deal to impress them as ordered by Xander no matter how sick I was.
But today I knew he wanted me to cook for Diana for he had marked the calendar for her birthday.
She was the princess while I was the one who should serve her.
“Xander, since all I to you is a bed warmer who should obey you, I will listen to your commands this time too.” Xander’s eyes widened as his movements froze when I said it.
“Elena…” There was nothing to listen to in our relationship.
At that moment he was a stranger whom I just had to obey and not my husband with whom I can complain and argue but also can communicate.
“Elena, wait.”
“Since you have blocked my number, please email me if you need anything.” When he stood there stunned with the indifference in my voice, I closed the door and went out.
I opened my phone trying hard to not let it get to me but when I saw hundreds of calls initiated from my side and most of them either rejected or missed by Xander, a miserable laugh left my lips.
This would be my last cooked meal for him.
It was already late when I received a call from an unknown number, for Xander earlier tried calling me multiple times only for the calls to directly go to the voicemail.
"Elena! Where are you?! Why weren’t you picking up?” He sounded almost as if he cared if I lived or died.
I was collecting the divorce papers from my personal attorney who sought them quickly.
“I am at the headquarters; do you need anything?”
My question was answered with a pause as if Xander found it difficult to believe that I wasn’t happy to receive his call and just thought that he would only call when there was a need.
“I just…. wanted to thank you for the meal, it is as delicious as ever.” Xander gently said.
"Yes Elena, I am so sorry that I could not recognize you that day on the phone, but you will not hold a grudge, right? Also, the food you prepare is just heavenly, but I am so childish that I don’t even know how to lift a spoon, my parents never let me work in the kitchen.”
I smiled a little before realizing that this was the kind of person Xander deserved- someone who could look kind on the surface yet was malicious and cunning from within.
Just like him.
“Elena, how about you come to the dinner and join me and Xander.” She called his name so intimately that it looked like she was his wife and I, an outsider.
“There is a lot of work to do, let her do it. If she comes here it will only waste our time..” Xander spoke sternly and hung up without waiting for a reply.
A few minutes later I received a message making me smile through tears.
[If you want to come so desperately then do come but don’t make a scene here.]
When I entered the large diner, it was exquisitely decorated without a single guest other than Xander and Diana. My husband was holding Diana’s palm gently as she smiled at him shyly.
The moment Xander saw me, he scowled, his mood deteriorating as I went up to their table. The way he had sent such an insulting message he didn’t expect me to come.
“You are really here to spoil my mood." Xander snapped, his irritation reflecting as I broke their sweet moment.
"Elena!" Diana instead put her hand out for a handshake without standing up to greet me. Xander's eyes narrowed at me, and I could feel the tension rise in the room as he expected me to smack off Diana’s hand.
Instead,I slowly shook her hand, indifferent to anything that I saw.
I took out the divorce papers and opened the column where Xander’s signature was needed, since he wished to get rid of me, he would be done with it quickly without asking questions or even going as far as to spare a glance at its contents.
"Xander, the French mafia has agreed to cooperate, I just need your signatures.”
The slow opera in the background did not soothe my nerves as I saw him scribbling down the signature. It was a romantic atmosphere all around, yet my eyes stayed glued to Xander as I saw him keeping down his pen after the signature was done.
Just as I was about to take the letter back, Xander's hand shot out, grabbing mine. His expression shifted, brow furrowing as he stared at my hand.
“Thankyou” My expression must have been one of elation thus Xander could not help but clutch my arm and look at me closely.
“After so many days you smile because of this deal?”
“Elena, here take a seat.” Uncomfortable with the atmosphere and watching Xander holding my burned arm from cooking today, Diana offered sweetly only for me to refuse.
“You..you were here just for this?” I nodded, making Xander’s face darken. When his pressure became too much, I flinched, making him leave my arm like he had been burned.
He just realized that there was a wound from when I fell, and it opened due to the force he applied.
“Elena...”
“It’s alright just a scratch.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Diana’s face did not look good as she saw Xander looking at me with concern.
"Hey Elena! Your diamond ring is so beautiful, it’s a couple’s ring, right?
Where did you buy it from? Actually, I really loved this couple ring, but Xandr disliked it and even threw his own away, thus I am thinking of buying another one for him."
It was the wedding ring that we exchanged and Xander realizing how much I have always cherished our marriage quickly pulled his hand down preventing me from watching that his fingers were empty and he had thrown it away, but I pretended not to notice.
Chapter 4I simply gave a smile.
“These are not significant; you can buy them anywhere.”
Diana’s smile fell as she saw that I did not get angry at all, and she had no way to cry to Xander whereas my now ex-husband did not look good.
When I walked out of the diner, I took off my ring and tossed it away on the ground, trampling it under my shoes. This marriage ruined my life and killed my baby.
I again picked it up with resentment and tears and this time threw it in the trash can angrily.
The very next moment I received a call which I picked up sniffling, not even realizing that I was crying right now.
“You did good by throwing it away.” My eyes widened when I heard the raspy masculine voice on the other side- Mikhail Giovanni.
The merciless god of death.
“Mikhail?”
“It never suited you honestly. Diamonds are common pebbles anyways so when you become my woman, I will give you a ring encrusted with a small golden rose- it would be a rare sapphire.
Rose because you like that flower and sapphire because they resemble your golden eyes.”
“This is a business deal.” I spoke.
“Hmm, for you yes, but for me it is the best way to get back at Xander...taking his woman and making her mine. Anyways, I have sent my people to pick you up tomorrow so if something chaotic happens don’t worry, I will keep you safe.”
“What business deal?” I turned around only to see Xander behind me. I disconnected the call and looked at the man coldly.
“With the French.” He did not press further and drove us home. It was silent from beginning to the end as he looked at me through the mirror multiple times and I looked outside enjoying the view for the last time.
That night I did not enter the bedroom and rather went up the attic to enjoy the night view of stars sleeping there. Surprisingly I found Xander right beside me when I woke up.
“You don’t need to cook; I have ordered breakfast.”
We ate in silence as I simply scrolled through my phone.
“Where is your ring?” Xander looked at my empty finger and asked.
“I lost it.”
“I will buy you a new one.” When I just hummed without showing any interest, Xander set down his knife and fork, his tone shifting.
“You wanted to go on a movie date, how about I take you out today?” I initially wanted to stay in, yet I nodded as I remembered how Xander would force me if I dared to refuse..
My going out would give a chance to Mikhail to take me away eitherways.
When we arrived at the theater, Xander wanted to book the entire floor so we could get privacy yet there was no need, thus I shrugged and opted for a horror movie.
Earlier I preferred romance while I was with Xander because it felt like a couple’s thing yet today, I just enjoyed myself.
Xander must've noticed that during the entire movie not once did it felt like a date, I did not look at him or even talk to him during the interval.
"Do you want to go to your favorite diner after this?"
“No, I am good.” His lips pressed into a thin line as he felt I made no effort.
“Alright then!”
Without a word to me, he stood up and walked out of the theater and I only made my exit when I had watched the entire movie.
"Xander see, does it look cute?" I walked out to hear the honey sweet voice of Diana who clutched Xander’s arm as she practically hugged him while showing off her new earrings.
“Cute.” The man said one word and Diana went on her tiptoes kissing his cheek shyly.
Xander smiled at her ruffling her hair. Diana was embracing Xander when his smile dropped as he saw me sitting by the side scrolling through my phone.
"Elena! Ah I am so glad that you are here…” Diana’s eyes widened as she spoke as if remembering her kiss to Xander.
“E-Elena please don’t misunderstand; I was just too willful.” Tears gathered in her eyes as she expected me to get angry.
“Why are you apologizing for? You did nothing wrong. Don't be bullied by such people!” Xander patted her head gently.
“Fire! Oh my god!”
“Run” Before I could respond, smoke engulfed the entire theater.
In an instant, panic spread as people rushed toward the exits.
In the chaos, Xander immediately grabbed Diana's hand, shielding her as they ran toward the emergency exit leaving me behind.
With tears in my eyes I did not have the time to think about it. A jacket was placed around my body as I was scooped up by an unknown man with a black mask.
“Stop! Who are you?!” I was going to scream when a palm gently covered my lips.