The maids hesitated, then gently pried Ethan from my arms. He screamed, clawing at me, but they dragged him away while I remained on the floor, shaking, my heart splitting apart.
Dominic lifted his glass with satisfaction.
“This is why discipline keeps women obedient.”
The men laughed. One leaned back, smirking.
“Lock her in the basement until she learns manners.”
Dominic chuckled.
“That’s not a bad idea.”
I stayed silent. If I spoke, it would only get worse.
When the guests finally left, the villa fell into an eerie quiet. My cheek throbbed. My hair was still tangled from his grip. As I walked down the hall, Marina stepped into my path, her perfume suffocating.
She leaned close, her whisper sharp.
“Did you hear them laugh at you? Even Dominic doesn’t see you as a wife anymore. Soon you’ll be nothing but a servant. Or maybe he’ll toss you and your bastard into the streets.”
Her eyes gleamed.
“Asher will replace Ethan in everything. Music. Legacy. Even affection.”
I couldn’t respond. My throat felt shredded, my heart hollowed out.
That night, in the cramped maid’s quarters, I lay beside Ethan. His breathing was uneven, his tiny fists clenched even in sleep.