She'd seen it all, of course.
The moment that realization exploded in my brain, Valentina's nails dug into my arm through my suit fabric.
The priest was reading the final blessing. Guests applauded. Some wiped tears. Some held up phones for photos. The whole cathedral was immersed in false warmth and solemnity, and I stood at the center of this charade, watching the woman carrying my child in the back row, her face collapsing inch by inch.
My right foot moved forward half a step. I wanted to push through the guests, get to her, pull her into my arms, and tell her nothing was what it seemed.
But Valentina still gripped my arm. She didn't turn to look at me, but her pressure sent a message. Try taking one step.
My brain completed calculations in a lightning flash.
Julian's eyes were among the guests. If I walked toward Chloe now, the wedding was off. The alliance dissolved. Julian would stand up on that broken leg. And Chloe—my Chloe, pregnant with my child—would transform from a secret I'd hidden in the shadows into everyone's target.
I pulled my right foot back.
The priest said the words. "You may kiss the bride."
Valentina rose on her toes. I numbly lowered my head. My lips pressed against hers.
After the kiss ended, guests applauded enthusiastically. Someone whistled. Valentina turned to look at me, blue eyes full of triumph.
"Don't rush off, darling. Your guests are watching."
I ignored her. My gaze swept toward the back of the church again.
Chloe wiped her tears. Started walking out.
"What did you do?" My voice was cold, kept low, ensuring only we could hear.
Valentina placed her hand back on my arm, gracefully nodding and smiling at guests on both sides. "You saw."
"What the hell do you want, Valentina?"
"I want you." Valentina turned her head to look at me and winked her right eye. "But don't misunderstand—I'm not actually in love with you."
"Then why do this? You know Chloe can't threaten your position. She's just an ordinary person."
"Of course. I'm well aware. You need me. Need this alliance. Some stripper can't take anything from me." Valentina reached up to adjust my tie, the gesture so tender the guests probably thought we were madly in love. "But you played too big, Enzo. You shouldn't have gotten her pregnant. You can have a hundred mistresses, I don't care. But a bastard child? No. That's my line. I have no interest in playing stepmother."
Valentina rose on her toes, her lips at my ear.
"Go after her. Then end this smartly. Give her money. Make her disappear, along with that thing in her belly. It's your only choice, Enzo. You know it."
I stared hard at that carefully made-up face. In that instant, murderous rage flooded my brain. I could feel my fingers trembling—how badly I wanted to wrap them around her throat, snap her neck right in front of these hundreds of guests.
She'd dared to find Chloe behind my back. Dared to use that unborn child to threaten me. She'd shattered every defense I'd built to protect Chloe.
But reason told me I absolutely couldn't break down here.
So I gave her an extremely slow, cold, cruel smile. Grabbed the wrist of her hand resting on my arm, tightened my five fingers. She gasped, that fake smile finally showing a hint of distortion.
"If you go after her again, you'll pay dearly, Valentina. I guarantee it."
I kept my voice low enough for only us to hear, then threw her hand away hard. I didn't look at her again. All I could think about was that pale, departing figure.
I turned directly. Pushed through those still-applauding guests at the fastest speed of my life, burst out the side door, and sprinted around to the church's front steps.
Then I saw a scene that sent all my blood rushing to my head.
