A Tainted Bloodline

Eight months pregnant, a contraction tore through me like a blade.

But my husband, the Mafia boss Darren, refused to take me to the hospital.

His sister-in-law, Angelina, his late brother's widow, was also due.

To ensure she gave birth before me, she produced so-called proof of my infidelity, insisting the child I carried was no true Falcone.

Because the heir to the Falcone family had to be the firstborn grandson.

Darren believed her. He locked me in an abandoned wine cellar.

“Don't think for a second I don't know what you've been up to.”

“Let me tell you, you're not giving birth to that bastard until I've verified its bloodline myself.”

“Angelina’s boy is of pure blood. I have to make sure her boy is the family's firstborn grandson.”

I tried desperately to explain.

“My water is about to break! Please, take me to the hospital! He’s your son, I swear on my life!”

“I’ll never fight for the position of heir! I just want my baby to be safe!”

Darren simply kicked me and shot me a glance.

“Who knows if you’ll change your mind later? Don’t worry. I’ll come for you after Angelina gives birth. When the baby is born, I’ll see for myself whose it is.”

Later, as he gazed at the crying infant in Angelina's arms, he finally thought of me. But one of his men informed him, his voice trembling:

“Boss, the Madam… and the child… they're both dead.”

I had burned every bridge for Darren, only for him to inject me with a dangerous labor suppressant over a baseless rumor.

I promised myself that when the truth was revealed, he would kneel and repent.

Right now, I was pressed against the cellar door, pounding desperately on the heavy oak.

"Darren! Take me to the hospital! The baby is coming!"

Heavy footsteps approached from outside.

The sound of the lock turning ignited a spark of hope in me. When the door swung open, I saw Darren’s face, as cold and unforgiving as marble.

"Now?" he scoffed, his eyes on my sweat-soaked nightgown. "You really know how to pick your moments."

"Darren..." I gasped for breath. "I can’t hold on much longer..."

He grabbed my hair, forcing my head up to look at him.

The rough motion sent a searing pain across my scalp.

"That bastard in your belly isn't coming out until I know who its real father is."

His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Are you insane? This is your child!"

Darren seized my chin, his nails digging into my flesh.

The pain made me suck in a sharp breath.

"Don't play innocent with me, Scarlett. You think I don't know about the filthy things you've been doing behind my back?"

"I have never betrayed you!" I shook my head desperately, tears streaming down my cheeks.

He let go, and I nearly collapsed.

The weight of my pregnant belly made it difficult to