Everything After Survival

After I was diagnosed with cancer, my family stopped visiting, and the man I had been dating disappeared.

Even when I had almost given up on myself, only Dante Russo stayed.

He was my childhood friend, the boy who emptied his savings, sold his apartment, and spent ten years dragging me back from the edge of death.

By some miracle, I recovered. Soon after, I became pregnant with his child.

On the anniversary of our first kiss, I planned to tell him the news and ask when he was finally going to marry me. Instead, I found another woman's pregnancy report in his car.

When I confronted him, Dante only sighed.

“Serena De Luca is the Godfather’s daughter. She helped me secure the Russo family. If people find out she’s pregnant before marriage, her reputation will be ruined.”

“You’re the only one I love. I’ll hold a fake wedding with her first. Once the child’s situation is settled, we’ll get married immediately.”

At that moment, the pain was worse than any treatment I had survived.

I only wanted to ask him one thing.

What was love supposed to mean?

Later, while Dante and Serena stood at the altar, Serena’s parents forced me to have an abortion.

By the time Dante found out, I had already left.

Before dinner, I went to his office to find him. Dante had left his car unlocked in the private garage, and when I opened the passenger door, a cream-colored folder slid out from the glove compartment.

At first, I thought it was mine.

Then I saw the name on the first page.

Serena De Luca.

Pregnancy confirmation. Twelve weeks.

Beneath the report was a wedding itinerary printed on thick ivory paper. The De Luca estate. A chapel by the east garden. A guest list filled with family bosses, Commission members, and names I had only heard whispered by Dante’s men.

The groom’s name was Dante Russo.

My fingers tightened around the paper until the edges bent.

By the time I reached the top floor, Dante’s office doors were half open. Inside, Serena stood before a full-length mirror while a stylist pinned a veil into her dark hair. Dante stood behind her, adjusting the diamond clasp at the back of her neck with a carefulness I knew too well.

Serena saw me first.

Her eyes widened for half a second, then softened into something almost pitiful.

“Aria.”

Dante turned sharply. His gaze dropped to the pregnancy report in my hand, and the color drained from his face. He crossed the room at once and caught my wrist.

“Listen to me first.”

I looked down at his hand.

“Let go.”

His fingers loosened, but he did not step away.

“Serena’s child isn’t mine. It won’t change how I feel about you.”

How could it not change anything?

I had imagined many explanations on the elevator ride up. That one still hit harder than I expected.

Serena lowered her head, one hand resting over her stomach.

“Dante,