The Marriage That Never Was Real

When I went for my prenatal checkup, I filled in my mafia husband Enrico Salvatore's information in the spouse column. However, the doctor told me, "The system shows no record of you ever being married. You're unmarried."

I froze, unable to believe it. "How is that possible? We got married five years ago. Please check again."

The doctor pulled up the system records again, and only one line appeared on the screen: [Marriage Registration: None.]

At first, I thought the hospital had made a mistake. Then, I overheard Enrico talking to one of his men. "Isabella's the only one in my heart. I'll give her everything else she wants. But Luisa gave me a daughter. For the sake of the family's bloodline, I have to register our marriage and give her that status. Isabella can never find out about the registration."

At that moment, I finally understood.

The small wedding five years ago was nothing but a cover. We never registered. There was no legal marriage. Even the child I was carrying had no legal standing. It was all an elaborate lie he had crafted.

Since none of this ever truly belonged to me, I would just leave.

I stumbled out of the hospital in a daze.

The doctor had been smiling just moments ago, congratulating me on how healthy the baby was. Then, she casually asked, "When are you planning to register your marriage with the father?"

I froze. I told her we had been married for five years. The doctor frowned and checked the system again. Finally, she turned the screen toward me.

[Marriage Registration: None.]

Five years ago, Enrico Salvatore slipped a ring onto my finger himself and told me all the paperwork had been taken care of. He said his position in the mafia made it inconvenient to go public.

I believed him. For five whole years, I thought I was his wife. Now, I discovered that according to official records, I was just an unmarried woman—an unmarried woman carrying a child.

I did not know how I made it home.

As I reached the study door, I heard Enrico talking to his right-hand man, Viktor Russo. "Don Salvatore, are you really not planning to give Isabella any official status?"

I froze where I stood.

After a long silence, Enrico finally spoke, his voice low and calm. "Not yet. Luisa just established her foothold in the West District. She needs my support."

Viktor sounded hesitant. "But Isabella doesn't even have a marriage registration. If she ever finds out you never registered with her and registered with Luisa instead, she could leave anytime."

"Luisa gave me a daughter. I have to ensure she and the child are safe."

Luisa Romano's father died saving Enrico's father years ago. After that, she was raised in Enrico's household. They grew up together, practically childhood friends. I thought they were just like siblings, but apparently…

Viktor seemed about to say more, but Enrico had already made up his mind.

"As for