Untouched for Three Years, I Carried His Rival’s Heir

The next evening, I had planned to stay in my bedroom.

But the dinner the staff prepared was seafood.

The strong fishy smell made my stomach churn. My morning sickness was more intense than ever.

I barely ate anything and was feeling hungry in the middle of the night.

As I went downstairs to the kitchen, I heard a loud argument.

The sound came from Kieran's private study, a sanctuary no one but him and the Don of the Thompson family was permitted to enter.

I tiptoed down the stairs, following the voices.

The door was ajar, and Camilla's sobbing drifted out.

"Why? Kieran, why do you torture both of us like this?"

I peeked through the crack in the door. Kieran was sitting on the sofa, a bottle of whiskey in hand, clearly having had a lot to drink.

Camilla stood before him, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls.

"If you don't love her, why maintain this marriage? You let me suffer in the shadows, while she never even gets your love!"

Kieran rubbed his temples in agony. "This is my responsibility as heir to the Thompson family. It's not something I can escape. A blood alliance isn't a game, Camilla."

"Responsibility?" Camilla laughed bitterly. "So I'm doomed to be your mistress forever, someone who can never step into the light?"

Kieran was silent, just kept drinking his whiskey.

"Camilla..." After a long pause, Kieran closed his eyes in pain. "You know what you mean to me."

"No, I don't!" She turned to leave. "If you really cared about me, you wouldn't make me watch you share a bed with another woman!"

Heartbroken, Camilla turned to leave.

"I'm tired, Kieran. Maybe we should just end this for good."

Just as Camilla reached the door, Kieran suddenly dropped the bottle and grabbed her from behind, holding her tight.

"Do you want to know how much I've missed you?" his voice trembled. "It's not just a moment. It's every moment. Every second of every day, I'm thinking of you!"

"Every night is torture, imagining what would have happened if I had stopped you from leaving back then..."

Camilla trembled in his arms, her tears flowing even faster. "Then why... why can't you give me a proper title?"

Kieran took her hand and pressed it against his heart.

Through his white shirt, I could see his heartbeat so violently that the fabric trembled.

He gazed into Camilla's eyes and made a solemn promise in a voice only they could hear.

"The day I officially become Don, I will change the family rules."

"Then, this so-called blood pact will no longer exist."

Those words were a dagger straight through my heart.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, stifling a gasp.

Kieran wanted out of this alliance even more than I did.

With a few simple words, he had negated my identity, our marriage, and the alliance itself.

I backed away silently, step by step, and returned to my room.

After closing the door, I opened a box from the back of my closet.

Inside were all the photos of Kieran and me from the past three years, and every gift he had ever given me.

I took them out, one by one, and threw them into the fireplace, lighting them on fire.

The photos curled, yellowed, and turned to ash in the flames.

The necklaces, watches, and brooches that once brought me so much joy were all consumed by the fire.

"Scarlett?"

Kieran's voice came from the doorway. He had obviously noticed the firelight from under the door.

He smelled of whiskey and her perfume.

When he saw the smoldering ashes in the fireplace, his face changed instantly.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice sharp with alarm.

I calmly stirred the embers. "Just clearing out some old things."

Kieran walked over and saw that what I had thrown into the fire was a pink photo album. The flames had devoured the pictures, making them almost unrecognizable.

But he still recognized it instantly. It was our wedding album.

From the engagement party to the wedding, from daily life to formal events.

Beneath each photo, I had written little notes.

"He took me to try on wedding dresses today. He looked at me and suddenly smiled. Does that mean I'm a little different to him?"

"Our first formal family gathering. He took my hand on his own."

"Scarlett loves Kieran. So, so much."

All my feelings were recorded in that album, a testament to my love.

He had flipped through it once. I had been shy, but I never tried to hide my love.

And now, I was burning it all.

Kieran lunged forward, the alcohol instantly wearing off. "Why did you burn this?"

I looked up at him and gave a faint, calm smile. "No reason. It was getting moldy, so I burned it."

I watched as the flames died down, leaving only ashes in the fireplace, which I then began to clean up without hurry.

He watched my movements, silent for a long time. I glanced at him. "It's late. Time to rest."

With that, I lay down on my side of the bed, turned off the bedside lamp, and closed my eyes.

In the darkness, I felt him lie down behind me.

He reached for me instinctively, as he always did.

But I shifted away, evading his touch and curling into a ball at the edge of the bed.

Kieran opened his eyes in the dark, staring at his empty arms.

A knot formed in his chest. For the first time, he realized something was quietly changing.

The weekend brought the Thompson family's monthly council meeting.

Early in the morning, Kieran stood at the bedroom door, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Get ready. We're leaving."

I put down my cup. "I'm not feeling well."

"That wasn't a request, Scarlett," his voice was hard. "As a member of the Thompson family, you are obligated to attend."

Half an hour later, I was in the passenger seat as Kieran drove, focused on the road.

I, who was usually so talkative, now leaned against the window in silence.

Ever since I had avoided his embrace that night, he had been watching me thoughtfully, as if trying to decipher something.

"Scarlett," he began suddenly. "Last night you..."

His phone rang, cutting him off.

The moment he answered, Camilla's terrified sobs filled the car.

"Kieran, there are people making trouble outside my apartment. I'm so scared..."

"I'm hiding in the bedroom, I don't dare to come out. They keep banging on the door..."

Kieran's face changed in an instant.

His usually cold, calm eyes were now filled with panic.

"Don't go out. Lock the doors and windows and wait for me. I'm on my way!"

"Kieran," I tried to stop him. "Today's meeting is important..."

"Camilla is in danger," he cut me off coldly. "The old estate is only a few miles from here. I have an emergency to handle. You can walk."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

He knew how important the family meeting was. How could he abandon everything, abandon me, for her?

I gripped the door handle, refusing to get out.

"This is an important meeting. The family Capos will all be there. I don't care what you do on any other day, but today, you need to show some respect."

"If Camilla is being harassed, she should call her bodyguards, not you. I can send some of our soldati to protect her. You don't need to rush off like this, regardless of your feelings for her."

The atmosphere in the car froze. "Are you questioning my decision? We're just friends. There's no 'caring' involved."

"I have to go. You can handle things at the old estate."

With that, he got out of the car and walked around to my side.

"Get out."

In the end, I was forced out of the car.

The black sedan sped off, leaving me alone at a desolate intersection under the scorching sun.

I pulled out my phone and saw there was no signal.

Only two months left. Why couldn't he just endure it for a little while longer?

I gave a self-mocking laugh, imagining how the people at the old estate would humiliate me.

The Thompson family estate occupied an entire mountain, with the old family home situated on the mountainside.

The road was deserted.

The July sun was brutal. My high heels made every step on the uneven gravel road a struggle.

I hadn't even gone a mile before a heel snapped.

I had no choice but to take off my shoes and walk barefoot on the hot, sharp stones.

Every step was like walking on knives, and my feet were soon raw and bleeding.

Sweat mixed with blood, soaking through my dress.

I don't know how long it took, but I finally arrived at the old estate, a complete mess.

I was drenched in sweat, my feet were caked with blood, and my hair was plastered to my face.

All the Capos turned to look at me, their expressions a mix of emotions.

Some were sympathetic, some gloating, but most were disdainful.

Kieran's mother, the current Donna of the Thompson family, walked over and frowned at me.

"Scarlett, what happened to you? Where is Kieran?"

I wrapped myself in the towel a servant handed me and said nothing.

Kieran's mother took a deep breath, trying to control her anger. "Alright, alright, just go clean yourself up. Don't stand here embarrassing the Thompson family."

A servant led me away to tend to my wounds and wash off the blood.

When I returned, Kieran's mother glanced at the main gate, then shot me a look of pure exasperation.

"I don't care what you two do in private, but this is a family meeting. The Capos of every branch are here. By showing up alone, are you trying to announce to everyone that your marriage is a disaster? That you can't even hold on to your husband? "

"Are you trying to humiliate the Thompson family in front of the other Five Families?"

I just lowered my head in silence, listening to the scolding.

I endured the scornful gazes and whispers of the Capos around me.

"The Valerio girl can't even keep her husband on a leash. How amusing."

"I heard that Russo woman is back... she's Kieran's true love..."

"Look at the state of her. I almost feel sorry for her."

This ordeal lasted for over an hour before Kieran finally arrived.

With Camilla.

He was carefully supporting her as she clung to his arm, pressing close.

"Sorry I'm late," Kieran said without a hint of apology, seating Camilla in the chair on his other side.

Everyone's position at a family meeting is determined by bloodline and status. This was a direct slap in the face.

He never once looked at me, nor did he notice my blood-stained feet.

Once the meeting began, Kieran focused on discussing family business with the other Capos.

Camilla, meanwhile, would periodically show a frightened expression, and each time, Kieran would gently pat her hand to comfort her.

I kept my head down, taking notes, a forced smile on my face.

Halfway through the meeting, he noticed Camilla was uncomfortable with the thick cigar smoke in the room.

"Open the window wider. Let Camilla get some air," he instructed a servant.

"Thank you, Kieran," Camilla smiled shyly at him. "The smell of cigars in here is a bit strong."

At her words, he immediately had the ventilation system adjusted.

However, because of my pregnancy, the draft made the rich smell of Cuban cigars even more pungent.

Mixed with the colognes and whiskeys of the various Capos, the scent washed over me in a nauseating wave.

I stopped writing, my stomach churning as acid rose in my throat.

The nausea was overwhelming.

For the first time, I rudely dropped my papers, covered my mouth, and rushed into the hallway, where I began to dry heave.

Tears welled in my eyes, and my face turned red.

I pressed a hand to my chest, leaning against the wall as I retched.

Several Capos saw me through the glass door and began to exchange knowing glances.

"Scarlett looks just like my wife did when she was pregnant. You don't think she's actually expecting, do you?"

"I was thinking the same thing! Being so sensitive to smells..."

Hearing this, Kieran's face turned grim.

His expression turned murderous, and the air around him went cold.

Forgetting Camilla beside him, he turned to me and gripped my wrist tightly.

He gripped my wrist, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Are you pregnant?"

After dry-heaving until there was nothing left, I finally started to feel a bit better.

My face was still deathly pale.

With my free hand, I pulled a small pill bottle from my pocket.

I gave a self-deprecating smile.

"Kieran, I have a bad stomach. I always have. Have you forgotten that, my dear husband?"

"Besides, pregnant? You know our situation better than anyone. Whose baby would I be pregnant with?"

Kieran froze. We had been married for three years, and he had never touched me.

He glanced at the label on the pill bottle and let out a complicated sigh of relief.

Yes, I did have stomach problems.

And given our situation, it was impossible for me to be pregnant with his baby.

Besides, in Kieran's eyes, my love for him was deeper than the ocean. I would never be with another man.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice unusually soft. "I was overthinking."

He quickly released my wrist, took the bottle, and personally poured a pill into my hand.

He even brought me a glass of warm water.

"You walked so far today and were in the sun for so long. You must be exhausted."

He handed me the glass, his tone laced with a hint of apology. "I shouldn't have made you walk here alone."

Seeing this, Camilla, standing behind him, contorted her face.

She bit her lip, her fists clenched with jealousy.

She glanced around, then suddenly swayed.

"Kieran..." she called out weakly. "I feel so sick..."

Before she finished her sentence, she collapsed into her chair, her eyes shut tight.

"Camilla!"

Kieran instantly dropped the glass of water he was holding for me and rushed to her side, catching her.

"Get a doctor!" he yelled toward the doorway.

Everyone in the room crowded around, a flurry of chaotic activity.

I sat in my original seat, watching the scene unfold with a completely numb heart.

Kieran swept Camilla into his arms and hurried out.

"I'm taking her to the hospital. The meeting is on hold."

He left without a backward glance, the frail Camilla cradled in his arms.

He never looked at me again.

An important meeting that would decide the fate of two powerful families ended just like that.

Kieran's mother walked over and gave me a cold look. "What are you still sitting here for? Pack up and go home."

I silently gathered my things and took a car back to the estate alone.

Perhaps it was the sun and the long walk, or perhaps it was the pregnancy, but I started to feel increasingly unwell.

That night, a high fever set in, and my whole body ached.

But I was too afraid of harming the baby to take any fever reducers.

My throat was raw, and every word felt like a knife.

I was exhausted and weak, as if all the blood had been drained from my body.

I wanted to change out of my sweat-soaked nightgown, but even that simple act was a struggle.

I tried for a long time to sit up, but dizziness sent me crashing back onto the bed.

The damp fabric clung to my skin, cold and sticky, making the fever even more unbearable.

I had no strength to change, and no one came to help.

I drifted in and out of consciousness. All night, Kieran never came back.

When I finally woke from my fevered state, the sky was bright.

I struggled to my feet and poured myself a glass of water with a trembling hand. I reached for my phone to check the time and accidentally opened Camilla's latest Instagram post.

The picture was of a man's large, well-defined hand tightly holding a woman's slender one.

I knew that hand all too well. It was Kieran's.

The caption read: "Thank you for staying with me all night. With you by my side, I'm not afraid of anything."

Below were tons of likes and comments.

"I'm so jealous of Camilla. To have a man like that protecting you."

"Who's this handsome guy? He's so devoted to you!"

"When are you two getting married?"

I suddenly remembered how every time I had been sick, the most Kieran would say was:

"Have the family doctor look after you. I have family business to attend to. I don't have time for this."

Back then, I was so naive. I actually believed he was that busy.

I even thought I was being understanding, that I shouldn't bother a future Don with such "trivial" matters.

I had even found a man who put his family responsibilities first to be charming.

Thinking back on it now, it was utterly laughable.

He was just selectively busy. His specific brand of tenderness was reserved for a specific person. And that person was not me.

I smiled bitterly and calmly closed my phone.

For the unloved, even falling ill is an inconvenience to be borne alone.

For five straight days, Kieran didn't come home.

The estate was silent. So quiet I could hear a pin drop.

I began to quietly pack my things, sorting non-essential items into boxes.

The lavish evening gowns, expensive jewelry, and the formal attire required for family gatherings.

They were once symbols of my status, but now they were just ornate shackles.

My phone rang suddenly. It was my mother.

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Scarlett, how are things going with you and Kieran?" my mother's voice was anxious. "The family keeps asking about an heir."

"Scarlett, you can't be so willful. You need to think about the family..."

"I know, Mamma. Don't worry," I said calmly, pausing my packing. "You'll have your answer in a month."

"A month?" Her voice was filled with surprise. "What do you mean..."

She was stunned for a moment before asking, "Are you pregnant? Even if you got pregnant now, you couldn't possibly have a baby in a month."

"You'll know when the time comes," I cut her off.

"That's good, that's good," my mother said, relieved. "I knew my daughter wouldn't let the family down."

After hanging up, I stared blankly at my luggage, gently stroking my belly.