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

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.

Kieran didn't come home tonight either. It was our third wedding anniversary.

For the past two years, no matter what he was thinking, he had at least always gone through the motions on this day.

He wouldn't whisper sweet nothings, but he would still prepare a surprise for me.

He was a respectable Mafia heir, after all, and he always maintained the proper rituals.

Now that Camilla was back, he had thrown everything to the wind. He didn't care about the family alliance, nor about me, his wife in name only.

But it didn't matter. I would celebrate it one last time by myself, as a farewell.

I put on the white dress I wore at our engagement, lit candles in the dining room, and prepared a lavish dinner.

On the table were the same type of roses from our wedding and a bottle of 1995 Dom Pérignon.

I sat at one end of the long table, looking at the empty seat across from me.

Time ticked by, but Kieran never appeared.

At eight o'clock, the steak was completely cold.

I raised my champagne glass to the empty air and whispered, "To my freedom, to fearlessness, and to returning to the operating room."

The simplest of wishes, yet something I couldn't have right now.

I slowly ate the cold steak and drank the champagne, sip by sip, as if performing a final, solitary ritual.

After dinner, I was slightly tipsy and about to head upstairs when Kieran suddenly walked in.

He was alone, which was a surprise. I asked instinctively, "Where's Camilla?"

Kieran took off his custom Armani jacket and tossed it onto the Italian leather sofa. "The Russo family arranged a new safe house for her."

"She's no longer staying at the estate."

I was surprised. He didn't try to keep her this time?

Kieran walked to the dining table and saw the untouched feast I had prepared.

"What is all this?" he frowned. "Why so much food? It's such a waste."

I paused, glanced at the antique clock on the wall, imported from Italy, and then spoke slowly.

"Yesterday was our third wedding anniversary."

The hands of the clock swept past midnight. Our anniversary was over.

Kieran froze. He looked at the lilies of the valley on the table and the empty champagne bottle.

"Scarlett, I..." his voice trembled slightly. "I'm sorry. I completely forgot."

"Family security matters have been piling up. I've been swamped."

"I'll make it up to you in a few days."

He apologized sincerely, but I just shook my head, unfazed. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."

I knew he was just trying to maintain the pathetic illusion of our marriage. But now, whether he went through the motions or not, I didn't care at all.

With that, I went straight upstairs, leaving Kieran standing alone in the living room.

A few nights later, Kieran appeared before me, holding an exquisite invitation.

"I've booked all of Le Bernardin. We're celebrating our anniversary tonight."

The three-Michelin-star restaurant usually required reservations months in advance, but he had booked the entire place for us.

I sat at the beautifully decorated table, looking at him with some confusion.

I had no idea what this man was up to, so I just asked him directly.

"Did you and Camilla have a fight?" Was that why he suddenly had time to put on this show for me?

Kieran paused in the middle of cutting my steak, his brow furrowed.

"What does Camilla have to do with this? You're my wife. Isn't it only right for me to make up for our anniversary?"

Wife? What a joke.

"Wife? A wife in name only, one you haven't touched in three years?"

He was silent for a moment, then walked over to me and took a velvet jewelry box from his pocket.

Inside lay a priceless diamond necklace, sparkling under the lights.

"Scarlett, I know I've wronged you these past three years," his voice was soft. "Give me a chance to start over."

"I had my reasons for not touching you. You'll understand one day."

I understood. He had to remain celibate for Camilla.

I said nothing. Sensing my silence, he spoke again, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.

Kieran took a deep breath. "In one month, we'll start fulfilling our marital duties. It's time to produce an heir for the Thompson family."

I was completely stunned.

In one month, I would have already given birth to a stranger's baby. What would I need him for?

I just didn't understand why he, after being so stubborn for three years, had suddenly changed his mind.

Was it another round of pressure from the family? Or was it to protect Camilla, to prevent the elders from blaming her?

I stared at his face, trying to read his true intentions.

I couldn't help but want to ask, but his phone rang. The caller ID showed the family's Consigliere.

Kieran answered, his face instantly turning grim.

"What? How did the arms shipment get seized at the docks?"

"I'm on my way."

He hung up and looked at me apologetically. "Scarlett, something urgent came up. I have to..."

"Go," I waved my hand. "Business is important."

"I'll make it up to you with an even grander celebration next year."

I was left with the diamond necklace and a half-cut cake on the table.

Kieran, do you really think we have a next year?

I had the waiter clear away the table of untouched, fake romance and went straight back to the estate.

The days passed, and my due date grew closer.

Today was a routine checkup. I went to the clinic alone.

As I was leaving the exam room, I heard a familiar voice.

"Scarlett?"

I turned to see my medical school mentor, Professor Martinez.

"Professor, what are you doing here?"

"I'm visiting an old friend," he said, looking me up and down. "You're pregnant?"

I nodded.

"Where's that Thompson husband of yours? How come he's not with you?"

I didn't answer. Seeing my expression, my mentor let out a deep sigh.

"You were my most promising student, a natural at cardiac surgery."

"But you chose marriage. I thought you would be happy..."

I cut him off with a bitter smile. "I haven't held a scalpel in a long time."

The professor looked at me with regret, shaking his head in frustration.

I couldn't help but clutch the test results in my hand.

"I had no choice. It was a blood pact, and I couldn't defy my family."

"But the good news is, my family obligations are almost fulfilled. I'm preparing to leave this bloody world behind and reclaim my life." My smile was one of relief. "Do you think I still have a chance?"