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

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?"

"Of course you do!" Hope reignited in my mentor's eyes. "That's wonderful news. It's a tragedy that your talent is trapped in these bloody family games."

"When are you leaving? If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me."

His words were the best thing that had happened to me all day.

After bidding my mentor farewell, I didn't go back to the estate. I went directly to the family's law firm.

"Hello, I want to dissolve an alliance. Please draft two agreements for me."

One was an alliance dissolution agreement, the other a divorce decree.

The lawyer was shocked, but at my insistence, he drafted the documents as requested.

I read every word carefully, and after confirming everything was correct, I signed both documents without hesitation.

When I returned to the estate, I was surprised to find both Kieran and Camilla in the living room.

Just a few days ago, Kieran had said she wouldn't be back. He was truly playing me for a fool.

At this point, I couldn't be bothered to ask why she was here again. I glanced at them and headed straight for the bedroom.

But Kieran frowned and spoke up. "Where have you been? You're back so late."

"I was meeting a friend," I lied casually.

"Which friend?" Kieran wasn't letting it go.

I don't know why, but lately, he had become strangely curious about everything I did.

If this had happened six months ago, I might have been ecstatic. But now, I just found him annoying.

He had a point, though. In the three years I'd been married to him, my entire life had revolved around him. I didn't have any friends.

Moreover, my style of dress had changed recently. My clothes were getting looser and looser, which he must have found strange.

I was trying to think of an excuse when Camilla came over, a sweet smile on her face. "Scarlett, you're just in time!"

"Tomorrow is the Marcelli family's reconciliation horse race. You must be bored at home alone. Why don't you come with us? It'll be a chance to get out of the house and socialize."

I was about to refuse, but Kieran spoke first. "Yes, you should both go. You can look out for each other."

Camilla immediately took my arm. To protect my baby, I couldn't pull away too hard, so I just nodded in agreement.

The horse race was held at a private track.

The venue was lavishly decorated, and members of all the major families were present.

Camilla and I sat in the VIP box, with Kieran behind us, talking to a few Capos.

"Kieran, do you remember the first time we came here to watch the races?" Camilla suddenly turned to Kieran, her voice filled with nostalgia.

Everyone around them stopped talking and looked at them curiously.

I rarely attended public social events with Kieran, so many people in the box didn't know me. They just assumed I was the daughter of some famiglia and paid me no mind.

But everyone recognized Kieran and Camilla, the golden couple of the New York Mafia scene. It was an open secret that the Underboss's marriage was just for show.

"You told me back then that if my favorite horse won, you'd grant me one wish," Camilla continued, her eyes sparkling.

The people around them started to tease. "Did the horse win?"

"Of course it did!" Camilla laughed. "And Kieran promised to take me to see the Northern Lights in Iceland."

"Wow, how romantic!"

"Kieran is so devoted to Camilla."

"You have no idea. Kieran used to have a diary, and it was filled with Camilla's name!"

Listening to their chatter, I felt a wave of nausea. I couldn't tell if it was morning sickness or if I was just disgusted by them.

I just never expected that Kieran, a man so cold and controlled, would have a love for Camilla so well-known.

Perhaps that was why he could never forget her.

Seeing the color drain from my face, Camilla looked triumphant, but she leaned in close and feigned concern. "Scarlett, I didn't mean anything by it, really. It's just..."

"I know," I cut her off, my voice flat. I stood up to head to the parking lot.

But Camilla thought I was angry and grabbed my hand.

In the late stages of my pregnancy, I was easily tired. I had no energy to argue with her. I just wanted her to let me go.

I was about to pry her hand off when a rush of footsteps sounded from outside the box.

Then, several masked gunmen burst in, the sharp click-clack of their rifles filling the air.

"Everyone on the floor! Move and I'll blow your heads off!"

The scene erupted into chaos and screams.

Everyone finally understood. The so-called reconciliation with the Marcelli family was a massive revenge plot.

As a gunman raised his submachine gun to open fire, Kieran's first instinct was to throw himself over Camilla.

He shielded her with his own body.

Meanwhile, I, pregnant, was knocked down by the panicking crowd, left exposed in the line of fire.

A bullet grazed my arm, leaving a searing, bloody trail.

I was pushed to the ground by the frantic crowd, and a sharp pain shot through my abdomen.

I couldn't help but cry out, my hands protectively clutching my stomach.

Blood gushed from the wound, staining the expensive Persian rug beneath me.

Kieran held Camilla tightly, and only after confirming she was unharmed did he finally see me, lying in a pool of blood amidst the chaos.

His face paled. "Scarlett!"

But he still didn't let go of Camilla.

"I'm fine. Get Camilla out of here," I managed to say, forcing myself to sit up. Blood was seeping from the wound on my arm.

Kieran swept up Camilla and ran for the door. As he reached it, he yelled to the family doctor who was rushing in.

"Check on Camilla first! She's terrified!"

The doctor was immediately swamped by Camilla, who was sobbing hysterically, claiming she couldn't breathe and her heart was racing.

And I sat alone in a pool of my own blood, the pain in my abdomen growing more intense.

With my medical knowledge, I knew what was happening. I was going into premature labor.