Chapter 1

An illusional hope Victoria's POV Oh no, no, no! Shit! I glanced at my wristwatch and then at the lengthy line of traffic in front of the signal ahead. It seemed the whole of New York was at a standstill.

“Sir, can you tell me how long it will take?” I asked the driver.

The man shook his head. “I don’t know, madame. It seems it will take a long time,” he replied in a thick French accent.

Fuck! Why is it always me facing such tragedies? I needed to reach the birthday celebration before 6 p.m., and it was 5:50.

Oh lord! I had no choice. After paying the cab’s fare, I took a deep breath, quickly exited the taxi, and rushed down the street. I loved my husband so much and would do anything for him, including rush like mad, so I wouldn’t be late for his grandmother’s seventieth birthday.

My husband and I had been living together for three years, and I had been suppressing my personality just to be with him. But I took a pregnancy test the week before and was expecting a baby! I couldn’t wait to tell him the good news!

Though engrossed in my thoughts, I didn’t miss it when a car approached, looking as if it were about to hit an old woman on the side of the road.

Without a thought, I ran to her and pushed her out of the way. But I tripped and fell into a mud puddle.

“Aah,” I whimpered in pain.

The old woman tried to help me stand. “Oh, my sweet little girl.”

With a slight help from her, I rose, feeling a terrible ache in my right arm. It messily fell under my stomach. God knew if I broke my hand.

“You okay, sweetheart?” the old lady asked. “Let me take you to the doctor.”

“No, ma’am, It’s alright. I have to leave.” Despite the excruciating agony in my arm, I didn’t waste a second before getting back underway. I looked at my dress. Oh, good Lord, my dress is a mess.

Alessandro would be so angry. But it was already past six, and there was no time for me to change.

After receiving several odd looks from people on the street, I reached the hotel. My husband stood in the foyer, maybe waiting for me?

“Alessandro...” I walked toward him, hoping he would understand my situation.

But the moment his eyes fell on me, his cold gaze turned into an icy stare, and his jaw clenched. “Of all days, how could you be late today? This will make me lose face in front of everyone!”

“I—Alessandro, let me explain. I was—”

“Enough!” He raised his hand. “I don’t want to hear any of your bullshit!”

Quickly, I lowered my eyes, not wanting him to see the threatening to form. I knew this would happen, but was it my fault? The thought blurred my vision even more, despite me trying so hard not to let my tears spill.

Worse, two ladies approached, sneering—Alessandro’s cousins. They paused, and one said, “Today is Madame Devonte’s birthday. Are you dressing like this to embarrass us?”

The other looked at her and said, “I think she shouldn’t go in.” Then her gaze shifted to me. “You’ll only make my grandma angry.”

I peered at my husband through my eyelashes. His face had turned gloomier at their words.

Thanks, bitches.

“Change into a sober dress,” Alessandro ordered coldly and walked into the dining hall, obviously ashamed to be seen with me.

I closed my eyes, taking a sharp breath to control my tears before changing clothes.

A shadow appeared beside me. “What the fuck are you wearing?” Alessandro’s ex-girlfriend, Camilla, asked, her voice dripping with vicious disdain. “What? Is that your new fashion choice?”

Oh no, not again. Not this woman!

She had continued to pursue Alessandro, despite him being married to me for years. Worse, since she saved his life in an accident, his family loved her, thought of her as an angel.

Angel, my foot!

Considering my distressed mood, her insults only inflamed me further. However, I was already late and Alessandro was angry. Answering her would only make things worse.

So I kept my expression neutral and began to walk away. She grabbed my injured arm, and a painful whimper escaped my lips.

Her nails dug into my flesh. “How long are you going to occupy my Alessandro?” she hissed like a poisonous snake.

Ugh. That was the limit. I had tried to avoid the argument, but Camilla hadn’t let me. Pulling my arm free from her, I turned to her. “That man is my lawful husband. How can you say I am occupying him?”

“You are shameless!” Camilla shouted. “He wouldn’t have married you if you hadn’t seduced him with your despicable methods!”

“You’re the one who’s despicable,” I shouted back, unable to suppress my voice any longer. And why would I? I was his lawfully wedded wife, after all.

Camilla raised her hand, and I watched as it came down to strike my cheek. But then she stopped abruptly and started crying, pulling me toward her until she fell to the ground. “Please, don’t hit me,”

she pleaded. “I promise I will never meet Alessandro again.”

Wait? What?

“Are you hurt?” Alessandro’s concerned voice met my ears. But his concern wasn’t for me. I watched in horror as he bent beside Camilla.

Amid her sobbing, she said, “Victoria pushed me. I think I broke my ankle.”

“I didn’t push her! She fell,” I said, raising my voice.

“Shut up!” Alessandro spat, his eyes turning into angry slits as he peered at me. He turned back to Camilla, picked her up and strode away with her in his arms.

In shock, I stood and watched, not knowing how to feel, how to process what I’d just witnessed. Did he truly believe her over me?

When I thought nothing more disastrous could happen, Alessandro’s aunt, Gina, appeared out of nowhere, gripping my hurt arm harshly. But I barely let out a whimper before she screamed, “You bitch!

You dare bully Camilla! I’m going to tell Grandma!”