Chapter 23%
Mrs. Fusco gave a slight nod, tilting her chin toward Jayden as a silent signal for her men to take him away!
As soon as they got the signal, her men stepped forward and dragged Jayden away. He kicked and screamed, thrashing in their grip. refusing to go quietly. But when he wouldn’t stop, they had no choice–they knocked him out cold.X
I turned back to Mrs. Fusco, meeting her gaze with quiet resolve.
“I just want you to know,” I said softly, “this doesn’t change anything between us. You can reach out to me anytime. If you ever need help- anything, as long as it doesn’t involve the Ambrosse family–Ï’ll be there.”
She nodded slowly, her expression warm with understanding. “The same goes for you. You’re part of the Fusco family now. My door will always be open
“I’m expecting a visit once in a while,” she added
“I will” I gave her a small nod before turning and getting into the car.
Nick looked like he wanted to come after me. But when he spotted a few of his brothers walking toward him from the hospital entrance. he hesitated. Then he forced himself to play it cool and stepped back, turning around and heading into the building like nothing had happened.!
From the backseat, I watched his retreating figure through the window. Oddly enough, my heart felt… calm, Completely still.
By the time I got home, it was already the next moming. I packed a small suitcase and decided I needed a break–some time alone in another city I slipped on my mother’s bracelet, grabbed my bag and caught the first train to Florendale.
Using some travel tips I found online, I spent the entire day exploring. I was exhausted but happy and after booking a room at a five–star hotel for the night I decided to hit the night market to see what kind of food and trinkets I could find.
Halfway there. I passed a narrow alley and stopped in my tracks when I heard a voice I instantly recognized.
“You told me if I made myself look like Gianna, Nick would fall in love with me. I kicked Aria out, I practically threw myself at him with my clothes off and he still wouldn’t touch mel
Valentina?
I blinked, stunned to hear her voice here of all places. But I didn’t dwell on it. Whatever mess she had with the Ambrose Family had nothing to do with me anymore.
I was about to keep walking when another voice chimed in.
sant
“Looks like seduction’s not gonna cut it. Maybe it’s time we try something else. We drug Nick, get you pregnant and you ride that baby bump straight into the Ambrose Family”
Valentina snapped back quickly, “No. That won’t work. The Ambrose Family has strict rules. Their men can’t marry twice. Even if I have his child. I’ll never be accepted and neither will the baby,”
The man let out a low chuckle. “That’s easy. We get rid of Jayden. Once he’s out of the picture and you’re carrying Nick’s kid, the family won’t have a choice. They might have rules, but there’s no way they’ll let the Ambrose line end.”
Then he added, “But you’re not really going to have Nick’s kid. You’re mine. If there’s going to be a baby, it’s going to be ours.”
Valentina gave a cold, vicious laugh.
“Of course. I want our child to become the heir to the Ambrose fortune. I want to be the one everyone fears and respects–Mrs. Ambrose.
Their voices grew more heated, twisted with excitement and then they both started laughing–high–pitched, maniacal giggles echoing through the alley.
My stomach twisted.
I turned and started walking away quickly, pulling out my phone and dialing Nick’s number as I went.
The phone rang, then clicked. His voice came through the line, a little breathless, a little hopeful. “Aria?“}}
Just as I opened my mouth to respond, something slammed into the back of my head. Pain exploded behind my eyes and the world
My phone slipped from my hand and crashed to the ground.
“Ana” is everything alright?” Nick’s voice crackled through the phone.X
“Aria, are you alright? Aria, say something Nick’s voice grew panicked. He kept calling my name, again and again, each time more desperate than the last
Then, from the shadows, a hand with blood red nail polish slid into view. It reached down, picked up the phone and ended the call!
Valentina sneered as she looked down at me, then hurled the phone against the pavement, shattering it. She kicked me hard in the side)
“Thing to rat me out to Nick?” she hissed. “Gosh, you’ve always been in the way”
3:19 PM c c
