Chapter 3 - Meline Thought Pregnancy Would Save Their Marriage—Until the Hospital Results Revealed Someone Had Tried to Poison HerThe pregnancy should have been the happiest secret of Meline's life.
Instead, it became a war.
Alessandro became protective.
Too protective.
He hired another security team.
He insisted she stop visiting the antique shop alone.
He wanted doctors at every appointment.
“You are pregnant, not fragile.”
“You're the one acting like I'm made of glass.”
“I've seen what happens when people I love become targets.”
She froze.
“People you love?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
She said nothing.
That night, he placed his hand over her stomach.
“Can you feel anything?”
“Not yet.”
“I can't believe there's a baby in there.”
“You'll be a terrible father.”
“Why?”
“You'll interrogate the pediatrician.”
“I probably will.”
She laughed.
He kissed her forehead.
For several weeks, everything felt normal.
Then Meline began experiencing severe nausea.
Not ordinary morning sickness.
She couldn't keep food down.
She became dizzy.
Her hands trembled.
The doctor ordered tests.
The results were strange.
Her blood sugar was unstable.
Certain liver enzymes were elevated.
But no obvious illness explained it.
Then one night, she collapsed.
Alessandro found her unconscious beside the bed.
That was how they ended up at the hospital.
That was how the doors burst open.
And that was why he stood trembling in the corridor.
The doctor finally came out.
“Mr. Vitali.”
Alessandro stepped forward.
“My wife?”
“She is stable.”
“And the baby?”
“Also stable.”
He closed his eyes.
For one second, relief nearly destroyed him.
Then the doctor continued.
“But we found something.”
“What?”
“Something in her blood.”
Alessandro's expression hardened.
“What?”
“A substance consistent with long-term exposure to a toxin.”
Silence.
“You're saying someone poisoned my wife?”
“We don't know that yet.”
Alessandro's voice dropped.
“Find out.”
The doctor swallowed.
“We'll run additional tests.”
Inside the room, Meline woke.
Alessandro sat beside her.
She looked at him.
“You look terrible.”
“I've had better nights.”
She tried to smile.
“Baby?”
“Safe.”
She exhaled.
Then noticed his expression.
“What?”
He took her hand.
“They found something in your blood.”
“What?”
“A toxin.”
Her face went pale.
“That's impossible.”
“Who has access to your food?”
She looked at him.
“Everyone in the house.”
“And the store?”
“The staff.”
“Your aunt?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“We'll figure it out.”
Then Meline remembered.
A week earlier, she'd found a small bottle in her jewelry drawer.
She had assumed it was perfume.
But she had thrown it away.
She told Alessandro.
He immediately called security.
The bottle was recovered from the trash.
Lab results came back two days later.
It wasn't perfume.
It was a concentrated chemical compound capable of causing nausea, weakness and abnormal liver function.
Meline's face went white.
“Someone wanted me sick.”
Alessandro's expression became frighteningly calm.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you're pregnant.”
He began investigating.
Security footage.
Kitchen staff.
Housekeepers.
Deliveries.
Every single person was questioned.
Then they discovered something.
One employee had been entering Meline's suite while she was sleeping.
A maid named Rebecca.
She disappeared before police could reach her.
That same night, Meline received a message.
Stop digging into your father's death.
She showed Alessandro.
He stared at the screen.
“Don't answer.”
She nodded.
The next morning, another message came.
Your baby belongs to this family. You don't.
Meline started crying.
Alessandro took the phone.
“I will find them.”
Meline touched his arm.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Promise me something.”
“What?”
“Don't become the man everyone says you are.”
His jaw tightened.
“What man?”
“The man who solves everything with violence.”
He looked away.
“I can't promise that.”
She stepped closer.
“Then promise me you'll come back to me.”
He looked at her.
“I promise.”
Weeks later, Rebecca was found dead.
The official report called it suicide.
Alessandro didn't believe it.
Neither did Meline.
Then a package arrived at the antique store.
Inside was an old ledger.
And a photograph.
Her father.
Alessandro's father.
Vincent Moretti.
And a woman neither of them recognized.
On the back:
Ask why Alessandro's father paid Vincent the night your parents died.
Meline looked at Alessandro.
He stared at the photograph.
Then whispered,
“I know her.”
“Who?”
“My mother.”
Meline froze.
“Your mother?”
“She was supposed to be out of the country.”
“She's dead?”
“No.”
He looked terrified.
“She disappeared.”
That night, Alessandro confronted his father.
The conversation lasted twenty minutes.
Then Alessandro returned home alone.
Meline saw his face.
“What happened?”
He shut the door.
“My mother isn't missing.”
“Where is she?”
“She has been hiding.”
“Why?”
“Because she knows who killed your parents.”
Meline's hand moved to her stomach.
“Who?”
May you like
Alessandro's eyes met hers.
“My uncle.”
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