Chapter 1I cradled my twin sister's newborn. "Look at you, precious! Say hi to Uncle—"
"Not uncle. Daddy." My mafia boss husband cut in.
I froze.
Axel pulled Isolde close, smirking at me.
"I banged her RAW at your mom's funeral. Kid's an accident."
"Chill, babe. Isolde knows her place. You're still Mrs. Caruso."
I couldn't breathe, clinging to one last shred of hope.
"You... you got us mixed up?"
Axel burst out laughing.
"Isolde. I win! Sexy nurse outfit tonight."
So they'd been BETTING on me—divorce or take the shit and play dumb.
His eyes locked on mine.
"Silly girl—SEVEN years married, you really think I'd mix up my own wife?"
"Sienna, you're the perfect trophy wife. Sure."
"But Isolde? Way better in bed."
I stumbled back, vision burning.
"FUCK YOU, Axel Caruso!"
"Save your bullshit. We're done. I want a divorce—now."
...
Axel just sneered and gently patted my head.
"Sienna, stop throwing a tantrum. It's bad for the baby."
I froze.
"What baby?"
He sighed and pulled out a report.
"You're pregnant. Three months."
"You really want our kid growing up without a dad?"
"Or do you think I'd actually let you walk away with a Caruso heir?"
Tears burned down my face.
The baby I'd been praying for so long—now his fucking leverage.
Axel reached for my tears. I jerked away.
He tapped my forehead anyway, grinning.
"Seven years married, babe. You think I can't tell you apart?"
I stumbled back, smiled bitterly.
Seven years.
Seven years ago, my ex-fiancé Evan Cross ditched me at the altar, ran off with my bridesmaid—also my best friend—in front of everyone.
Everyone laughed.
But Axel picked up the bouquet.
"Mind if I take the groom's place?"
I thought he was saving me.
So I said yes. Became Mrs. Caruso that every women in Los Angeles envied.
Turns out, he was just another nightmare.
I stared at him.
"Why?"
Axel shrugged.
"You're stable, classy. The Crosss wanted you for Evan—perfect wife material."
"Isolde though?"
He smiled. Eyes dark.
"You're twins, sure. But in bed? Not even close."
"Oh, and Isolde's kid? Blood-related to you. Might even call you stepmom someday."
"So stay. Take care of her."
Nurses whispered in the hallway.
I felt stripped naked and humiliated in public.
But Axel forgot something.
Seven years ago, I could swap grooms in front of a crowd.
Now? Control me? Not a chance!
Chapter 2
I drove home in silence. Packed my bags.
Time to leave with my son.
But the second I stepped on the stairs, someone shoved me hard.
I stumbled. Lost my balance.
And fell straight down.
"Why are YOU here?!"
"Auntie Isolde said she'd be my new mom once the baby came! Why'd you come back?!"
I looked up.
My son. Noah. The kid I went through 99 rounds of IVF to have.
And now, that small face was twisted with disgust and hatred.
My burning back went ice cold.
"What did you just say?!"
"He said he hates you."
Isolde's voice drifted from behind me.
Noah saw her and ran straight into her arms.
"Auntie's back! I don't have to pretend anymore!"
He glared at me.
"I hate you. Why'd you get pregnant? Why won't you just LEAVE?"
"I want Auntie Isolde to be my mom!"
I couldn't breathe.
That was my son. My own flesh and blood.
Isolde leaned down, voice dripping with satisfaction.
"You're not that great of a mom, are you?"
"I took Noah on a few roller coasters, gave him some ice cream, and boom—he picked ME."
"Guess you weren't that great at being Mrs. Caruso after all."
I stared at Noah's little hand gripping hers.
My chest ached.
Noah was born with a weak heart. Congenital heart disease.
I'd spent years making sure he ate right, avoided anything too intense—terrified of triggering an episode.
And now? The kid I'd protected with everything I had... hated me.
Because this bitch spoiled him.
I laughed. Bitter. Broken.
Isolde blinked, confused.
Before she could react, I spun around and slapped her across the face.
Hard.
"Fine, Isolde. You love picking up trash? Take them."
"Axel and Noah—both yours."
Isolde's head snapped to the side.
But instead of anger, she smiled.
"'Take them'? Sienna, you really overestimate yourself."
"Axel loves ME. You're just a stand-in. Even Noah chose me."
"So what gives you the right to act like you're doing me a favor?"
She was right.
My husband betrayed me. My son hated me.
The fight drained out of me. All I felt was exhausted.
Then the front door slammed open.
Isolde's eyes lit up. She quickly collapsed onto the floor, face instantly pitiful.
"Sienna! I told you I wouldn't take your place—why are you still hitting me."
The next second, someone shoved me from behind.
I stumbled.
Axel crouched down and pulled Isolde into his arms.
But his cold eyes were locked on me.
"What the hell is going on?"
Before I could say a word, Noah burst into tears first.
"It's Mommy—Mommy pushed Auntie Isolde!"
"She said if Auntie doesn't leave, she'll take me away!"
I froze. Every explanation died in my throat.
Chapter 3
I stared at my son in disbelief.
Axel's face darkened.
"Sienna, have you lost your fucking mind?"
Gone was his usual lazy smirk. His eyes turned cold. Vicious.
"Isolde's your own sister! And you're using Noah to threaten her?!"
"What, life's TOO good for you now?"
Too good?
I let out a bitter laugh.
My husband knocked me up then used it to trap me—forced me to watch him screw my twin sister.
My son watched Isolde frame me and backed her lies.
And that's... too good?
Axel's expression darkened further.
"Pregnancy's made you unstable. Go cool off in your room."
I fought back.
Didn't matter.
He shoved me inside and locked the door.
I collapsed in the dark corner, staring at the locked door. My stomach cramped—sharp, twisting pain.
Then I remembered.
Eleanor Caruso. Axel's grandmother.
Before she died, she'd slipped me a blank agreement.
She'd squeezed my hand back then, tears in her eyes.
"If Axel ever wrongs you... this is your way out."
I'd been so touched. Never thought I'd actually need it.
But I couldn't just sit here. Not with a baby inside me.
I had to fight my way out.
Ignoring the tearing pain in my stomach, I climbed out the window and stumbled back to my dad's house.
I snuck into his study. Reached for the safe.
Then I heard voices outside the door.
"Isolde had a son. The Carusos better give her something official now."
My father snorted.
"You don't get it. One keeps the title, one keeps his heart. That's the winning strategy."
"Sienna's too proud to share. But men cheat—it's what they do."
"Better Isolde than some stranger. This way we control both sides."
My stepmother's voice dropped.
"What about that blank divorce agreement Eleanor gave Sienna?"
My dad laughed coldly.
"Already burned it. She's stuck being Mrs. Caruso whether she likes it or not."
I froze behind the door.
I pressed my hand over my mouth. Tears fell anyway.
My husband betrayed me.
My sister stole from me.
And now my own father burned my last way out—just to squeeze my last bit of value.
Betrayed by EVERYONE.
I turned around, hands shaking, and opened the safe.
Empty.
My legs gave out. I collapsed.
The next second, the door was shoved open.
Dad saw me on the floor. Saw the open safe. His face went dark.
"Ungrateful brat. Still trying to leave Axel? You trying to ruin this whole family?"
I looked up at him, eyes burning red.
"What about me, Dad? Did you ever think about ME?!"
He turned away, voice ice-cold.
"Tie her up. Send her back to the Carusos."
Two servants grabbed me and dragged me toward the door.
None of them noticed the blood pooling on the floor beneath me.
