He doesn’t seem to care about the baby—he doesn’t even seem to be able to see that I am in love.

I turn to face him. It’s time for me to stand up to him properly.

I’ve been living fearfully in his shadow for too long.

I’m going to be a mother. Regardless of anything else, I have to be stronger, braver and louder about what I want.

“You clearly don’t care about the fact that I am carrying this man’s child, but think about the alliance. If you don’t have the heart to think about anything else, think about your business. The way your business has grown since joining forces with the Dubrovs. You’ve been benefiting immensely. Whether your ego will let you admit that or not, you know it’s true. So, no—you cannot do anything to Alexei.” I speak loud and clear, making sure he hears every word.

I feel Alexei’s hand run down my back. I feel the heat of his body against me.

“Clara is right. At least think about the alliance. She was safe the entire time she was with me. I shouldn’t have done what I did, but at the end of the day, she chose to stay. Your niece is a very strong and incredible woman—"

“Stop. Stop talking,” Uncle Giorgio snarls angrily.

He is pacing up and down my bedroom.

He turns to the guards. “Take him to the cellar. Restrain him again. He is going to pay for what he did.”

The guards pull Alexei away from me and I shout in panic. I beg my uncle to stop. I beg him to see reason, but he pushes me back onto the bed and tells me to shut up.

Then all of them disappear out of my room and I am left alone, in shock, terrified of what is about to happen to the father of my child.

I have to think of something.

I need to stop this.

I need to save him.

I run back and forth in my room as my thoughts spin around in chaotic, useless waves.

Then suddenly, I know. I know what to do.

From my closet, I grab a beautiful dress. Red. Glittering and elegant.

I toss my clothes off and pull the dress over my head.

Quickly, I pull my hair up into a bun. It’s messy and a little wild, but it will have to do.

Then I bolt downstairs.

I am going to a party.

The guests are all laughing loudly, music drifting through the garden and the living room as they dance and talk. I smile as I push past them, saying hello, pretending to be super happy. Ignoring the terrible dread in my heart.

One of my uncle's guards is watching me closely. I have to do this before he has a chance to stop me.

Up near the DJ booth, I whisper in the DJ’s ear, and he stops the music, handing me a microphone.

I giggle nervously. Holding it in my shaking hands, I lift it to my mouth.

“Hello,” I say, and my voice grabs everyone’s attention over the speakers.

I blush as they all turn to look at me.

“Hello,” I say again. “Thank you all for coming out tonight. I am so glad you are all here, because I have some really exciting news to share with everyone.” A little murmur goes through the crowd. The bodyguard runs out of the party, obviously going to find my uncle.

“Tonight is a very special night for me, because I got engaged to the most amazing man in the world—and we are going to have a baby together,” I say excitedly.