Page 60 of The Forbidden Husband

“And I’m putting aside my plans. Plans that have been in motion for averylong time.”

I shouldn’t have come here. I should have put myself first for once in my life, but instead, I had put everyone else’s well-being above mine and my unborn child’s. And now, I stood before possible suitors.

At least he was giving me a choice…

“It’s that important to you?” I asked.

He only nodded, and I knew this was it. He didn’t know I was already pregnant, so he would think that this pregnancy came from the man I chose. His not knowing the child was Enzo’s could save the baby’s life. It would save my life. And as the mother, I could shield my baby from the hardest parts of this life.

“Him,” I said, pointing to the only man who looked to have any emotion in his eyes. The rest of these men were cold. Unfeeling. Perfect soldiers beneath my father.

“Tomorrow afternoon before the event,” my father said to the man. “We will see if my daughter will make herself useful for once in her fucking life.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Aria Bianchi

“Don’t go,” Livia said, grabbing both of my hands and holding them between her warm palms. “It’s not worth it. You’ve given enough of yourself to everyone in your life, and it’s time to put yourself first.”

I had minutes before I was going to allow a man I had never met fuck me for the sake of keeping Giovanni and Enzo alive. I had betrayed him in so many ways, but I couldn’t let it come to this. “Livia,” I said, looking deep into her eyes. Noemi’s eyes.Myeyes. “I can’t.”

“You can. You can’t let this man do this to you. If you give him this, there is no going back.”

“I know,” I replied. “Just stay here and stay safe, okay?”

She stepped back and ran both hands through her hair. I should have never told her everything, but I couldn’t keep it back any longer. After going to my room and finding her, I told her everything. I told her about Enzo and how amazing he was. I told her that Dad had been manipulating me for years, and I told her that she would never be safe if she didn’t leave.

I told her that I couldn’t protect her forever and that this would be the last thing I could do.

She hadn’t reacted well, especially when I told her about Evelina and what our father intended to do with her. I told her about Jaimie and the opportunity to escape with her.

Ididn’ttell her about the pregnancy.

I couldn’t tell her before I told Enzo.

“I love you,” I told her when she didn’t reply. “Please just promise me that you will do everything you can to stay safe.”

“I don’t need you to protect me anymore. I have a plan.”

I didn’t ask her what the plan was as I hugged her and walked toward the room where I knew my father would be waiting with the nameless man I had chosen. I would let him do what needed to be done if it meant keeping the people I loved safe and alive. I had lost my virginity to Enzo, and that was the most important thing. Doing this… it would mean nothing. I could distance myself from it and move on.

As long as Enzo and Giovanni survived.

As long as Evelina was released from the trade on her virtue.

I pushed through the doors of a spare bedroom and met the eyes of the man who would be my doom. My destruction. The one who wiped away what was left of the man I loved.

If I did this, there would be no going back.

Maybe I needed to acknowledge the fact that even if I did save their lives, he would hate me. He would never come back, and I would deserve that fate.

My father gave me a once over, clearly criticizing the clothes I wore. The lack of formality in my attire. I didn’t say anythingas the second man in the room stepped forward and looked me over, seemingly pleased. My heart sank at the thought of himenjoyinghimself.

“Get to it, then,” Dad said, turning toward the door.

Every decision I had ever made flashed before me. Everything I had given. Everything I had built for myself and watched fall around me.

“No,” I told my father. “I want to hear you make the call.”

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