Chapter 3

• JASMINE
• What he doesn't know is I suffered a lot, too; my mother's scandal had also affected my life badly, growing up I've always heard from everyone that my mother was a disgraceful slut who intruded on Romano's parents' marriage.
• My father, fueled by his hatred for my mother's affair, openly welcomed another woman into our home, erasing any trace of my mom's existence.
• He didn't even try to fight for me when my stepmother attempted to marry me to an elder man and also when Romano had cruelly snatched me away.
• Whether I live or die solely depends on Romano's mood.
• Right now, his arms are tight around my waist, his lips nuzzling my neck. A startled gasp leaves my mouth as I attempt to stand up, but Romano holds me securely; I'm trapped between his solid muscles.
• "You are simply just a good fuck. Nothing more; I wouldn't want a whore as my kid's mother anyway," Romano mutters coldly, as he parts my lips to pour the remnant of his drink into my mouth.
• I splutter when Romano grasps my neck, forcing me to swallow the hot liquid, my eyes watering with tears, and a ceaseless cough erupts from my chest.
• "I'm not a whore!" I glare up at him hatefully, but Romano merely cocks his head, as though amused by my reaction to being called that
• "That's true; I got to you just in time before your foolish stepmother sold you to an old man. It still doesn't make you better, you're my exclusive whore!" Romano spits, his hands travelling to squeeze my breasts crudely as though to prove his point.
• My eyes water with fresh tears when his fingers dip into my bra to pinch my nipple painfully.
• A knock sounds and the housekeeper suddenly enters.
• "Doctor Clara is here, " She announces, her head bowed respectfully.
• Relief floods my veins when Romano suddenly shove me from his thigh, causing me to land on the floor with a wince.
• "Since the doctor is here, go for your check-up!"
• I look up at him, stunned; how does he know that I need to see a doctor? I just told him now that I need to visit the hospital.
• Can it be that he'd noticed my bleeding earlier during his brutal lovemaking and had called the doctor in advance?
• I shake my head at the thought.
• Romano does not have a single merciful bone within him, if anything, he would allow me to bleed to death.
• My insides are squeezed raw with anxiety as the doctor conducts the examination,
• "Mrs De Luca, your baby is fine, nothing to worry about," The doctor, a young lady in her forties smiles brightly at me.
• My body shudders with relief; I clench my eyes, tears gathering as the emotions rush through me; I'm so grateful.
• "You just need to be careful with the ... Uh ... Bedroom activities, and also tone down your drinking or else your pregnancy will be at risk."
• I nod eagerly, my palms cradling my stomach; I cannot help but feel possessive about the small life growing within me.
• I meet the doctor's gaze, doubt sizzling through me, Doctor Clara has been Romano's personal doctor for many years.
• "Can you keep this a secret? I still haven't told my husband and would like to tell him myself," I say and the doctor smiles reassuringly,
• "Congratulations to the both of you."
• The doctor leaves, and my shoulders drop dejectedly; how am I going to protect this baby? It's obvious that Romano is going to despise this child.
• No more tears, I vow silently, I'm going to be strong for this baby.
• The door opens at that moment, and I'm so lost in my thoughts that I do not notice who entered, and when I do, Romano is standing online a few inches away.
• I swallow back a frightened cry, unwillingly flinching further into the bed, seeing his dark expression.
• What did I do wrong this time?
• Can it be that Doctor Clara has already told him the news?
• "Thinking of him again?" Romano's voice slices through the air. I blink in confusion, not understanding what he means, and then suddenly, it hits me!
• My college best friend, Paul. The both of us have been quite close, but we were just friends, nothing more, even though Romano seems to think otherwise.
• My lack of response seems to provoke Romano further, his cold stare dropping the room temperature by several degrees as he takes another threatening step towards me, "Seems I'm right, do you hope to get back with him?"
• "No!"
• His eyes are shrouded with malice, no he looks pissed, and it may not end well for me.
• "We were just good friends; you're my husband, I belong to you," I whisper softly, trying to calm this enraged beast in front of me, but my words are only met with a burst of harsh, cruel laughter as he looms above me like a dark, intimidating shadow.
• "Since you know that, then show me how mine you are!"
• He grabs my feet, instantly spreading my thighs apart and horror pumps through my blood, spreading ice and goosebumps.
• "No!"
• Not this again.
• My body still hurts from his roughness earlier.
• "Romano, please!" I beg when he starts to kiss my neck, despite my struggles, his strong fingers digging into my waist. I hear the sound of belt unbuckling my eyes lowers to see his potent arousal.
• No, I can't lose my baby, is my only thought as I rapidly reach for the purse on the bedside, and when Romano leans to kiss me again, I smash it hard against his head without a thought.
• A low, dangerous growl erupts from him and I use the distraction to flee from the bed. I'm breathing heavily, my lungs feel starved of oxygen and I realize that Romano isn't looking at me.
• His darkened gaze is focused on the papers that have fallen from my purse, his lips twist into a savage snarl as he reads through them, I equally realize my mistake just as his next words make the whole room vibrate from their ferocious intensity.
• "How dare you carry my child!"