Chapter 3 I stared at the ceiling . My chest tightened , not from pain - but from the ice building inside me . That was my family . That was love . With trembling fingers , I grabbed my phone and dialed the only number that had ever mattered . Lothario . My ex lover . When the line picked up , I whispered , " C - can you come ? I need your help ... I need you . " There was silence on the other end , then a short reply : " I'll be there as soon as I can ." I hung up just as Matteo and Chris came back into the room and Chris handed me pills . But I know ... They weren't painkillers . They were sedatives . Even with my organs failing , all they cared about was that damn wedding . **** When I woke ... The sun had already set . The day was over . So was the wedding . Marian had married Rupert . The man who once swore he'd protect me until death . Chris burst into the room , face flushed with urgency . " Ivanna ! We can start the surgery in ten minutes . Please , just hang on . We'll fix everything , I promise . " Matteo followed close behind , clearly in a good mood . I guess having Marian wear my ring had put him at peace. I pushed myself up on the bed slowly , ignoring the pull in my abdomen , and looked them both dead in the eye . " I'm not having the surgery . " They froze . Matteo's voice shot up an octave . " What the hell do you mean you're not Darling I Remember 1/4 4.8 % 6:59 Mon , Sep 15 ) having it ?! You want to walk around broken ? You want to be a sterile fucking cripple ? " Before I could respond , the door creaked open . Matteo's secretary rushed in , bending to whisper in his ear . " Mr. Rossi ... she's here . " Matteo's expression lit up like Christmas had come early . " Marian's here ? " he asked , barely hiding his glee . He turned to me , softening his voice like that made any of this forgivable . " Just ... think about it , okay ? She just wants to see you ." The door opened slowly , and there she was - Marian . Wearing my wedding dress . That sickeningly smug smile curled on her lips the second she saw me lying in the hospital bed , bruised , bandaged , and broken . But what really made my stomach churn? My father - Don Rossi - and Chris , my brother , standing behind her ... without a shred of resentment in their eyes . Not even a flicker of guilt . Marian let out a breathy gasp like she was heartbroken . " Oh , Ivanna ... what happened to you ? Are the rumors true ? You and those two lowlifes ... was it mutual ? If it was , why would they hurt you like that ? " " Marian ," Chris snapped , frowning . She threw up her hands , feigning innocence . " I'm sorry ! That came out wrong . I shouldn't have said that . I completely forgot - Ivanna , I didn't mean to upset you . " Her voice was sweet enough to rot teeth , but her eyes were sharp . She wasn't sorry . She was savoring every second . I gritted my teeth , forced myself to sit upright despite the searing pain , and asked , " How dare you wear my wedding dress ! " Marian's eyes instantly welled with tears . She looked down , trembling like a wounded dove . My father stepped forward with a thunderous expression . " What do you think , Ivanna ? You dishonored our name , fooled around with scum from the Chapter 2 2/1 5.3 % 7:00 Mon , Sep 15 71 streets . The Fiore famiglia would've called off the alliance if Marian didn't step in ! " Chris folded his arms across his chest , voice cold . " You think just because you're hurt , you can throw accusations around ? Marian cleaned up the mess you made . Show some damn gratitude . " Their words hit harder than bullets . They said it like they weren't the ones who staged the entire thing . Like they didn't pay those men to ruin me . I tried to laugh , but even the corners of my mouth cracking open made fresh pain ripple through me . Marian took a step closer . Her lips barely moved , but her voice slithered like a viper , just low enough for me to hear . " You were once the Rossi princess . Untouchable . But now? Just a broken little girl no one wants . Hideous . Infertile . Powerless . " She smirked , then added , " Rupert's mine now . I wore your dress , walked your aisle , signed your future . He kissed me in front of the Five Families . He'll never even look at you again . " My hands clenched under the blanket . Marian leaned in closer . " And guess who made it all happen ? I asked our father to hire those dogs . And Chris , your brother , he made sure you didn't get to the OR in time . " I looked at her, eyes burning . " You- " Suddenly , Marian gasped and threw herself backward , like I'd shoved her . She hit the floor with a practiced thud , her eyes wide and innocent . " Ivanna ! " she cried out dramatically . " I know you hate me . I know I took your spot . If it'll make you happy , I'll give him back ! I'll walk away , I'll die if I have to ! Just ... stop hating me ! " Before I could react , Don Rossi's face twisted in rage . He stormed over and slapped me across the face - right over the bandages . " How dare you ! " he roared . " You're nothing but a disabled now . Marian stepped up when you shamed our name , and this is how you repay her? " The sting of his hand echoed louder than his voice . But worse than the pain was the way Chris kicked my bed . Hard . Chapter 2 3/4 5.9 % 7:00 Mon , Sep 15 The wheels rolled , and I crashed to the floor with a sickening thump . 71 But he didn't even look at me . No. He knelt down beside Marian , brushing the hair from her face . " Are you okay ? She didn't hurt you , did she ? " Marian sniffled and shook her head , like some noble victim . Chris glared at me over his shoulder . " If you so much as breathe wrong around her again , Ivanna , I'll cut you out of my life . Blood or not . " I wanted to scream , to claw , to burn the entire damn world down . But all I felt was cold . Numb . They walked away , arms around Marian like she was the wounded one . My father , the Don , called for a doctor to check Marian's nonexistent injuries and ordered someone to bring her imported gelato from Milan - her favorite . I smiled bitterly . Chapter 3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!