Married to a Lie

Chapter 2: Goodbye, Romano

I still felt the blood warm on my skin.

It was not real blood. Not from gunshots. Not form a stabbing. No. This was internal bleeding. Silent but painful. A bleeding heart no one could see.

Afterward, I told the doctor I wanted an abortion, and I'm sure about it. I didn't go through it that day.

Because Noah came there.

For a second, just for a second. I looked into his eyes and found the man who had once pulled me up from ashes. The man who held my hand through the nightmares and danced with me. But that man didn't exist now.

Because the man standing in front of me was the real Noah. A liar who had spread fake news of her death to steal another man's life and another woman's love

My sister's love.

I couldn't scream. I couldn't fight.

I just walked and passed by him like he never existed for me.

The silence hurt me more than any gunshot.

Now, days later, I sat in Mr. Romano's office. The father of Jack and Noah. He was the head of the Romano family and empire.

The leader of the most feared crime syndicates and a feared man.

He looks older than I saw him last time. His once cold and feared eyes are now carrying something close to regret.

" I know what Jack did with you. "It was unforgivable," he said while pouring himself a drink.

But I know, Noah, he loved you in his way."

" In his way?" I scoffed. "He married me to protect Zoe. He used me like a pawn in the chess. I'm not even sure I existed for him."

Mr. Romano was quiet for a moment.

Then he slid a file across the desk. " Fifty percent of the Romano shares can be yours if you walk away quietly."

I blinked. " what?"

"Leave this family and start your new and fresh life. You've born more than enough here. Lily, you deserve more than this for the years you gave us. Even if they were built on lies, you deserve these things."

I was shocked as I opened the file. Inside the file, there was a signed transfer of deed, stock certificates, and account details. Everything was real.

"Why you are doing this thing for me?

He lit a cigar and said. " Because I also had a daughter too."

I packed everything that night.

Everything the diamonds, the dresses, and the memories. All of it went into the boxes that I would never open again and don't want to open. I wasn't just just leaving Noah, the last five years of my life that I spent with him was burning with my hands.

And then I saw the list.

An isolated island off the coast of Montenegro. Peaceful and uninhabited. Free from the lies and betrayal.

I bought it without any hesitation.

I'm going to build something of my own. For myself. A safe and comfortable place. A world where no one could harm me or my unborn children.

I still kept my pregnancy a secret. Noah had no right to know about it now. He lost his all rights to me when he chose Zoe over me.

When I returned to the house one last time to collect my all things I saw him. Noah.

Leaning against the doorway to my room like he had every right to be there.

"What are you doing?" he asked when I through a box full of our old pictures in the trash.

"Erasing you from my life," I said calmly. " And everything that came with you.'

I stepped inside the room, jaw tight. " What do you think you can just walk away like this?"

“I already have.”

He saw a small suitcase beside the door." Where are you going?"

"Somewhere quiet and far away from this world."

Noah's voice cracked, just slightly." I know I lied. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. But Zoe."

" Don't ever say her name," I said. " Not in front of me.Not in my house. Not ever again."

" I never meant to hurt you."

But I did." I laughed bitterly. " And you knew I would. But you never cared. Because to you, I was always second.

I walked and passed him while dragging my suitcase behind me." Stay away from me now Noah. I don't want you in my life anymore. This time, I mean it."I didn't lock back toward him.

But I felt that his eyes were on me the whole way out.

That night I boarded a private jet and flew out of the country to start my new life. I stared the at ultrasound picture tucked inside my passport the entire time.

You're everything all I have now, I whispered to my twin's children inside me. I swear I"'ll protect you from this world.

Bt fate wasn't done with me yet.

Because the moment I stepped off my plane. I checked my phone, a message popped up on the screen.

From: Zoe Romano

Subject: Come Celebrate With Us.

Body: Anniversary party this weekend. We’d love to see you. Noah misses you. – Z

My stomach twisted. And a cruel idea came into my mind.

If they wanted a celebration.

Then I'd give them a gift.