Chapter 2

Esperanza's POV

"Talk about what?" I tried to keep my voice steady, but my hands were still shaking.

"You know damn well what." Dante sat up, completely ignoring his shoulder wound. "Four months ago you dumped me, and now you're pregnant."

His tone was dangerous, eyes burning with fury.

"That's none of your business." I kept my head down, continuing to treat his wound. "We broke up."

"None of my business?" He let out a cold laugh. "You think I'm an idiot?"

My heart raced. Did he suspect?

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"LOOK AT ME!" he suddenly roared, making me jump and nearly touch his wound.

I was forced to meet his eyes. His face was terrifyingly dark.

"How many months?"

"That's not—"

"I asked you HOW MANY MONTHS!" His voice turned deadly. "Don't you DARE play dumb with me!"

I froze. Was this the same man who used to be gentle and caring?

I instinctively stepped back, forcing myself to stay calm. "Three months."

Thank God I was naturally thin—at five months, with loose scrubs, it really didn't look too obvious.

Dante stared at my belly, his expression growing even darker. "Three months... So right after you dumped me, you ran off to find another man?"

The malice in his words ignited my anger. I looked at him defiantly. "So what? We were broken up. I have the right to be with anyone I want."

"Right?" Dante's face twisted. "You have the right to sleep around like a WHORE?"

The word hit me like a slap.

"What did you just say?"

"I said you're a WHORE!" he roared. "Three months ago you were screaming my name in bed, then you immediately ran off to seduce some other bastard!"

"Dante!" I stared at him in shock. "How can you say that?"

"Why can't I? Isn't it the truth?" He sneered. "Tell me—who was it? Which piece of shit?"

"I don't have to tell you ANYTHING!"

"TELL ME!" He slammed his fist on the bedside table with a thunderous crash. "Tell me who got you pregnant!"

"Why should I? Don't you have a fiancée now?" I shot back coldly. "She's beautiful, by the way. Miss Barone. Perfect match. Congratulations."

"That's DIFFERENT!" he bellowed. "Caterina was arranged by the family, not my choice!"

"Oh, so you're the victim?" I mocked. "Poor Dante, forced to marry a beautiful heiress. How tragic."

His face turned even more terrifying. "You BITCH..."

"I'M the bitch?" Tears started welling up, but I held them back. "What about you? Broken up three months and already getting married? Who's the real whore here?"

"I never chose her!" He was practically screaming now. "But you—you CHOSE to sleep with another man!"

"So WHAT? At least I'm honest!" I started yelling back. "Unlike some people who hide their true identity!"

"True identity?" He laughed coldly. "You think you understand anything?"

"I understand you're a LIAR!" I pointed at him. "You made me think you were just some ordinary law student, when you're actually MAFIA!"

"SO WHAT?" His eyes turned even more dangerous. "You think if you'd known the truth, you would've stayed with me?"

"NEVER!" I answered without hesitation. "I would never be with a criminal!"

That statement sent him into complete rage. He tried to get out of bed, but his wound made him grimace in pain.

"Damn it..."

"Are you insane? Lie back down!" I instinctively moved to help him.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He shoved my hand away, eyes full of hatred. "Since you hate me so much, don't pretend to care!"

"Fine! I don't care!" I completely lost it too. "Live or die, I don't give a DAMN!"

"You know what?" Dante sat on the edge of the bed, looking at me with the most venomous expression. "Maybe breaking up was the right choice."

"What do you mean?"

"Look at yourself now." He spoke with the cruelest tone possible. "Three months and you're already pregnant with another man's baby. You really ARE a slut."

I felt like I'd been slapped across the face.

"Dante..."

"How did I ever fall in love with a woman like you?" He continued stabbing me with his words. "A worthless Mexican whore."

"SHUT UP!" My tears finally broke free.

"Shut up? Why? Am I not telling the truth?" He sneered. "Your mother's a Mexican cleaning lady, your father's a drunk—you think you were ever good enough for me?"

"You... how can you say that..." I completely broke down.

"How was I so blind to get involved with trash like you?" His words cut through my heart like knives. "Now I see—you dumping me was doing me a FAVOR."

"Good... good..." I choked out through sobs. "Then let's pretend we never knew each other."

"My thoughts exactly." He said coldly. "And I'm WARNING you..."

He stood up, ignoring his wound's pain, walked over to me, his voice turning deadly:

"If you DARE tell anyone what you saw tonight, I'll make you and that bastard in your belly DISAPPEAR."

I was completely shaken by his words. Was this still the Dante I knew?

"I... I won't say anything..."

"You better not." He turned back to the bed. "Now GET OUT. Looking at you makes me SICK."

"What?"

"I said GET THE HELL OUT!" he roared. "Don't let me see you again!"

His words completely destroyed me. The next moment I ran out of the room without looking back, tears blurring my vision.

I immediately crashed into Caterina, who was returning with soup. Hot broth splashed all over her.

"Oh my goodness!" she cried out. "Nurse Morales, are you alright?"

"I'm sorry... so sorry..." I apologized through tears. "I'll... I'll get paper towels..."

"It's fine, sweetheart." Caterina smiled gently. "Why are you crying? What happened?"

"Nothing... just... work stress..."

"Did Dante say something hurtful?" she asked with concern. "He's been very irritable since getting injured. Please don't take it personally."

I shook my head, not daring to speak, afraid I'd sob out loud.

"You should go rest." Caterina patted my shoulder. "Thank you for taking care of him."

I nodded and hurried toward the nurses' station.

Back in my chair, I collapsed, hand stroking my belly, tears unstoppable.

Baby, your father just called mommy a whore. He said looking at us makes him sick.

Maybe... maybe it's better if you never know who he is. For both of us.