Lorelei's body stiffened visibly as she lifted her head, tears clinging to her lashes.

Her face was pure hurt and grievance. "So now you're taking her side? I'm already in this state, and you're still defending her?"

Her voice broke, edged with resentment. "I just hate her for hurting my baby. Can’t I be allowed to lash out?"

"Besides, this whole mess started because of her."

The longer she spoke, the more wronged she sounded, until she was nearly sobbing too hard to get the words out.

"I actually decided just now... If the baby didn't survive, I was going to buy a plane ticket and leave you."

"I don't want to keep meddling in your life…"

Dante's expression shifted abruptly.

He gripped her shoulders.

His voice was low, but anger was crammed into every syllable. "What did you say? Leave me?"

He yanked her hard into his chest, his tone almost possessive. "I won't allow it. Lorelei, listen to me."

"You and the baby--I'm not letting either of you go. Anyone who hurts you is going to pay."

Lorelei's tears slowly subsided in his arms.

She tilted her face up at him, eyes still wet. "Then will you punish her for me?"

Dante's gaze went cold. "I will. If she dared hurt you and the baby, she'll get whatever's coming to her."

Only then did Lorelei smile through her tears.

She leaned into him and asked softly, "Then...will you divorce her? I don't want her raising my baby. I don't trust her."

Only then did Lorelei smile through her tears. 

She leaned into him and asked softly, “Then…will you divorce her? I don't want her raising my baby. I don't trust her.”

Dante paused

Then he went silent.

"You don’t want her to raise the child…"

Lorelei didn't get the answer she was after.

Panic flickered through her eyes. "But then the baby won't be legitimate."

Her voice started to tremble again. "You said I'm the woman you love most."

"You said you stopped loving her ages ago. That all you had left for her was history and a sense of duty..."

Dante closed his eyes.

It was a long time before he answered, "Yes. You're the one I love most."'

His voice came out slow and low. "But every time I think about divorcing her, about cutting her cleanly out of my life..."

He stopped.

His brows pulled tight. "It feels wrong. Like someone is forcibly tearing something out of me.''

He pulled Lorelei closer, as if to convince himself. "Maybe... I'm just too sentimental. Don't worry. I'll send her overseas."

"She'll never appear in front of you or the baby again. And she won't hurt you anymore."

Only then did Lorelei smile in earnest.

She nodded and softened. "Okay...'

Beside them, the doctor exhaled quietly in relief.

After another examination, the results came back stable.

"The baby is fine. We'll send her home with some medication, but she can be discharged."

The instant Lorelei heard it, she clutched at Dante's hand. "Don... The wedding..."

Her eyes were full of bitterness and stubborn longing. "The wedding you planned for me.. There's still an hour before it begins."'

"If we go back now, we can still make it."

Dante looked at her, then smiled. "All right. Whatever you want."

The wedding venue glittered with light as music streamed through the hall.

Lorelei changed into a fresh gown and stepped onto the stage smiling.

Dante stood at her side, his usual composure restored.

The emcee had only just lifted the microphone to speak when a voice rose suddenly from the crowd. "Hold on."'

It hadn't been loud.

But it had been crystal clear.

Several men stood up at once.

They were all in beautifully cut suits, and every last one of them wore the same amused expression.

One of them smiled. "Don Salvatore Such a joyful occasion. How could we possibly not turn up to bring you a gift?”