FOR THE RECORD

SONIA'S POV 

Six days.

That's exactly how long it's been since I was married, since that crazy night of our wedding and since I last saw Anthony, my supposed husband.

How is it that I keep getting dumped more times than I can count?

What's worse, my morning sickness started three days ago and between going to the toilet to throw up and having to do it multiple times a day, it's what's been keeping me busy all these while.

I feel a relapse in my vision and immediately know that I'm about having another episode. 

"Ma'am, are you okay?" I hear Chiara ask on my way upstairs and I make a throaty sound in reply, not sure if she heard at all.

In the bathroom, I empty my breakfast content into the toilet, grateful for having consumed so little this morning. My appetite keeps getting worse daily and I fear about that because I really do need my child healthy. My pregnancy is the reason I'm here after all.

"Mrs. Romano, I think you might be pregnant." 

I whip my head behind me to find Chiara at the door, smiling widely.

Oh, I'm most definitely pregnant, alright? Everyone else just doesn't know.

She walks into the bathroom and comes up to where I'm standing by the sink. She turns on the faucet and bobs her head forward, nudging me to use the running water.

"Thanks." I mumble.

"I can have Mr. Romano's doctor come in today, if you wish." 

I'm done washing my face and I'm about to shake my head in refusal to her request but I don't want to draw any suspicions so I oblige. 

"I'd like that, thank you."

Chiara hands me a towel, but doesn't make a move to leave. She does give me space, though. Enough to ponder on my thoughts. I have barely said up to ten proper sentences to her since I got here a week ago, which is saying something considering the fact that it's just the two of us who's been living here.

I must admit, I'm the one who's been avoiding her. Bearing the thought that someone as young and beautiful as her lives here with a man like Anthony and having to know that these two might have shared something in the past, makes something churn in my belly.

I think it's insulting. It really is. 

Or maybe I've gone out of context and written meaning into something that isn't even true? That is also a possibility and that thought makes me feel guilty. 

Chiara has been nothing but nice to me. I on the other hand haven't necessarily been rude but I've been closed off and I think I'm beginning to know what it feels like, having been ignored by my own husband since arrival.

"Chiara, how long have you known Anthony?"

She pauses to think. "All my life, ma'am. My mother is the head housekeeper at the Don's mansion. Mr. Romano brought me here at my mother's request after I was sexually assaulted." Her last statement ends on a sad note.

"What?" I whisper. That's horrible and something I wasn't expecting to hear. "I'm sorry that happened to you, Chiara."

"Oh, I'm totally fine now!" She gushes out. "It's very safe here. Plus, Mr. Romano is someone I look up to."

"Oh." 

"Yes, Mrs. Romano," She smiles a genuine smile. "I noticed your countenance towards me since the day you got here. I want to assure you that I and your husband do not share that kind of history. Mr. Romano might be… closed off, but he wouldn't be that cruel to put his wife in the same environment with someone he's shared a past with."

Oh, but I think he would. What Chiara doesn't know is that this marriage is built on the foundation of lies. We're not actually in love and it doesn't take two heads to figure out that my presence irritates him. He's a man with the mafia blood after all, I didn't expect any less but it still hurts.

I nod my head at Chiara and I want to let her know that I appreciate her setting things straight even though it wouldn't really make much of a difference – when the door to the bedroom opens.

Chiara leaves the bathroom first to see who it is and I freeze upon hearing Anthony's voice.

"Chiara, where's my wife."

My belly churns again from hearing how he calls me his wife but I have to remind myself to behave. That man wants nothing to do with me and I should want the same thing to.

"I'm here, husband." I answer, stepping into the room while trying not to maintain eye contact. I fail woefully at my attempt. His handsome face is like a magnet.

Anthony narrows his eyes at my comment. "What? He started it. "Chiara, please leave us."

She nods and leaves, closing the door behind her. 

"Did you need something?" I walk to the vanity to apply my face serum. I don't turn back to face Anthony as I can see him clearly behind me through the mirror.

He looks thrown off by my question. "This is my house. I don't have to need anything to be here." One eyebrow is raised.

"So… you're back for good?" I don't mean to, but there's a hint of hope laced in my voice when I ask that question and embarrassingly, Anthony notices it. At least, by the look on his face, he does.

Thankfully, he doesn't bring it up. Instead, his next words nearly make me drop my bottle of serum.

"No, wife. It has come to my attention that we must have a honeymoon. Pack up a bag, we're leaving."