Chapter 4: The Woman Who Walked Away

"What the hell did you just say?" Rafael's voice exploded through the chapel.

"She went to an OB-GYN?"

A wave of uneasiness crashed over him.

For the first time in years, fear outweighed his confidence.

Before he could gather his thoughts, his phone vibrated.

Natalia.

Seeing her name on the screen filled him with irritation instead of concern.

"Rafael," Natalia said sweetly, "I heard something happened at the wedding..."

"Not now," he replied coldly.

"I can help," she hurriedly said. "I'm already outside the chapel. If Gianna isn't coming... I can marry you today. The Holloway family won't lose face."

Rafael's expression darkened.

Without another word, he ended the call.

For the first time, he understood exactly what Gianna had endured.

Standing alone.

Being abandoned.

Watching the person she loved walk away.

"Matteo!" he shouted.

"Cancel the wedding immediately!"

"Don Holloway... the guests are already here..."

"I said cancel it!"

"Search every airport, every highway, every private port."

"Find Gianna!"

He ripped the wedding ring from his finger and threw it across the chapel floor.

As he rushed outside, Natalia stood near the entrance wearing an elegant white wedding gown.

"Rafael..." she smiled nervously.

"Move."

She reached for his arm.

"I said move!"

He shoved her aside without hesitation.

Natalia stumbled backward into the flower arrangements, staring at him in disbelief.

"How... how could you do this to me?"

He didn't even spare her another glance.

His only thought was Gianna.

Why had she gone to the hospital?

Was it only a routine pregnancy checkup?

Or...

A terrifying possibility entered his mind.

"My chest hurts..." Natalia whimpered behind him, pressing a hand against her heart.

Normally, he would've rushed back immediately.

Today, he kept walking.

"Call a doctor for her," he ordered one of his men.

Minutes later, his car screeched into the hospital parking lot.

A nurse was already waiting near the entrance.

"Where is Gianna?" Rafael demanded.

"Ms. Rossetti asked me to give you this."

She handed him a medical document.

His eyes quickly scanned the page.

"Patient: Gianna Rossetti."

"Pregnancy: 17 weeks."

"Requested procedure: Elective termination."

The paper slipped from his trembling fingers.

"Impossible..."

"She would never..."

He immediately called her phone.

Once.

Twice.

Ten times.

Every call ended with the same cold automated message.

"The number you have dialed is no longer in service."

Matteo rushed into the hallway.

"Don Holloway!"

"We've found her."

Rafael's eyes immediately lit up.

"Where is she?"

"She boarded a private flight this morning."

"Destination... Montrava."

"Members of the Northern Silenzio personally received her at the airport."

"Prepare the car," Rafael ordered instantly.

"I'm bringing my wife home."

Matteo lowered his head.

"Don Holloway... your father has already sealed the border."

"Northern Silenzio is enemy territory now."

"I don't care!" Rafael roared.

"She's carrying my child!"

The words left his mouth before reality struck him.

She wasn't his wife.

He had never married her.

Their child had never been recognized as the Holloway heir.

The family butler slowly approached carrying a small wooden box.

"Ms. Rossetti left this for you before she departed."

"She said it was your wedding gift."

Rafael opened the box.

Inside rested the golden revolver he had once given her.

Seventeen fresh scratches had been carved into its polished barrel.

Each mark represented one broken promise.

One abandoned wedding.

One shattered piece of Gianna's heart.

Rafael's knees finally gave out.

For the first time in his life, the feared Don of Southern Silenzio collapsed onto the chapel floor.

And the woman who had loved him without limits... was already gone.