Chapter 2: The Wife Who Knew Everything

Lucian's eyes remained fixed on me.

"Very?" he repeated.

"Should I be worried?"

I smiled and gently pushed away from his chest.

"Only if you've done something you should be worried about."

For a fraction of a second, his expression changed.

Then he laughed.

"You're strange tonight."

"Maybe I'm finally tired of pretending everything is perfect."

His gaze sharpened.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

I turned toward the ballroom.

"It's getting late. We should go inside."

Lucian didn't move.

"Eleonora."

The way he said my name made me stop.

"You're my wife."

"I know."

"You can tell me anything."

I looked at him.

"Can I?"

He nodded.

"Anything."

I almost laughed.

If only he knew what I had just heard.

If only he knew that every sweet word coming from his mouth sounded like an insult now.

"I'm tired," I said finally.

"Let's go home."

He studied me for another moment before agreeing.

"Alright."

The ride back to the mansion was unusually quiet.

Lucian sat beside me in the back of the car.

His hand rested loosely over mine.

Normally, that small gesture would have made my heart race.

Tonight, I felt nothing.

My mind was already somewhere else.

Three days.

I had three days to leave everything behind.

When we arrived, Lucian went directly to his study.

I went upstairs.

The moment I entered our bedroom, I locked the door.

I opened the drawer beside my bed and pulled out a small folder.

Inside were my passport, medical certificates, university records, and several personal documents.

I had spent years building my life around Lucian.

Now I had to dismantle it quietly.

My phone vibrated.

Another message from my professor.

"Security clearance approved."

"Your new identity is being prepared."

"Departure remains scheduled in three days."

I stared at the message.

The reality of leaving finally hit me.

I was really going to disappear.

Not temporarily.

Forever.

I placed a hand over my stomach.

"We'll be okay," I whispered.

"You and me."

A knock sounded on the door.

I quickly hid the phone.

"Who is it?"

"Me."

Lucian.

I opened the door.

He stood there without his jacket, his shirt slightly open at the collar.

"Why did you lock the door?"

"I was changing."

"You didn't have to lock it."

"I wanted privacy."

He walked inside.

"You've been avoiding me all evening."

"Have I?"

"Yes."

He stepped closer.

"Did I do something?"

I looked at him carefully.

Was this guilt?

Or simply suspicion?

"You're imagining things."

"I'm not."

He lifted my chin.

"You've never looked at me like this before."

"Like what?"

"Like you already decided something."

My heart skipped.

Lucian was more observant than I expected.

"Maybe I did."

"What?"

"I'm thinking about my career."

That made him pause.

"Your career?"

"Yes."

"I received an offer from an international research institute."

His expression hardened immediately.

"You're not going."

I raised an eyebrow.

"That's not your decision."

"You're my wife."

"I'm still a doctor."

"You gave up that life for this family."

I smiled bitterly.

"Exactly."

He stared at me.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"You keep saying nothing."

"Because I don't want to argue."

Lucian's eyes narrowed.

"Did someone say something to you tonight?"

I looked away.

"No."

"You're lying."

My heart tightened.

"Why would I lie?"

"Because you've been acting strange."

He suddenly pulled me closer.

"Look at me."

I forced myself to meet his eyes.

"I'm looking."

"Tell me what's wrong."

I almost told him.

I almost asked him whether Sophia really tasted like an unripe peach.

Instead, I smiled.

"I'm pregnant."

Silence.

For the first time that evening, Lucian genuinely looked shocked.

"What?"

"I'm pregnant."

His gaze dropped toward my stomach.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"The doctor said several weeks."

He stared at me.

There was no immediate anger.

No joy either.

Only disbelief.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Because I wanted tonight to be special."

The bitterness in my voice was almost impossible to hide.

"And then I realized I didn't know whether you deserved to hear it."

Lucian frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

Again.

He hated that answer.

"Eleonora, if you're trying to tell me something, just say it."

I took a slow breath.

"I'm telling you I'm pregnant."

He looked at me for a long time.

Then, unexpectedly, he placed his hand over my stomach.

His palm was warm.

The gesture should have touched me.

Instead, all I could think about was Sophia's perfume on his jacket.

"Our child," he murmured.

I almost pulled away.

"Yes."

He looked up.

"I'm going to take care of you."

My stomach turned.

He had no idea that I had already decided to leave.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He kissed my forehead.

"You should have told me immediately."

"I wanted to surprise you."

He smiled.

"You succeeded."

I looked at the man in front of me.

For seven years, I had loved that smile.

Tonight, it felt like a mask.

The next morning, Lucian behaved as though nothing had happened at the party.

He ordered the household staff to prepare a special breakfast.

He instructed his security team to increase my protection.

He even canceled two meetings because he wanted to take me to a private clinic.

To anyone watching, he was a devoted husband.

I knew better.

At the clinic, the doctor confirmed the pregnancy.

"Everything looks healthy," she said.

"You should avoid stress and get plenty of rest."

Lucian immediately nodded.

"She'll have everything she needs."

I glanced at him.

He was convincing.

Almost too convincing.

When we returned home, Sophia was waiting in the garden.

The moment she saw us, her smile froze.

Her eyes moved toward my stomach.

"You're pregnant?"

Lucian's arm tightened around my waist.

"Yes."

Sophia's face lost color.

"Congratulations," she whispered.

I smiled sweetly.

"Thank you, sister."

The word seemed to make her uncomfortable.

Lucian didn't notice.

Or perhaps he simply pretended not to.

Sophia approached me.

"Can I speak to you privately?"

"Of course."

We walked a short distance away.

The moment we were alone, her expression changed completely.

"How long have you known?"

"Since yesterday."

"And you told Lucian already?"

"Yes."

Her fingers curled tightly.

"You really are lucky."

I smiled.

"I suppose I am."

She stared at me.

"Does he know you're planning to leave?"

My heart stopped.

Had she somehow found out?

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

She smiled.

"I was just wondering."

I studied her carefully.

She knew something.

Maybe not everything.

But enough to be dangerous.

"Sophia," I said softly.

"Be careful."

"Why?"

"Because people who lie eventually forget which version of the truth they told."

Her face hardened.

Before she could respond, Lucian called from across the garden.

"Eleonora!"

I turned toward him.

When I looked back, Sophia was already smiling again.

The innocent little sister.

The perfect actress.

I finally understood.

If I stayed, this woman would eventually destroy everything I had left.

So I would not stay.

That evening, I packed one small suitcase.

Not enough to raise suspicion.

Only enough to survive the first few days after disappearing.

I placed the pregnancy documents inside.

My passport.

My medical credentials.

A photograph of my parents.

And one final photograph of Lucian and me from our wedding day.

I stared at it for a long time.

Then I turned it facedown.

My phone vibrated again.

"Departure confirmed."

"Three days."

I smiled faintly.

Soon, the Donna everyone envied would vanish.

And Lucian Marino would finally discover that the woman he thought would love him forever...

Could disappear without looking back.