Chapter 2 — The Betrayal

Pregnant? How could Isabella possibly be pregnant? he thought.

He'd taken every precaution, and yet— He was furious. Isabella had betrayed him.

"Jed, calm down. I'm fine. I understand it's a shock."

"Of course you think you're fine — you've got a diamond necklace and a baby on the way. And I suppose now you'll tell me it's mine?"

"Of course it's yours! You know you're the only man I've ever been with. We're a couple. I love you, and I thought you loved me."

"I don't love anyone. And I'm not going to be saddled with someone else's child. I never expected my lover to get pregnant."

"I'm not your lover."

"You were supposed to be on the pill. What happened?"

"That night I went with you to Rome for work, I forgot to take it with me. It was an accident."

Jed laughed. "Right. The one time I invite you along and you forget the pill. You're a very wicked woman." He picked up his briefcase. "I have a meeting I can't postpone. We'll talk later." He walked out of the apartment and slammed the door.

Isabella sat down on the edge of the bed, staring into nothing. Lover. Wicked. Someone else's child. How could he think that of her after a year of her life? After everything they'd shared?

She got herself ready for work — the job Jed had arranged for her, though today would be her last day, since she'd graduated and was hoping to go into teaching.

Jed arrived at his office in a foul mood. He would never forgive Isabella for this betrayal. Why had she done it? He slammed his fist on the desk.

"Damn it," he muttered. He picked up the phone and called his assistant. "Marixa, bring me some painkillers and cancel my meetings. I'm not available to anyone today."

"Right away, Mr. Salvatore."

Isabella showed up at Jed's offices. Predictably, Marixa informed her that Mr. Salvatore was unavailable and couldn't see her. But Isabella had no intention of waiting any longer, and she pushed her way inside.

"Mr. Salvatore, I'm sorry! I told her you couldn't receive her — I'll call security."

"Leave it, Marixa. I'll handle it." He looked at Isabella sharply. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I'm not your lover. I thought you were my boyfriend. I thought—"

He cut her off. "Enough. You're not so innocent. I've given you a car, jewelry, clothes — you could have had anything you wanted except a ring. I never offered you marriage. You're too vicious for your own good."

"Vicious? How can you say that to me?"

"If you thought you could trap me with an unwanted child, you should have thought it through more carefully. But don't worry — I'll call Roberto. He's an excellent doctor, a very good friend of mine, and completely discreet. He'll take care of the pregnancy. I'll cover the cost. Now go. I don't have time for this."

Isabella went home feeling wretched. Now everything was making sense — the fact that he'd never introduced her to his family or his friends, the expensive gifts he kept giving her. And what would she do now? He didn't want a child. He thought she was trying to trap him. And this Roberto — what did that mean exactly? Did he want her to have an abortion?

She was seeing Jed for what he truly was now: a womanizer. Cold. Ruthless. She made a decision: she would leave the apartment and end things with Jed.