Chapter 11 - "You're Mine Forever"The heavy oak door of the office swung open with a slow, deliberate creak.
Dante Valentino stood in the doorway. He wore a dark wool overcoat, his shoulders flecked with rain. He didn't look surprised to find her sitting at his secure terminal. He didn't look angry that she had breached his private files. He simply closed the door behind him, the heavy lock clicked into place with a sound of finality.
"You changed the medication," Arya whispered, her voice cracking as she stood up from the leather chair, her fingers clutching the positive pregnancy test like a piece of evidence. "You intercepted my prescriptions. You did this to me."
Dante walked toward her, his expression a mask of calm, absolute satisfaction. He didn't deny it. He didn't offer a corporate excuse or a lie. He stopped right in front of her, his gaze dropping to her stomach before rising to lock onto her tear-filled eyes.
"I got you pregnant on purpose, Arya," he said, his voice dropping into a low, resonant purr that sent a shiver of pure terror and desire down her spine. "You’re mine forever now."
Arya stepped back, her hand flying to her mouth. "Why? Why would you manipulate something like this? I trusted you!"
"And your trust was well-placed," Dante replied, stepping closer, his large hands reaching out to anchor themselves onto her hips, pulling her firmly against his chest.
"If you were just my mistress, or my assistant, the syndicate elders would have eventually forced a marriage between myself and the Lucchese family to secure the northern territory. They would have looked at your background and seen a liability. But a Valentino heir? An absolute bloodline carrying my child?"
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He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as his grip tightened, a terrifying expression of love and dominance.
"No one can touch you now. The family council cannot object to your presence. The rival families cannot demand a political alliance. By giving me this child, you have secured your throne at my side. I didn't just want your heart, Arya. I wanted your legacy. And now, you can never leave this house."
