The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife (Carmen and Marco) novel Chapter 20

The study was deadly quiet as Marco stared at the captured De Luca operative’s written testimony on his desk. The confession sat there like a stone—proof he could no longer ignore. Arianna’s name was written in black ink, clear and damning. It hadn’t come from Carmen this time. It hadn’t come from Luca or rumors whispered in dark corners. It had come straight from an enemy’s mouth.

Marco leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as the weight of the truth pressed down on him. He didn’t want to believe it. Arianna had been his anchor when everything else had started to crumble. She had been sharp, steady, and reassuring while Carmen’s absence tore at him like an open wound. But now this—this betrayal—left him staring into a pit he wasn’t sure how to climb out of.

The door opened without a knock, and Arianna walked in, her heels clicking against the polished floors. Marco lifted his gaze slowly, and the sharpness in his stare made her falter just a little, though she covered it quickly.

“You wanted to see me?” she asked, her tone smooth, as if she didn’t notice the tension crackling in the air.

“Sit,” Marco said flatly, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Arianna paused, studying him, then complied, lowering herself gracefully into the seat. She crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap, her expression calm but guarded.

Marco let the silence stretch, watching her carefully. Finally, he pushed the testimony across the desk. “Do you want to explain this?”

Arianna’s eyes flicked down to the paper. She picked it up, her brows knitting together as she scanned the page. Her jaw tightened just enough for Marco to notice before she set the document back on the desk, her expression shifting into something carefully wounded.

“What is this?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“You tell me,” Marco replied coldly. “That’s a De Luca operative. My men caught him during the sabotage at the warehouse. He says you’re the one feeding the De Lucas information.”

Arianna stared at him for a beat, then let out a small, bitter laugh, shaking her head. “You can’t be serious.”

Marco’s eyes narrowed. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Arianna leaned forward, her tone turning sharp and incredulous. “And you believe this? A confession wrung out of some low-level De Luca dog who would say anything to save his life? Marco, you know how this works. He’s feeding you lies because he knows exactly what you want to hear.”

Marco’s jaw tensed, but he said nothing.

“I can’t believe this,” Arianna continued, her voice cracking as she rose to her feet. “After everything I’ve done for you—everything—I’m suddenly the traitor? You think I would betray you? Betray this family?”

“You’ve been meeting with the De Lucas,” Marco said, his voice low, accusing. “I’ve heard the rumors, Arianna. I’ve seen the reports.”

“And where are you getting these reports, Marco?” Arianna shot back, her voice rising. “Carmen? She’s been poisoning you for weeks—feeding you lies while she sits at Vincent’s side, laughing at how easily you’ve turned against me.”

“Leave her out of this,” Marco snapped, though his voice was less certain than he wanted it to be.

“Leave her out of this?” Arianna laughed, though there was no humor in it. “How can I? She’s the one behind all of this. Don’t you see? She ran to Vincent. She’s been working with him, plotting against you, and now she’s using her old tricks to make you doubt the one person who’s actually been here for you.”

Marco stood slowly, his hands braced against the desk as he glared at her. “Don’t turn this on Carmen.”

“Why not?” Arianna’s voice dropped into a pleading murmur, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’ve been loyal to you, Marco. I’ve stood by your side while she abandoned you. I gave you my loyalty, my time, my blood—and now you’re accusing me because of her?” She pressed a hand to her chest, her voice breaking just slightly. “Do you know how much that hurts? After everything I’ve done?”

Marco felt his resolve waver as he watched her. Arianna looked so genuine, so broken. His head ached as her words tangled with Carmen’s warnings, with Luca’s suspicions, with everything he’d tried so hard to ignore. He wanted to believe her. He needed to believe her—because if Arianna was lying, it meant he had been blind.