The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife (Carmen and Marco) novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Marco’s jaw tightened as her words sank in. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Arianna set her glass down and stood.

“Now,” she said briskly, her tone shifting back to business, “about those De Luca contacts. I think I can help you identify the weak links.”

Marco blinked, momentarily thrown by the sudden change in direction. He forced himself to refocus on the matter at hand, but Arianna’s earlier insinuations lingered in the back of his mind, an unwelcome shadow.

By the time Marco left the estate, the night air felt colder than it had when he arrived. He climbed into the car, his expression grim as he stared out the window. Arianna’s words replayed in his mind, their subtle venom eating away at his confidence.

“Sometimes the ones closest to us have the most reason to betray us. They know exactly where it hurts.”

He shook his head, trying to push the thought away. Carmen had always been loyal to him. He couldn’t let Arianna’s manipulations get to him.

But as the car wound its way back to the Venetti estate, doubt began to creep in, unbidden and persistent.

…

**At the same time**

The bathroom felt impossibly small, the air thick with tension as Carmen stared at the plastic stick in her trembling hand. The pregnancy test sat on the counter, its result unmistakable. Two pink lines. Her stomach turned, and she pressed her palm against the cool marble sink, willing herself to steady.

Pregnant.

Her mind raced, a torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. A child. Marco’s child. She wasn’t sure whether to feel joy, fear, or heartbreak. The nausea that had plagued her for days had prompted her to take the test, but now that she had the answer, it brought no clarity—only questions.

How could she bring a child into this chaos? Into a house divided by distrust and Arianna’s shadowy presence? Marco had already questioned her loyalty, had chosen to entertain Arianna’s manipulations over trusting her. How could she tell him now, when every word they exchanged seemed to deepen the chasm between them?

Her reflection in the mirror caught her eye, and she barely recognized herself—eyes red-rimmed, jaw tight, her usual composure shattered.