The room went quiet after Marcello threw his words out like a knife. He looked like the perfect protective husband, standing there like a shield in front of me. But I didn't feel safe. I just felt… tired.
Giovanna sighed and finally muttered, "Fine. Let's eat first."
At the table, the only noise was the clink of silver against porcelain. Giovanna kept making those little annoyed sounds, and my hand tightened around my fork. I knew it was coming.
Sure enough, she dropped her fork and said, "It's been nine months. Enough grieving. You lost a daughter, fine. But it's time to give us a grandson. You can't just end the Castellano bloodline."
Carlo nodded, cold eyes fixed on me. "That child died because you didn't care for her properly. A simple stomach ache, and she never came home from the hospital. Stop playing the victim, Arianna. Conceive again and do it right this time."
The words sliced straight through me, but before I could open my mouth, Marcello set his fork down. His voice was calm, but sharp enough to cut. "I already told you. Arianna is scared of pain. I won't let her suffer like that. If we never have kids, so be it."