Debra's POV
As I rushed into Tony's penthouse, my heart was racing.
My mind had been replaying the moment he announced that woman, Camilla, as his fiancée, and the elevator trip had been a haze.
I had been destroyed and humiliated as I stood in that ballroom.
I needed answers now.
He was pouring himself a drink in his living room as if nothing had happened when I spotted him. His tie was unfastened, and his suit jacket was slung across the couch. As I walked in, he looked up, his face unreadable.
"You misled me." Even though my voice wavered, I was not going to back down.
With a groan, Tony put down his glass. "You shouldn't be here, Debra."
I moved in closer. "You gave me hope that we had something. I fell in love with you, but then you— My voice broke. "Just to learn that you're engaged to another person?"
He tightened his jaw. "It's difficult."
"Difficult?" I gave a sour laugh. Tony, did you ever love me? Or did you view me as only a toy?
Something flared in his eyes—guilt? Anguish? I was unable to tell. But he buried it pretty immediately, whatever it was.
"This was an error," he stated icily. "We were an error."
His remarks pierced my chest like a blade.
With tears clouding my eyes, I shook my head. "That's not what you mean."
However, he did. He refused to look at me, and I could see it in his eyes.
His voice was cold as he ordered, "Go home, Debra." "Don't think this ever happened."
My cheeks began to well up with tears. "You're a coward."
He didn't recoil.
I waited for him to defend me and stop me.
He didn't.
Knowing that I would never be the same again, I turned and left.
I resigned the following day.
I was unable to stay. Not after everything.
Entering that office and acting as if nothing had occurred? Pretending my heart wasn't broken while seeing Tony every day?
Not possible.
I silently crammed my desk, ignoring my colleague's interested looks.
Lisa, my best friend, came running over to me. "Deb, please tell me that Tony isn't to blame for this."
I took a deep breath. "All I need is a new beginning."
She scowled. "Where are you going?"
"Anywhere but here."
Lisa took hold of my hand. "This is not something you have to do alone."
However, I did.
Because I had put my heart in Tony's hands.
And without hesitation, he had smashed it.
I promised myself that I would never again trust him or anyone else as I left his office.
The nausea began a week later.
I initially believed it was the sadness, the stress, and the restless nights.
However, I started to feel bad when I didn't get my period.
Staring at the pregnancy test in my trembling hands, I sat in my bathroom.
Two pink lines.
Good.
My breath caught. I gripped my stomach as a wash of feelings, including rage, disbelief, and dread, swept over me.
Tony's baby was inside me.
I was referred to as a mistake by the man.
The man who had ruined my life.
My eyes have been charred by tears. This was not what I was expecting. I wasn't prepared to be a single parent.
However, what option did I have?
I was unable to return to him. I wouldn't.
I drew a trembling breath and wiped away my tears.
I needed to be powerful.
For myself.
For my child.
Vincent DeLuca leaned back in his chair in a dimly lit office across the city, a contented grin on his lips.
He twisted his whiskey and replied, "You did well."
Tony sat opposite him, his face unreadable and icy. But his knuckles were white from the tight clenching of his fists.
With a hollow voice, Tony answered, "I did what you wanted." "Now give her some space."
Vincent laughed. "You truly believe it was that easy?"
Tony's eyes grew gloomy. "If you ever get close to her—"
Vincent held up a hand. "Calm down, son. For now, she is safe. But remember, everything I do is for your good."
Tony's jaw tightened.
He had sacrificed the one woman who had ever made him feel alive.
And for what?
His family's dominance over him, their chains.
To keep Debra safe, he had crushed her heart.
But he was certain of one thing.
She would never forgive him.
And if she ever found out the truth, it might be too late.
Debra's POV
The woman staring back at me in the mirror was nothing like the girl Tony had left behind.
I ran my hands over the sleek black dress that was the ideal fit for my contours. My dark hair fell over my shoulders, and my makeup was perfect.
Assured. Strong. Untouchable.
I had become into that.
Rebuilding myself from the ashes of my past had taken years.
I had pushed myself into my profession after leaving Tony's world, pushing myself to the very limit and beyond all expectations. I was now the CEO of a thriving fashion empire and a well-respected businesswoman.
The weak helper Tony had earlier thrown away was no longer visible.
Debra Carter was spotted.
Accomplished. fierce. In command.
Beneath everything, though, was one secret I continued to conceal.
I walked into my bedroom, where the most valuable part of my life was sound asleep, and turned away from the mirror.
Liam.
As I looked at my son, my heart tightened.
He was everything to me when I was only four years old.
With his favorite stuffed bear in his tiny palm, his serene face was framed by his dark locks. He resembled him a lot.
Tony's gaze. Tony's powerful jaw.
But he would never be known to Liam.
That's what I'd promised myself.
Power was Tony's preference over me. I had been instantly devastated by him. He had dismissed me as if I were unimportant.
And I would never allow him to harm our son in the same way.
I bent over and gave Liam's forehead a gentle kiss.
"Mommy loves you," I whispered.