The Devil Who Claimed Me

Chapter 166: You used me.

When Mila woke up the next morning, the other side of the bed was empty. The pillow beside her was cold.

Dominic was gone.

A sharp ache pierced her chest.

Mila slowly sat up, her fingers tightening around the blanket. Her gaze swept across the room instinctively, as if expecting him to emerge from the shadows.

But there was no sign of him.

Her heart clenched painfully.

She still had no idea how he had slipped into her room last night, or how he had left without anyone noticing.

"Why did you leave without saying goodbye?" she whispered.

Tears immediately burned behind her eyes. Every moment she spent with him came flashing back into her mind.

She wanted him beside her, wanted to wake up in his arms every morning, and wanted him to stay with her and their child.

But she knew he couldn’t.

Not yet.

He still had a mission to complete. Only after it was over could they finally live the life they both dreamed of.

"Baby..." Her trembling hand slid over her rounded belly.

Emotion clogged her throat. "Daddy will come back," she whispered. "Very soon. He’ll be with us."

Just as she was about to get out of bed, something on the nightstand caught her attention.

A folded piece of paper rested there quietly.

’To Mila...’ was written in bold letters. She immediately recognized the handwriting.

Dominic left her a message.

Her heart skipped a beat at the realization.

She grabbed the paper and unfolded it.

’Sorry, my love. I had to leave like this. You were sleeping so peacefully that I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.’

The words blurred before her eyes. A tear slipped down her cheek.

She quickly wiped it away and continued reading.

’I may not be able to come see you often. But remember this—I will always be watching over you.’

A sob nearly escaped her lips.

"I know," she whispered brokenly. "I know you are watching me."

Her fingers tightened around the letter. "It’s just... I miss you so much."

The loneliness was unbearable. The distance felt like torture.

Taking a shaky breath, she continued reading.

’Take care of yourself and our baby for me. I love you, Mila. And I miss you too.’

More tears fell. But this time, a faint smile appeared through them.

"I know you’ll succeed," she whispered. "You have to."

Her palm rested protectively over her stomach. "For us. For our baby."

Carefully folding the letter, she placed it inside the nightstand drawer.

Then determination slowly replaced the sadness in her eyes.

"I’ll divorce Max as soon as possible. I’ve wasted enough time in that marriage."

Knock-Knock-Knock...

The loud banging shattered the silence.

Mila frowned.

The knocking came again, more impatient this time.

"Miss!" The housekeeper’s anxious voice drifted through the door. "Dr. Max is here. He wants to see you."

Mila’s expression darkened instantly. "Max?"

Disgust twisted inside her.

The photographs Dominic had shown her last night flashed through her mind.

"What does he want now?"

She stepped out of the room.

The housekeeper looked visibly distressed. "I tried to stop him, Miss, but he started shouting at me."

She nervously wrung her hands together. "He looks very angry."

Mila inhaled deeply. "Don’t worry." Her voice was calm but cold. "Go busy yourself. I’ll deal with him."

Moments later, she entered the living room.

The second Max saw her, he immediately stood up and strode toward her.

"Mila." His eyes lit up desperately. "Let’s go home. I’ve come to take you back."

"I’m not going anywhere." Her rejection was immediate.

Max’s smile faltered. "Come on, Mila. You are here all alone. Who is going to take care of you?"

He reached for her hand.

Mila instantly pulled away. "I’m not alone." Her voice turned icy. "The servants can take care of me."

She met his gaze directly. "And we are getting divorced. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to live together."

Panic flickered across Max’s face. "Don’t say that. I’m not divorcing you."

Mila’s expression remained indifferent. "Then I’ll see you in court."

Her words struck him like a slap.

"But this divorce is happening."

The desperation in Max’s eyes slowly transformed into anger. His features darkened.

"Enough." The warning in his voice was unmistakable. "You are not doing anything like that."

Mila stared at him without flinching.

Max stepped closer. "Don’t forget you are alive because of my family."

His tone turned threatening. "The moment we withdraw our protection, you’ll become a target again. The people hunting you will come after you. Who will save you then?"

Mila wasn’t afraid anymore, not when she knew Dominic was watching over her.

"As I told you before, I don’t need your protection."

"Really?" A mocking laugh escaped him. His eyes turned vicious. "Then let me expose the truth."

He leaned closer. "I’ll tell the entire world that you were the infamous don’s lover."

His gaze dropped to her stomach. "And that the child you are carrying isn’t mine."

A chilling smile spread across his face. "Let’s see how you protect yourself after that."

Mila didn’t blink. She didn’t flinch. She didn’t show even a trace of fear.

Max’s confidence wavered. He had expected panic, tears, and begging.

Instead, she looked completely unbothered.

"I mean it," he snapped. "I’ll tell everyone how my family saved you and lied to keep you alive."

"Go ahead." Her calm response stunned him. "I want the truth exposed too."

Mila’s eyes turned sharp. "Tell everyone how you and your father manipulated me into marrying you. And then we’ll see what Marcus does to the Bellini family."

The color drained from Max’s face. Fear exploded inside him.

Marcus.

That name alone was enough to make his blood run cold.

If Marcus learned the truth, everything would be over.

The terror soon twisted into rage. Without warning, he grabbed her shoulders.

"You think you can leave me?" His face contorted with madness. "Never."

Mila’s heart lurched. "Let me go."

She tried to shove him away.

But Max had already lost control. He forcefully pulled her against him. Then he lowered his head, trying to kiss her.

Disgust and panic exploded inside Mila. "Get off me..."

She turned her face away and pushed desperately against his chest.

"I’ve been patient with you," Max shouted.

His eyes were bloodshot. "I treated you well. I gave you everything. I thought you’d eventually see me."

His expression became twisted and ugly. "But you’ve been using me from the very beginning."

His voice echoed through the room. "You used my family to protect another man’s child."

Mila’s blood turned to ice.

A terrifying look appeared in Max’s eyes. The look of someone who had completely lost his mind.

"And today..." His gaze dropped to her stomach. "I’m going to get rid of the problem."

A cruel smile spread across his lips.

Fear slammed into Mila. Instinctively, both hands flew to her belly.

"No."

Max shoved her onto the sofa.

She gasped as his weight pinned her down.

"Don’t worry, darling." His voice was sickeningly gentle. "We can always have another child."

His hand moved toward her stomach. "But this one has to go."

"You bastard." Mila fought with everything she had. "If you touch my child, I’ll kill you."

Max only laughed.

The sound sent chills down her spine.

"No one is coming to save you." His grip tightened. "Who would dare oppose the Bellini family?"

Then he pinned both her wrists above her head.

Mila’s heart pounded wildly. Pain shot through her stomach. Fear nearly suffocated her.

"Help..."

Max crushed his lips against hers.

Mila struggled violently.

"Get away from her, you piece of trash." The furious roar shook the entire house.

Max froze. His head snapped toward the entrance.

Lara stormed into the room like a hurricane. Rage blazed in her eyes.

Before Max could react, she grabbed him by the collar and violently yanked him off Mila.

"You disgusting animal."

She slapped him. The force of her palm sent his head whipping sideways.

Lara pointed a trembling finger at him. Her entire body shook with fury.

"You tried to force yourself on a pregnant woman?"

Another slap landed across his face.

"I’ll destroy you."