Dinner on Friday

56. Carla

THE PRICE OF LOVE

The car hummed as we continued down the road, my thoughts a chaotic mess. The cityscape gave way to quieter neighborhoods, the houses growing larger and more secluded.

We pulled up to Lianna's house, a sprawling estate hidden behind high walls and iron gates. My heart pounded in my chest as Sergio parked the car, the enormity of what I was about to do sinking in.

Jenna reached over and squeezed my hand. "I'm with you, whatever happens."

I took a deep breath and nodded, grateful for her support. We stepped out of the car and approached the gate. The intercom buzzed as I pressed the button, and a sharp voice crackled through the speaker.

"Who is it?"

"It's Carla. Dante's Wife. I need to speak with Lianna."

There was a pause; then the gate creaked open. We made our way up the winding path, the sound of gravel crunching under my wheels and Jenna's sneakers. The front door loomed ahead, and I still hadn't made a decision about Lianna's fate.

The second we stepped on the mat, the door swung open, and a woman I assumed was Lianna stood there, her face a mask of surprise and confusion. With her natural hair in a bun, her curves, and her height, she looked a lot like me. We even wore similar clothing: black jeans, a white blouse, and boots.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a British accent, her eyes flicking between me and Jenna before looking over our shoulders as if expecting someone else.

"We need to talk," I said, adding a bit of coldness to my voice.

Lianna hesitated, then stepped aside to let us in. The interior of her home was extravagant, filled with expensive furnishings and artwork. But all I could see was the woman who had a sample of my husband's cum inside her.

We followed her to the living room, where she gestured for us to sit. I remained standing, my eyes boring into hers.

"I need to know the truth," I said, my voice unwavering. "Are you pregnant with Dante's child?"

Lianna's face paled, and she shook her head. "No, I'm not. I never was. He knows this. And if I was, I had no intention of keeping the baby."

"Why put his cum inside of you then?" I asked, irritated at the anger I felt rising inside of me. I loved my husband, and the thought of sharing him was soul-shattering.

Lianna looked down, her expression one of guilt and shame. "Mathias forced me. He said if I didn't do it, he would hurt me and my family. He was going to kill my fiancée, so I had no choice. He fucking checked to see if Dante's cum was inside me by fingering me right after I was done. I'm disgusted with myself."

"You should be. You had a choice, and you chose wrong."

Lianna's light brown eyes settled on my face, her expression grave. "Knowing what you know about Mathias, tell me you wouldn't have done the same. Your husband didn't want to do it, but he did it anyway to save you and your mother. Did he choose wrong?"

I looked at Jenna, who, so far, hadn't spoken up, but just having her here with me was more than enough. This was my battle to fight.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to let go of my anger. If I were in Lianna's position, could I honestly say I wouldn't have done the same? Sometimes, putting a loved one first meant saving their life at all costs, even if it meant enduring separation and heartbreak. In the end, losing someone to distance and pain was far better than losing them forever to death.

"I guess sometimes love pushes us to make sacrifices that wound us deeply, and these wounds are the price of keeping the ones we love safe. Thank you for saving my life."