He reached out and pulled me into his office.

The same cheap cherry perfume assaulted my senses the moment I pressed against his body.

I saw the deep red hickeys through his slightly open collar.

A violent wave of nausea hit my stomach.

"What is wrong."

I looked up at him.

My eyes burned with heat.

"Franco. Do you have anything to say to me."

I suddenly felt that Franco was unspeakably dirty.

I felt like a scavenger picking through garbage.

He rejected the idea of explaining.

"I am sorry. I should have come back earlier. I already bought the lobster roll you wanted. Look."

The food was completely cold.

"Franco, would you ever betray me."

"Of course not. Am I that kind of person. I only have you in my heart."

"Is that so."

He raised his voice suddenly.

His guilt turned into defensive anger.

"What is wrong with you. You have been so paranoid lately. I told you we are getting married next month. What more do you want."

My tears could no longer be stopped.

"I am satisfied. Of course I am satisfied. I am very satisfied Franco."

I walked out of the office before he could chase after me.

I ran into Luna by the elevators.

She came to show off.

"Let me tell you the truth. Franco and I have been together for years. I only got into this club because of him."

"Oh. If Franco really loved you, he would never send you to work in a place like this."

"What do you know. Franco said he loves me."

"Really. Then let him try to marry you."

"You."

Luna stamped her foot in anger.

I walked out and got into a waiting car.

I drove past Luna.

She was still standing there grinding her teeth.

Franco came home late that night.

"Siena, the syndicate is opening a new smuggling route. I might need your help."

"What route is it. Is there something you cannot handle."

I asked the question on purpose.

"I just need you to show your face and give me a push."

"Okay."

Franco knew the other side would give face to the Moretti family if I stepped in.

Everyone in New York had to look at the Moretti family's face.

That route would land safely in his hands.

I knew exactly what Franco wanted.

He wanted the leverage of my family behind me.

Everyone knew the sheer power of the Moretti syndicate.

I had fought with my father over Franco.

But I was still the only daughter of the Moretti family.

My father loved me fiercely.

"Do not worry Franco. I will definitely help you when the time comes."

"Thank you Siena. I love you."

Franco leaned in to kiss me.

I shifted my body and dodged him perfectly.

"Franco, I am a bit tired today. I want to rest early."

Franco thought I was just acting out my usual petty temper.

He thought I felt neglected these past few days.

I lay in bed with my back to him.

Franco wrapped his arms around me from behind.

He rested his chin on my shoulder.

He kissed the back of my neck over and over again.

"I am sorry Siena. We will get married as soon as I finish this busy period. I will take a long vacation and we can travel the world."

I kept my back to him.

My eyes were wet.

I truly loved Franco.

But my disappointment was just as real now.

There was only one week left until our seven-year promise.

I would cross my bridge and he would cross his from now on.

We would never see each other again.

A long time passed.

I felt the person behind me pull away while I was half-asleep.

I was right.

The light in his study was on.

"We should stop contacting each other for a while. I do not want you ruining this for me."

"This smuggling route is crucial for the syndicate. We will celebrate properly once the dust settles on this project."

"Do not worry about Siena. I already handled her. She agreed to help. The Moretti family will step in."

"Alright. I miss you too. Be a good girl and go to sleep."

"Relax. I will marry you. I will take care of both of you."

I stood by the door and listened to their entire conversation.

Franco believed his plans were absolutely flawless.

My blind trust over the years had given him far too much confidence.

Franco was already gone the next morning.

I was a person who always kept my word.

I had to take action now that I decided to leave.

I went back to the Moretti family estate.

"Father, mother, I am home."

My parents had a terrible falling out with me because I insisted on Franco.

They still could not help but feel heartbroken seeing their only daughter.

I had lost so much weight since they last saw me a few months ago.

My mother held my hands and looked at me from every angle.

"Siena, is Franco treating you badly. I told you back then..."

My father sighed and stopped her when he saw my expression.

"Enough. Stop talking. You know how Siena is..."

My emotions finally broke under their care.

I started crying again.

"Mom, Dad, I am so sorry. I was too stubborn. I disappointed you both."

"Siena, your business with Franco is your own decision. We will support whatever choice you make."

My parents were always the ones who loved me the most.

"Thank you. I came today to say... Franco and I... I think we are over."

My father stood up furiously before I even finished my sentence.

"What. Did that street rat bully you. Did he cheat on you."

"Wait right here. I am calling my men right now."

My father reached for his phone to summon the family enforcers.

"Dad, do not rush. I will handle this myself. I just came to discuss something and I need your cooperation."

I grabbed his arm.

I stayed at my parents' estate that night.

I did not go back.

Franco would have scoured the city looking for me if I stayed out all night in the past.

He would never let me sleep somewhere else.

I doubted he even went home now.

Three days later.

I returned to the penthouse.

It looked exactly like it did when I left.

Franco had not been home for three days.

He had not called or sent a single message.

I looked at the decorations in the room.

I picked and matched everything by hand when I was dreaming of our future.

I even painted the canvas hanging on the wall stroke by stroke.

Men only behaved when they were framed and hung on the wall.

A short while later, I heard an engine pull into the private courtyard.

I stood on the second floor.

I thought Franco finally remembered he had a home.

I watched the courtyard from the window.

I never expected Luna to step out of the passenger side.

Franco got out of the driver's seat.

He opened the door for her himself.

He supported her carefully as she stepped down.

My eyes grew wet.

The two of them walked through the foyer laughing and talking.

Franco pulled a brand new pair of women's slippers from the cabinet for her.

"Sit down and rest. I will cook for you."

"Okay. Thank you, husband."

Luna wrapped her arms around Franco and kissed him.

Husband.

Right.

I was just a woman who accompanied Franco for seven years.

We were not legally married.

What right did I have to interfere.

What right did I even possess.

I slowly walked down from the second floor.

I saw Luna lying on the chaise lounge.

Her stomach was slightly swollen.

She was covered in the jacket Franco had just taken off.

"Baby, what do you want to eat..."

Franco poked his head out of the kitchen wearing an apron.

He met my eyes right as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

His eyes darted everywhere.

He looked utterly panicked.

He froze.

I saw it then—the sheer terror in his eyes wasn't just guilt.

He always thought he had the upper hand, that he was using me.

But deep down, in the twisted, insecure core of his soul, he knew the truth.

I was his only light in this filthy underworld.

He just never believed he truly deserved it.

Now, the light was walking out the door.

"Siena..." his voice trembled, the arrogant Underboss completely gone. "Don't..."

"Siena. Why are you home."

Why am I home.

Why shouldn't I be home.

I suddenly felt like a clown who accidentally walked into someone else's house.

"Should I not be here."

"No. I mean you have not been home for two days. I thought you went out to have fun so I..."

Franco explained with deep guilt.

"Oh. So you brought your new toy here for the night."

I looked at him as calmly as if he were a complete stranger.

Luna jumped out first like a dancing monkey.

"Watch your mouth. I am not a toy."

I had already decided to leave.

That did not mean I would swallow my anger when dealing with Luna.

"Did I name you. You exposed yourself. You really are an idiot."

I showed no mercy to the cheating trash standing in front of me.

Maybe my words struck a nerve.

Or maybe he was terrified of losing the Moretti family's funds behind me.

Franco suddenly yelled.

"Luna. Shut your mouth."

I steadied my emotions and returned to my cold demeanor.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Franco. Are you not going to explain."

"I am sorry Siena. I will explain everything to you in a minute."

He started pushing Luna toward the door.

"Luna, go back first."

Luna stumbled backward as Franco shoved her.

She twisted her body and kept shouting unwillingly.

"Siena. You might chase me out today. But I will walk back in here with full honors one day."

I watched Franco and smiled at her words.

"Sure. I will wait and see. I will wait to see Franco marry you."

"Hmph. Just you wait."

Luna kept running her mouth even as Franco dragged her into the courtyard.

"Let me tell you Siena. The unloved one is the real mistress. Franco loves me. We..."

Luna's voice faded into the air as the distance grew.

I stared at their retreating backs.

I suddenly wondered if Luna was right.

I followed Franco for so many years without a title or status.

I asked for nothing.

And this was how I ended up.

Was this really what I wanted.

An unknown number called my phone later that day.

A female voice spoke through the receiver.

"Siena, I advise you to stay far away from him. I am carrying Franco's child right now. He will never marry you. Just give up on that dead dream."

I blocked the number casually.

But she kept finding new ways to text me from different numbers.

She sent a barrage of useless messages.

[Franco came with me to my ultrasound today. The baby is seven months along. He said he is so excited to be a father. He says the baby looks like him. He promised we will get married as soon as the baby is born.]

A picture of Franco kissing her pregnant belly followed.

[Franco took me to book the luxury maternity suite today. He washed the baby's clothes with his own hands.]

A picture of Franco bending over to hand-wash a pair of tiny socks was attached.

My heart still twisted with intense, agonizing pain.

No matter how calm I tried to be.

Seeing Franco look so incredibly happy washing baby clothes still hurt.