I used to think my husband was the angel who saved me from the depths of hell.

Five years ago, I would have died for my ex-fiance, Marco Lombardi, but his carelessness caused Mom's kidneys to fail. He ignored 99 of my calls, and with an empty bank account, I couldn't even afford the surgery to donate my kidney to her.

Only later did I discover that during that time, he was having romantic getaways with my stepsister, Penny Rossi.

When I hit rock bottom, mafia Don Leon Costa showed up. He got me the best doctors, handled everything when Mom died, and even proposed to me when I was a complete mess.

In our five years of marriage, he has spoiled me rotten. I've almost forgotten how much Marco and Penny hurt me.

Then, today, I overhear his phone call with Penny. "Leon, thank you for giving my sister's kidney to my mother back then."

My beloved husband just brushes it off. "Don't worry about it. I'll look after your sister. She won't ever know."

He laughs quietly, and his voice is full of warmth. "You know I hate seeing you cry."

I had been with my husband, Leon Costa, for five years. I thanked God every day for letting me meet him. He appeared when my fiance betrayed me and my mother was dying. He had helped me selflessly.

Even though Mom eventually died from rejection reactions, I never blamed him for it. That was until tonight, when I stood outside the study door and heard the whole truth.

"Don't worry, Penny. Camilla's recent poor condition might not be a rejection reaction."

Leon Costa's voice was deep and gentle in a way that was out of character. After all, he was a cold and ruthless mafia Don in front of most people.

"Veronica's kidney can last at least another 20 years."

What was he talking about? My ears buzzed, and I couldn't hear anything he said after that.

In a daze, I remembered that rainy night five years ago when I was still Marco Lombardi's fiancee. I was sitting disheveled outside the operating room, calling Marco over and over again.

I had called him 99 times, yet he didn't answer a single one of my calls. Leon appeared at that moment. He crouched down and draped his suit jacket over me. His voice was low and gentle.

"Ms. Bianchi, I heard from my business partner that you need help."

He arranged everything methodically, unlike Marco, who always made me fight for everything desperately. Only later did I learn that this man was the newly risen mafia Don, Leon Costa.

Unfortunately, although the surgery succeeded, Mom still died.

"I'm very sorry, but Sofia didn't make it through. I've already dealt with the negligent staff."

He held me as I cried until I couldn't breathe, comforting me by saying that my kidney could accompany Mom in eternal rest, and she would be comforted in heaven. Only then did my busy fiance remember me and call back.

It turned out he hadn't answered his phone because my frail stepsister, Penny Rossi, was "running a fever" again. I didn't hesitate to break off our engagement. He flew into a rage, accusing me of only caring about my mother.

Leon couldn't stand listening anymore and snatched the phone to scold him severely. "Veronica deserves better. If you won't cherish her, then don't you dare criticize anyone else who wants to!"

After hanging up, I looked at him in surprise. He slipped a diamond ring onto my ring finger before I could react.

He knelt on one knee. The decisive southern mafia Don's ears turned red as he stammered through his proposal, but the sincerity burning in those blue eyes made me cry.

"Veronica, marry me."

At that moment, I thought this was salvation. Now, here was this same man, making promises to Penny over the phone.

"Penny, from the year you saved me when you were 12 years old, I swore to protect you forever. Marrying your sister was just a way to let you be with Marco as you wished."

Music and crying drifted from the other end of the line.

"Marco? I... I don't want to talk about him..."

"Don't cry. What's that sound? Are you at a bar?" Leon's voice rose as he stood up abruptly.

"It's not safe being at one this late. I'm coming to pick you up right now!"

I snapped back to reality, stumbled back to the bedroom, and quickly lay down. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. Leon stood in the entryway looking toward the bedroom before leaving. I felt his gaze piercing my back.

He walked in and gently covered me with the blanket. Then, he left with hurried footsteps.

I opened my eyes, and tears flowed uncontrollably, soaking the entire pillow.

As I got out of bed, I found a hastily scribbled note on the entryway table.

"Company emergency. Don't wait up."

That liar. I stormed into Leon's study, furious. I'd never set foot in this place during our five years of marriage.

I knew the study was where he handled business and confidential matters, so I never asked questions. He never bothered locking it since I was so understanding. Now, I needed to find the truth I was looking for. I had to know whose body my kidney was actually in.

The drawers weren't locked. As I searched through them, the first things I found were photos. He and Penny were captured in all of them. The almost devout focus in his eyes when he looked at Penny made my eyes burn.

Finally, in an inconspicuous file folder, I found that organ transplant agreement.

"Donor: Veronica Bianchi

"Recipient: Camilla Rosario"

My hands were shaking. It was true. Everything was true! The kidney that should have saved Mom was now inside Camilla, the mistress who made her cry herself to sleep every night!

And Mom had died watching her daughter's kidney go into the body of the person she hated most, while she was abandoned and left to die alone!

The overwhelming grief and rage made me unsteady on my feet. I staggered back, and my elbow accidentally knocked over a thick leather notebook by the desk.

It hit the floor with a thud and fell open. I instinctively bent down to pick it up, but my gaze was fixed on the photo at the top. In the photo were Leon, Penny, and a pale but smugly smiling woman on a hospital bed.

It was Camilla.

The three of them were holding champagne glasses, beaming as they celebrated something. Penny was holding a huge jewelry box in her arms and smiling radiantly.

I turned the photo over with trembling hands and saw the date written on the back. It was the day after my kidney donation surgery when I was unconscious, and the day my mother, Sofia, supposedly died from rejection reactions!

What kind of absurd lie had I been living in?

A suppressed whimper escaped from my throat. I covered my mouth tightly, digging my nails deep into my palms. I used the pain to force myself to stay calm.

"Don't cry, Veronica. This isn't the time to break down."

Past tenderness turned into cold hatred, replacing the sadness and quickly filling my heart. I had to leave this place right now!

I quickly restored the study to its original state, taking only the organ transplant agreement and the photo, hiding them carefully. These would be evidence for future reckoning.

Back in the cold bedroom, I dialed a number I hadn't contacted in a long time. "Hello, Uncle Dante?"

The man on the other end was silent for two seconds, then his deep, concerned voice came through. "Veronica? Why are you calling this late? What happened?"

I suppressed my churning emotions. "I need your help."

"What did Leon Costa do to you?" Uncle Dante's voice instantly turned cold.

"He lied to me," I said quietly. "He let Mom die on the operating table."

I told him everything. He was silent for a moment. His breathing grew heavier with anger.

"No problem. Do you want a divorce? I'll arrange the best legal team immediately and leave him with nothing!"

"No, Uncle Dante," I interrupted him. My voice was unusually calm. "I don't want to go through divorce proceedings. It's too slow, and he'd still be able to find me.

"I want to disappear completely."

"Disappear?" Uncle Dante's voice sounded surprised. "What do you want to do?"

"The timing will be the day after tomorrow," I said quickly. "Penny and Marco are having their wedding anniversary party on a yacht, and they personally invited Leon and me. With all those people there, it's the perfect opportunity."

"A yacht?" Uncle Dante laughed.

His response was decisive. "Perfect. The water will hide everything. I'll make the arrangements."

"Thank you, Uncle Dante." After hanging up, I could finally breathe easier.

Overwhelming exhaustion washed over me. I collapsed on the bed, stared at the ceiling, and forced myself to smile. Soon, I would be free from all of this.

…

The next morning, when I woke up, Leon was already back. He sat on the edge of the bed, holding a box of my favorite pastries.

"You're awake?" His voice was gentle as he offered me the raspberry panna cotta. "I had someone get in line early for this."

Penny loved this too. Back when I was with Marco, it always belonged to Penny. I couldn't even touch it without him mocking me.

"Am I not feeding you enough? Do you really have to compete with your sister over this?"

But with Leon, the whole portion belonged to me. I used to think this was favoritism. Now, it just made me sick.

Staring at that elegant packaging, I suddenly raised my hand. I knocked the box over, and raspberry sauce splashed on the carpet like a pool of blood.

Leon froze. "Veronica?"

"I don't feel well," I said coldly.

He frowned, reaching to touch my forehead. "Did you catch a cold?"

"I miss my mom," I said, interrupting him.

He sighed, and his expression was guilty. "If I had known your mother would die from rejection reactions, I never would have let you donate your kidney."

He was still putting on that act. I stared at him intently. "Are you sure my mom really died from rejection?"

His expression stiffened, then his face darkened. "Veronica, what do you mean? Who funded your surgery back then? Who saved you when Marco abandoned you?"

As expected, he was getting defensive. I gave him a thin smile. "I didn't mean anything by it."

He stared at me, and his eyes were unreadable. "Then, what are you suspecting?"

"Nothing." I calmly looked away. "I just suddenly remembered that Marco and Penny's wedding anniversary is coming up, isn't it?"

He narrowed his eyes, clearly not expecting me to bring this up. "You... want to go?"

"Of course." I smiled. "After all, we're family, aren't we?"

Leon's expression was complicated. It was as if he were trying to figure out my intentions. But finally, he just nodded. "Alright. I'll make arrangements."

I turned away and closed my eyes. Only 36 hours left until my freedom.

The yacht party was lavish, but I immediately noticed something was off when I looked around carefully.

The bodyguards stood lazily in corners, and not one of them was armed. The maids moved clumsily. Their hands were trembling slightly as they carried trays. And though the food was elegant, the portions were clearly insufficient.

Had Marco's family really declined to this extent?

Still, this was perfect. If that was the case, security was probably loose too, making it easier for Uncle Dante's people to act.

Leon walked into the venue with his arm around my waist. In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to us.

"Don Costa!"

"Madre!"

The guests swarmed over, competing to curry favor. Everyone knew that Leon's family had been thriving under his leadership these past years, while Marco's influence had long since declined.

Marco stood not far away. His face was dark as he watched this play out. But he quickly adjusted his expression and walked over with champagne. He forced a smile. "Veronica, it's been a while."

I nodded coldly. "Quite a while. The last time we met, you were warning me not to regret my decision."

Marco's smile stiffened, and he lowered his voice. "There's no need to bring up the past. By the way, I heard your uncle returned to the country recently?"

I raised an eyebrow, suddenly understanding why he had personally invited me here. He wanted Uncle Dante to help him out. Marco probably still thought that since I had once loved him so much, I would surely soften and help him.

I smiled. "Yes, he's back."

Marco's eyes lit up. "So, could you maybe..."

"No." I cut him off bluntly. "Do you remember how my mom died?"

His expression froze. I didn't give him a chance to speak. My voice was clear enough for everyone around to hear.

"Back when I was still your fiancee, I risked everything for you. My only request was that you take care of my mom. But you were careless, and you let her condition worsen.

"The day she went into kidney failure, I called you 99 times. Every single call was hung up on. Now, what makes you think I would help you?"

The surroundings instantly fell silent. The guests' eyes shifted subtly between Marco and me as they whispered among themselves.

Marco's face alternated between red and white. He gripped his wine glass tightly. Seeing this, Penny immediately adopted a wounded expression and looked at Leon. "Leon, look at her..."

Leon frowned but didn't respond to her words. He only gave me a warning look.

Penny bit her lip, then suddenly smiled. "Oh, right, where's your gift?"

I pulled a box from my purse and casually tossed it to her. Penny caught it and opened it to find a pair of ordinary pearl earrings. She pursed her lips, clearly dissatisfied. Her gaze zoned in on the brooch on my chest.

"Vee..." she bit her lip and said pitifully, "Could I borrow your brooch for just one day?"

The guests immediately gasped. That brooch was custom-made by my Uncle Dante, symbolizing the legitimate status of the Bianchi family. As the daughter of a mistress, Penny had no right to touch it.

I said nothing. I just stared at her coldly. Penny's eyes reddened. "Never mind. I know you've never liked me, Vee, and you're always looking down on me..."

As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Leon with a pitiful expression. Leon frowned. He knew the significance of this brooch, but he still spoke up. "Veronica, Penny just wants to borrow it for a day."

Marco also sneered. "Veronica, it's just a brooch. Do you really have to be so petty?"

"Absolutely not." I cut them off and turned to leave.

But Penny suddenly reached out and grabbed me. "Vee!"

I casually shook her off, and she cried out as she fell to the ground. Leon's face darkened instantly as he grabbed my wrist. "Veronica!"

I frowned at him. "I didn't push her."

Penny sat on the ground, clutching her ankle with tears in her eyes. "Leon, don't blame Vee. It was my own carelessness..."

Leon stared at me with dark eyes, then suddenly reached out. He yanked the brooch off me and pinned it to Penny's dress.

"Consider it compensation," he said coldly.

The entire venue fell silent. The guests' expressions shifted with interest as everyone knew what this meant.

Penny kept her head down, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. Since childhood, everyone had always said I was better than her, more noble than her. And now, she had finally left me with nothing.

Marco moved to help Penny up, but she rose delicately on her own. "Leon, I twisted my ankle. Could you take me to the lounge?"

Leon frowned, hesitating as he looked at me. But Penny cooed softly. "Leon..."

Leon finally nodded and followed her as they left. Before leaving, she turned back and gave me a provocative smile.

I stood there, watching their retreating figures, and smiled. What a lovely family I had.