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.

The night wind on the top deck was bone-chillingly cold. I stood alone in the corner, staring blankly at the dark sea. Faint laughter and music drifted from the distance, making this place feel even more desolate.

Soon, I would be able to leave. I just needed to endure a little longer.

Just then, the sound of leather shoes on the deck interrupted my thoughts.

"Leon, I really regret it." Penny's tearful voice floated over.

I froze instantly, instinctively retreating further into the shadows.

"Marco is getting more and more unreasonable now."

Through the gaps in the railing, I saw Penny leaning against Leon's chest. Tears were streaming down her face. Leon frowned. His hand was suspended in mid-air for a while before he started patting her back gently.

"I thought marrying him was the right thing to do, but now? His business gets worse every day, and his attitude toward me is just..."

She looked up at Leon with teary eyes. "But seeing you doing better and better makes me really happy."

Leon's expression instantly softened as he held her in his arms. "Penny..."

"You don't need to worry about me." Penny wiped her tears. "I'll be fine as long as you and Vee are happy."

Leon held her tighter with heartache. "Penny, your happiness matters too."

Penny's eyes brightened. "Then, what if... What if I asked you to divorce Vee and marry me right now?"

The sea breeze suddenly turned piercing. Leon didn't answer immediately. I saw his fingers curl slightly, then relax.

Penny's expression quickly dimmed. "Never mind, I should have known. You changed after you married her. Before, you would give me anything I wanted, but now..."

She suddenly stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "Now, I even have to initiate kisses."

Leon's body clearly tensed. He tilted his head slightly as if trying to avoid her, but in the end, he didn't push her away. When Penny started unbuckling his belt, I couldn't watch anymore and silently left through the side door.

The second deck was empty. I pulled out my phone, ready to contact Uncle Dante for immediate action. Before I could unlock it, a hand suddenly snatched the phone away.

"Veronica, what are you doing here alone?" Marco stood drunk in front of me. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Did you finally realize Leon doesn't love you at all? Do you regret leaving me?"

"Give me my phone back!" I reached up to grab it.

"Answer me first," he said, swaying as he pressed closer. "Do you regret leaving me?"

I just wanted to get my phone back quickly. "Yes, I regret it. Happy now?"

Marco showed a satisfied smile and shoved the phone back into my hands. As he staggered away, he muttered something smugly under his breath.

I looked down and quickly typed a message. My fingers trembled slightly from the urgency. Just as I was about to hit send, a dark figure suddenly lunged at me.

"You bitch!"

Penny's voice was shrill as she viciously knocked the phone from my hands. It arced through the air and plunged into the dark seawater.

"What the hell are you doing?" She was shaking with rage. "Are you meeting with Marco behind my back?"

I looked at her swollen lips and suddenly laughed. "What about you? Are you kissing my husband behind my back?"

Penny's face instantly turned deathly pale.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded coldly.

"If I wasn't here, how else would I have seen you getting cozy with my husband?" she sneered. "What's wrong? Now that Marco's down and out, you want to crawl back to him?"

I had no patience for her taunts. I stared intently at the sea's surface. Without my phone, I'd lost contact with Uncle Dante. I had to find another way to send the signal.

Seeing that I was ignoring her, Penny's eyes turned vicious as she deliberately moved closer. "Do you know why your mom deteriorated so quickly?"

My attention was pulled away as I looked up at her. She smiled sweetly yet maliciously. "I had someone switch out her meals with food that was bad for her kidneys.

"And also, every time you went on missions, I would visit her and show her photos of Marco and me together. But the best part…" She lowered her voice, and her eyes were gleaming with mad excitement.

"When your mom died, she was watching your kidney being put into my mother's body. She died with her eyes wide open!" She burst out laughing.

The thread of my sanity snapped instantly. I raised my hand and slapped her hard!

Penny staggered backward, covering her face and screaming. A second later, Leon's voice came from behind me.

"Veronica!"

He strode forward and grabbed my wrist tightly. His face was dark. "What's gotten into you today? You've been causing trouble for Penny all evening!"

I sneered. "What right do you have to stop me?"

"She saved my life!" His tone was firm, as if this was perfectly justified.

"Saved your life?" I gritted my teeth. I started enunciating every word. "So, you used my kidney and my mom's life to repay that debt? Is that it?"

Leon's eyes widened slightly. He struggled for a moment before adopting his cold expression once more. "I did no such thing."

He was still lying. I shook off his hand and turned to stop a passing waiter. "Could you please contact the rescue team? My phone fell into the ocean."

Leon frowned. "Who threw it?"

"She did." I pointed coldly at Penny.

He glanced at Penny, then back at me. His tone was impatient. "I've bought you so many phones. Just forget it if it's lost. Stop looking for it.

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

Marco from years ago and Leon in this moment overlapped perfectly. I looked at him, and my gaze grew colder bit by bit. It was as if something in me had completely shattered.

Leon's heart suddenly lurched, seeming to sense something was wrong. He was about to speak when a deafening explosion suddenly erupted. The yacht started shaking violently as flames shot skyward.

Penny screamed and threw herself into Leon's arms. "Leon! Let's go! The ship is sinking!"

The yacht split in half right down the middle. The spot I was standing on was already tilting, with churning seawater just beyond the railing. Leon instantly reached his hand out to me.

"Leon! Save me!" But Penny clung to him desperately while crying and shouting. "Didn't you promise you'd always protect me?"

He closed his eyes, finally gritting his teeth as he lifted Penny in his arms. Before turning away, he shouted at me, "Veronica, hang on! I'll be right back!"

I watched his resolute retreating figure and silently said goodbye. Just then, there was another explosion.

Leon whipped around. In the raging flames, he saw my figure getting swallowed by tongues of fire. In that final moment, I smiled at him gently.

"No! No! Veronica!"