After changing my clothes, I walked downstairs to find the guests already surrounding Bella. She was wearing a limited-edition white dress, looking every bit the innocent woman among these mafia men.

Gideon stood by the window, swirling a glass of red wine as he gazed at her with a tender look.

I did not pay them any mind. I simply stayed in the corner, tasting the food.

“Hi, may I ask who you are?” A man approached me. “You’re way too pretty to be standing here alone. Would you honor me with a dance?”

Before I could respond, Bella quickly cut in, “She’s my elder sister, Evelyn.”

The man nodded politely and extended his hand to me. “Nice to meet you. I’m Zerrick.”

The moment he said his name, Bella’s smile disappeared.

Zerrick Shane was a man of high status. His name carried as much weight as Gideon’s.

A hint of jealousy flashed across Bella’s eyes before she deliberately turned toward Gideon. “Wow, Evelyn, I guess some people really do have all the luck. You barely got here and already charmed such a great guy. I’m really jealous.”

Gideon’s gaze shifted to me, his brows slightly furrowed. His voice was cold like ice. “This is Bella’s party, not a place for you to toy with men.”

Toy with men?

The absurdity of it almost made me laugh. I had not done anything, yet with just one sentence from Bella, I was branded guilty.

Zerrick frowned. “Mr. Wade, don’t you think that’s a bit too much? This lady hasn’t done anything.”

The moment those words fell, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Everyone fell silent without realizing it, waiting to watch the showdown between the two great families.

Gideon’s lips curved into a faint smile. He reached into his suit and drew a gun. In the next second, the muzzle was pressed to Zerrick’s forehead.

Everyone gasped in shock.

They all knew of Gideon’s reputation. He had clawed his way up from the bottom. He was ruthless and unrelenting.

“It’s been a long time since anyone dared to talk to me like that.”

Zerrick’s eyes held not a flicker of fear. He simply met Gideon's gaze with icy calm.

I felt a flash of anger at Gideon's outrageous behavior. I stepped forward and grabbed his arm. “Gideon, stop it…”

Before I could finish, the icy barrel of the gun shifted until it was pointed squarely at my forehead.

Bella’s panicked voice cut through the air. “Gideon, please don't! She’s my sister!”

Her words might have sounded like she was defending me, but her tone was full of excitement and laced with ridicule. It felt like she was mocking me, for the man who had slept beside me for five years was now aiming a gun at my head.

My body trembled uncontrollably. Gideon gave a cold, disdainful laugh before lowering the gun and tucking it back at his waist. He took a few steps closer. His voice was low and venomous. “We’ll settle this later when we get home.”

Then, he turned around and walked back into the crowd with Bella’s hand nestled perfectly in his. The party came alive again as though nothing had happened.

Everyone’s eyes lingered on their clasped hands. They were curious about what was going on between them.

“Bella, what’s your relationship with the Don? He seems to adore you.”

“So, the rumors are true. The Don never took an interest in women before because he already has one.”

“Looks like she’s the future Mrs. Wade. We’d better stay on her good side.”

My parents stood proudly in the center of the crowd, beaming with pride at their younger daughter.

They used to brag about me being the Don's wife until Gideon publicly warned them to keep their mouths shut. After that humiliation, they started resenting me more and more.

Gideon was smiling, seemingly enjoying every bit of the gossip and whispers.

I watched them, bathing in starlight and adoration, just as a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the side.

The fork in my hand clattered to the floor, but before I could fall, Zerrick caught me.

“Are you alright?”

I was clutching my stomach in pain as sweat came pouring down. I reached for his hand. “I’m sorry… Could you please get me to a hospital?”

I thought the cramps were faint, but the moment I got into the car, darkness swallowed me whole.

When I woke up again, the only person by my side was Zerrick, the man I had just met.

My phone lit up. There was a string of messages from Gideon.

[Who told you to leave?]

[Do you have any idea how worried Bella is about you? Evelyn, you’re being ridiculous.]

[Be back in one hour. If you’re not, I’ll have someone bring you back. You know what I’m capable of.]

As the screen dimmed, another wave of pain rippled through my stomach.

Zerrick noticed me frown and reached for the call button. I stopped him immediately.

I pulled back the blanket and forced myself to stand. “Thank you for tonight. I should go.”

He caught my arm.“No. The doctor said you need to rest.”

“I don’t need to…”

“Evelyn!”

Gideon’s furious voice thundered down the corridor. His eyes were bloodshot when he appeared. His hand clamped around my chin with bruising force as he said in a cold voice, “Who said you could leave? If anything happens to Bella, you’re dead!”

“What are you talking about?” I met his gaze. “Bella? What happened to her?”

Zerrick tried to step forward, but Gideon’s men blocked him instantly.

Zerrick barked impatiently, “She just experienced massive blood loss. You can’t treat her like this!”

“Massive blood loss?” Gideon froze for a moment. His gaze shifted to Zerrick, then he let out a cold, bitter laugh. “Looks to me you were on a little date!”

He squeezed harder, and pain shot through my jaw. I thought it might shatter.

Zerrick lunged toward us, but he was outnumbered.

I struggled against Gideon’s grip, but he slammed me down, the weight of him crushing my chest. Agony tore through my abdomen. I could barely breathe.

“Doctor… Get me a doctor…”

I could barely steady myself against Gideon when, out of nowhere, my parents came rushing toward us.

My father yelled, “You monster! Bella told us everything! She said you called her from the hospital and said you were in trouble. She left her party to come find you, and now… she’s been in a car crash…”

My mother sobbed behind him, pointing a trembling finger at me and Zerrick. “Bella is such a kind girl, and this is how you repay her? You were just sneaking around with your lover! How dare you claim to be ill!”

I stood frozen, staring at them in disbelief. “What… What did you just say?”

“What am I saying?” My mother wiped her tears and looked at me with contempt. “Isn’t it obvious? You're jealous of how well Gideon treats Bella, so you deliberately set out to get revenge. But did you ever stop to think that she’s your biological sister?”

My father went along with her. “How could we have a daughter like you? You’re downright vicious!”

Gideon suddenly released his grip. “Lock her in the dungeon. Keep her there until Bella wakes up so she can reflect on her sins.”

“I didn’t. I’m really sick… I didn't sneak out with anyone…” My voice shook.

“Of course, I know you didn't.” Gideon looked down with authority. “Evelyn, you're the woman who would die for me. How could you ever cheat?”

He turned to Zerrick, scorn blazing in his eyes. “You only got close to him to spite me. You can play your games, but how dare you… deceive Bella.”

My parents cried even louder when they heard that. It was as though their younger daughter were dying right then and there.

Gideon’s fists tightened. He turned to look at his men. “What are you waiting for? Lock her up!”

His men moved toward me at once. The Underboss, Randel Lane, began to speak up, “Boss, the car accident wasn't planned, and our checks show that Mrs. Wade did experience heavy bleeding…”

A bullet zipped past the man's ear and buried itself in the opposite wall.

He clutched his ear as blood sprayed before he collapsed to the floor. The tile darkened with bright red.

Gideon’s gaze turned ice-cold as he lowered his gun. “Mr. Lane, remember who your master is. You’d better not be on her side. And now, you’ve joined her in lying to me. Heavy bleeding? Do you think I’m a fool?

“That bullet is a warning. If it happens again, the next one will hit your heart.”

He straightened and snapped his fingers. A couple of men stepped forward.

They grabbed me and threw me into the car like trash.

...

When I woke up again, it was pitch-black. It was so dark that I could not see my own hand.

My abdomen still ached faintly.

I put my hand over my belly and forced a bitter smile, unsure whether my baby's heart was still beating.

After a long, unknown stretch of time, voices drifted outside. It was Bella.

She asked in a crying tone, “Gideon, how could you lock Evelyn up? It’s my fault for running that light. That’s why I got hit. I’m okay…”

“It’s not your fault.” Gideon’s voice was almost unbelievably gentle. “She lied to you.”

“Evelyn just panicked. She thinks I'm a threat to her position.” Bella sniffed, sounding more aggrieved by the second. “But I wouldn’t do that. She’s my sister. Why would I ever try to steal her man? Even if the man… is the best man in the world…”

Her voice trailed off, and suddenly, the hallway fell silent.

Through the crack in the cell door, I watched Gideon hold her in his arms as he patted the top of her head.

He smiled faintly and murmured, “Don’t say that. I've never forgotten you. If you hadn’t left, I never would have married her. The only reason she got all that she did is because she reminds me a little of you.”

My fingers dug deep into my palm. Even though I had learned of Gideon’s true feelings in my previous life, hearing it so plainly now made my eyes burn.

Gideon had not always been the fearsome Don. Once, he had been a shy boy. He was always dropping by our house, playing with me and my sister.

Back then, I could see that he liked my sister, but my sister had no interest in him. She used to whisper that he had no money, no status, and could not give her the life she wanted.

When she grew up, she left to study abroad, determined to meet richer people.

After she left, Gideon was despondent for a while, but he kept having dinner with me as before. I thought he had forgotten her. I thought his heart finally belonged to me.

Hence, when my parents pushed me to find a way to marry Gideon once he became the most powerful Don, I was overjoyed.

It all happened more easily than I expected. He pursued me, and we married.

I believed we would have a happy future. Yet, all that awaited me was five years of a concealed, loveless marriage. Memories of humiliation surged through me. I covered my face and sobbed.

Perhaps Gideon heard me. He was about to loosen his grip when Bella threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Gideon froze for a moment, then held her tightly.

The kiss was unbearably tender.

After a long while, he slowly let her go.

She leaned into him, her tone carrying a hidden implication. “Gideon, when she wakes, how will you tell her about us? Maybe you should… just get a divorce.”

Gideon was stunned for a moment. He was silent for a beat, then pushed Bella away gently.

“No rush. Evelyn loves me. If I bring up a divorce now, she might go crazy.”

"What if she accepts it? Aren’t you the one who doesn’t like—” Bella responded on instinct.

Gideon cut her off, “Enough. I will decide on this. She’s your sister. You don’t want her to have a breakdown and cause trouble, do you?”

Before Bella could argue, one of his subordinates hurried over and whispered in Gideon’s ear.

Gideon muttered in a low voice, “What a mess,” and left in a hurry.

As Bella watched him leave from behind, the smile vanished from her face, replaced by thick, cold hatred.

The moment Gideon slipped away, she kicked my cell door hard. “Don’t play dumb. I know you’re awake! Damn it! I overdid it. Now, Gideon actually thinks I’m worried about you!”

She stormed into the cell and saw my expressionless face.

“Feeling proud yet? I’ll tell you something. You’re not married to him anymore. I have ways to make him ditch you!”

My parents emerged from the shadows. “Don’t worry, Bella. We’ll play along. Your sister has always wanted to hurt you. It's only natural that we favor you!”

My mother looked down at me with disdain. “We were wrong to pin our hopes on this useless girl for all those years. She’s brought us nothing but shame.”

She slid an arm through Bella’s and cooed, “Bella, you’ve got to keep it up. When you become the Don's wife, no one would dare to cross us!”

Their laughter only grew, and my parents crowded Bella into the center as they moved farther down the corridor.

In the end, a heavy and suffocating silence reclaimed the hallway.

I pulled my phone from my pocket with trembling hands, right as a friend request popped up from an unfamiliar account.

[I’ve investigated everything. I'll help you.]

It was Zerrick.

I let out a long breath. I was not the type to bother others. However, the only person who could possibly stand up to Gideon’s power was Zerrick.

I accepted the request and typed with shaking fingers.

[I need a private jet. Destination: Denomia.]

The moment I hung up the phone, footsteps echoed from the corridor.

“What are you doing?”

I quickly hid the phone under me. Gideon let out a cold laugh as he walked closer.

“What’s the rush? You think I’d confiscate your phone?”

He opened the cell door and crouched down. He examined my exhausted, hollow face with a slow, deliberate gaze.

“Evelyn, I know you’re planning to run. But without my permission, not even a fly can get in or out of this place. My advice? Have your food and behave.”

There was the usual arrogance in his tone—the same cold confidence that made him feared as a Don.

When I looked into those icy eyes, all I saw was unfamiliarity.

“Gideon, why are you doing this to me?”

For a split second, he seemed taken aback by the crack in my voice.

Then, fury flared in his gaze. “If you hadn't forced Bella to study abroad, she never would’ve left me! And if she hadn’t left, you never would’ve had the chance to worm your way in! Evelyn, you’ve been lying to me from the very beginning!”

His grip tightened, his fingers digging into my chin so hard I thought he would crush it.

“Anyone who lies to me doesn’t live to regret it. You should be grateful I’ve spared you this long.”

I turned my head in stunned silence. “I forced her? I lied to you?”

A broken laugh escaped my lips.

So, that was it. That was why Gideon hated me so much. It was because he had been living in my sister’s lies all along!

A thousand words crowded in my throat, but I did not say a thing.

Gideon was not a fool. He was sharp and cunning, the kind of man who ruled empires. The only reason he fell for my sister's trap was because he was in love with her.

There was nothing I could say that would change that. Arguing would only bring more humiliation and pain.

I did not want to be hurt again. I refused to let my unborn child die with me a second time.

I turned my head away and remained silent, refusing to spare another glance at the man in front of me.

Gideon froze for a moment. He did not expect me to react this way.

I was cold and detached, as though his words meant nothing to me.

He stood abruptly and replied in a cold voice, “Seems they were right about you. Fine. Stay here and think about what you’ve done. When I’ve cooled off, maybe I’ll let you out.”

He left, and the cell sank back into silence.

I pulled out my phone. There was already a reply waiting.

Zerrick: [Alright. In three days, I’ll pick you up with a private jet.]

I let out a long breath, letting the faint glimmer of hope wash away the stale, suffocating air of the cell.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the cell door, and Randel entered with food. His head was bandaged, and he looked pale.

“Boss asked me to bring you this. Madam, he still cares about you.”

I was taken aback for a moment, then opened the lunchbox. To my surprise, everything inside was my favorite.

“Don’t joke with me. No one locks up the person they care about.”

He opened his mouth to say more but fell silent.

I gave the lunchbox back to him. “This must be from you, not him. I appreciate the gesture, but don’t get yourself hurt for my sake. I... I don’t want you getting hurt because of me.”

He looked at the lunchbox in his hands and immediately explained, “No, really. It was the boss’ order.”

I shook my head and said nothing.

He let out a sigh. “Madam, don’t lose hope. The boss is just blinded right now. I’ve been gathering evidence—”

I coughed sharply, cutting him off. “Do you have a death wish? The walls have ears. If he finds out, you’re done for.”

Randel understood how complicated these family matters could be. He immediately shut his mouth and left.

In the end, a loose thread remained, and somehow, his words reached Bella.

Later that night, Bella stormed into the cell. “So, you’re planning to team up and expose me? You really don’t want to live, do you?”

My parents followed her in. Their gazes were cold and sharp, as though they were looking at an enemy and not their own child.

“Out of our shared blood, we didn’t want to be this merciless, but to think you’d try to destroy your own sister and tear apart the Quinn family! In that case, we’ll show no mercy!”

They stepped closer and closer until I was pressed against the wall.

“What are you going to do? Kill me? There are cameras everywhere…”

Bella suddenly pulled a fruit knife from behind her back, raising it high. I instinctively shielded my belly and shut my eyes.

Yet, the pain never came.

When I opened them again, my breath froze.

Bella was on the floor, and the knife was buried in her abdomen. Blood spilled everywhere.

“Bella! Bella! My daughter!”

My mother’s screams echoed off the concrete as my father bolted for the door.

“Call the Don! Tell him Evelyn stabbed Bella! Now!”

Guards scrambled in a panic and immediately ran out.

“Dad, delete the footage… before they see…” Bella’s voice quivered as she reminded him.

I lunged forward to stop him, but it was too late.

Moments later, the door burst open.

“Bella!” Gideon’s voice thundered through the cell. “What the hell happened here?!”

My mother collapsed into tears. “Bella said Evelyn was starving. She didn’t even change before rushing over with food. The moment she came in, Evelyn grabbed a little knife from the serving tray and stabbed Bella, saying it was all her fault and that she should die.”

“Starving?” Gideon repeated slowly. His gaze suddenly turned vicious, sharp enough to cut through the air. “I thought you refused to eat because you were sulking. But now I see you were just trying to win sympathy before hurting your own sister.”

He walked toward me and kicked me hard, sending me crashing to the ground.

Pain ripped through my stomach.

My mother cried and shouted, “You can't deny it! We saw it with our own eyes! Bella came to apologize and even said she’d plead with the Don in a couple of days to get you released, yet instead of being grateful, you actually went and hurt her!”

Gideon’s rage boiled over.

Randel suddenly said, “Boss, Madam is still recovering. It’s unlikely she could attack anyone. Maybe we should check the security footage first.”

Gideon glanced at me as I trembled all over, then turned his cold gaze to the guards. “Go. Pull the footage.”

The guards rushed off.

Gideon then crouched beside Bella, gently pressing a bandage to her wound. He gently brushed the sweat from Bella’s forehead. His voice dripped with tenderness. “Does it hurt? Don’t be afraid. The doctor’s on his way.”

When I got kidnapped back then, I was shot twice in the arm and leg. He had barely looked at me, leaving me with a private doctor.

He had claimed it was my own fault for standing out too much, that those two bullets were a lesson I would never forget.

The difference between pretense and genuine feeling was always in the details.

I thought my heart was numb already, but now, it clenched in pain once more.

I stared down the empty hallway, holding on to the tiniest flicker of hope.

My father had not returned. The security footage might still exist. If Gideon could see the truth, perhaps…

“This is bad, Boss! The footage was deleted!”