As soon as they reached the villa, Cristian did not even get out of the car. He turned around and drove away immediately.

Amelia's mother, Ellen Manson, hurried forward in heartache to support her daughter. She spoke with a choked voice. "Just this month alone, you got kidnapped three times. This isn't a life anyone should live. Amelia, I beg you, divorce Cristian. I don't want to bury my own child."

Back when Amelia married Cristian, Ellen had strongly opposed it.

But Amelia had been enveloped in Cristian's intense and profound love. She refused to believe the day would come when everything fell apart.

Recalling the past and comparing it to the present, Amelia felt the irony cut deep into her bones. "Okay, Mom, let's go."

Ellen froze for a moment. Then she cried and laughed at the same time.

She laughed because her daughter had finally seen reason. Once she left, she would never suffer like this again.

But she also ached for her daughter who had endured so much pain.

As the mother and daughter discussed how to leave, the door suddenly got kicked open.

"Amelia, why don't you just die already?" Natalie rushed in and grabbed Amelia by the throat. "Cristian just got injured and hasn't recovered yet, but he had to go rescue you after another kidnapping. What are you good for besides dragging him down?"

Ellen lunged forward to save her daughter, but Natalie kicked her hard against the wall.

Amelia saw her mother injured and threw herself at Natalie to push her away. Natalie yanked her up by the hair. "Amelia, you still think you're his wife. He doesn't want you anymore. He's sending you away. You no longer have the right to act superior in front of me."

Amelia looked at her unconscious mother on the floor. Panic burned inside her. "Natalie, let me go. Aren't you afraid Cristian will kill you if he sees this?"

Natalie curled her lips into a smile. "Then I'll let you see exactly how much you still matter to him now."

With those words, Natalie picked up a nearby vase and smashed it against her own head. She turned quickly. Blood streamed down her face as she met the eyes of Cristian who had just arrived.

Cristian narrowed his eyes. His cold gaze passed over her to Amelia. "Amelia, I want to hear your explanation."

Before Amelia could speak, Natalie shook her head casually. "It's nothing. I won't die."

Cristian's face darkened. He walked slowly toward Amelia, step by step, and stood between her and Natalie. "Do you know how much effort Natalie put in to save you? Do you know that soon she'll have to go out and bow in apology for the losses you caused the company? She'll drink and make amends? Amelia, you've always been so willful. I'm really tired."

He took a deep breath and stepped aside so the two women faced each other. "Apologize."

Amelia stared at him in disbelief. She saw only stern authority and deep disappointment on his face.

Pain stabbed through her chest. She lost all strength to explain. "Cristian, when will you send me away?"

Cristian's expression grew even grimmer. "Amelia, you hit someone and can't even apologize? Or have I spoiled you all these years so much that you no longer respect my people?"

Tears welled at the corners of Amelia's eyes. Once upon a time, this man could notice if she lost even a few strands of hair.

Now he ignored the strangulation marks on her neck.

She let out a bitter laugh. "In that case, hurry and send me abroad. Before I get kidnapped again and waste your time and energy rescuing me."

"Amelia, you..." The phone ring interrupted Cristian. After taking the call, he frowned and hurried away with Natalie.

Amelia collapsed to the floor as if all her strength vanished. Only bitterness remained inside her. "Mom, help me find a lawyer to draft the papers. Before I leave, I'll find a way to divorce Cristian."

Amelia woke from sleep when someone called her name.

Cristian had taken over a new venue that day and threw a masquerade party. He sent someone specially to wake Amelia and bring her to join the fun.

Amelia followed the person to the underground club. Her eyes landed immediately on the man in the center of the room. He wore a lion mask and sank deep into the sofa while swirling a glass of whiskey.

His powerful presence fixed on the woman dancing provocatively in front of him.

The woman wore a leopard mask, but Amelia recognized her instantly as Natalie.

A massive lion tattoo covered her back. The lion was Cristian's favorite symbol.

The woman turned suddenly. When their eyes met through the masks, a triumphant smile curved her lips.

Amelia realized then that Cristian had not sent for her. Natalie had.

She turned to leave, but several men in wolf masks blocked her path. They spoke crude words. Some reached out and groped her waist and arms.

Goosebumps rose all over her skin. She raised her hands to remove her mask, only to find her wrists tied.

The next second, someone forced her to face the stage.

Amelia's eyes widened.

Natalie straddled Cristian's lap. She snatched the glass from his hand, tilted her head back, and drained the whiskey. Then she fed it to him mouth to mouth.

Cristian's large hands gripped Natalie's waist hard. The two pressed tightly together in an instant.

Even though her heart had turned cold and she had decided to leave, tears still welled in Amelia's eyes.

She lifted her hand instinctively to wipe her face. To her surprise, the rope around her wrists had loosened at some point. The masked men had vanished.

She knew Natalie wanted her to witness this scene.

Amelia turned to go. Before leaving, she glanced back at Cristian one last time.

He caressed Natalie's face with one hand. A satisfied smile played on his lips. His eyes held deep contentment and relaxation.

Amelia knew that expression all too well. Every time he woke from a coma, he looked at her the same way.

"Amelia, I only feel at peace when I see you beside me."

She pulled her gaze away. A mocking smile touched her lips. She closed the club door and shut out the noise behind her completely.

Her phone rang. It was Ellen. "Amelia, I have good news. Come home quick."

A smile returned to Amelia's face. She stepped toward the opposite side of the street. Halfway across, blinding headlights flashed toward her.

In the brief moment she squinted, a runaway truck slammed into her and sent her flying.

When she woke again, Cristian's cold, hard face stared down at her.

Their eyes met. She saw the deep weariness in his gaze. She opened her mouth instinctively to ask if he was okay, but his icy voice cut her off. "Amelia, why couldn't you just stay home? Why do you keep creating trouble for me?"

Amelia tried to speak. Her throat burned with pain. No sound emerged.

Cristian frowned when she stayed silent. "I've arranged a private flight three days from now. It'll take you and Ellen to an island for a vacation first. Then to Floran. I bought a manor there."

He stepped forward and pulled Amelia into his arms. His voice softened. "Amelia, these years I've held back a lot for you. To give you the stable life you wanted, I've yielded again and again to those people outside. But they think I'm weak now. They keep provoking me. Amelia, for our future, go abroad and stay safe for a while. Once I deal with them, I'll come get you. Okay?"

His chin rubbed gently against the top of her head. Moments later, he sighed. "Amelia, I really can't bear to let you go."

Amelia said nothing.

Years ago, when Cristian confessed his love, he swore personally that he would gradually leave that world. He promised to work hard so they could live a normal life.

The proud man who ruled everything bent himself to ordinary life for her.

It touched Amelia deeply.

That was why she agreed.

But now she saw that world was his true battlefield.

Amelia listened to his strong heartbeat. She pulled a divorce agreement from her bag. "Cristian, sign it."

Cristian stared at the large words on the cover. His face darkened instantly as he questioned her. "Amelia, what do you mean by this?"

Amelia looked at him and let out a soft laugh. "Silly, it's fake. When you're not by my side, no one protects me. If we divorce, those people won't target me anymore. Cristian, my mom is getting older. She can't handle this stress."

Cristian flipped through the papers with lingering doubt in his eyes.

Amelia turned to the signature page and pressed a pen into his hand. "Cristian, you've taken knives for me, and I've blocked bullets for you. Our love has long surpassed life and death. We'll never part in this lifetime. Don't you think so?"

Cristian's fingers paused on the pen.

As he hesitated, a subordinate burst in with a tense expression. "Boss, bad news. Natalie got hurt."

Cristian's face changed. He dropped the pen and started to leave.

Amelia grabbed his hand firmly. "Sign it first, then go."

Disappointment flashed in Cristian's eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but Amelia cut him off. "Cristian, does Natalie's business matter more to you than mine now? Do you remember what you promised me?"

He had promised to keep distance from Natalie. He had promised to always put her first.

Cristian fell silent. Guilt surged through him as he thought about his recent actions.

Under Amelia's indifferent gaze, he picked up the pen again.

Each letter he wrote sent a stab of pain through his heart.

By the final stroke, the ache nearly stole his breath.

He had no time to dwell on it. His men urged him repeatedly until he left.

Before going, he glanced back at Amelia. She seemed different from before.

Cristian suddenly realized he hadn't seen her smile in a long time.

Pain pierced his chest, but he forced himself to look away.

In truth, he had already decided in his heart. Once he stabilized the situation here, he would hand all the operations to Natalie.

He would retire completely and live the peaceful life Amelia always wanted.

On one side stood his brothers who had followed him for years and grown resentful. On the other stood the wife he loved most. Cristian refused to let either down.

With his mind made up, his steps grew firm.

The moment the elevator doors closed, a voice drifted into his ears. "Three days from now, we'll meet at the airport. Remember to prepare fake identities for us."

Cristian found the voice somewhat familiar, but he had no time to think deeper. The elevator reached Natalie's floor.

His subordinate led him quickly to her hospital room. She was already getting dressed.

Cristian frowned. "Why aren't you resting properly?"

Natalie smiled casually. "What injury haven't I survived? As long as I'm not dead, I can fight alongside you anytime."

Her eyes turned seductive. She reached out to touch Cristian's face, but he caught her wrist midway. "Natalie, I have something to say."

Natalie sensed trouble from his cold, distant gaze. Cristian released her hand and addressed everyone in the room. "After this job, I'll hand all operations to Natalie. From then on, she'll be your boss."

Shock rippled through the room. Natalie clenched her fists tightly and ground her teeth. "What did you say? Then what were we doing all this time?"

Cristian only gave her a cold glance before looking away. "My decision is final. Let's move out."

He walked out first. He never noticed the unwillingness and venom in Natalie's stare as she watched his back.