“Help me fake my death and arrange a completely new identity.”

“Donna,” the man was clearly shocked. “Why? The Don dotes on you. The whole of Sicily knows—”

“That’s none of your business,” I interrupted him. “I’m leaving in five days.”

Walking out of the black market, the LED screen in the square was still showing footage of my lavish wedding with Don Alexander three years ago, a ceremony that cost over $500 million.

Everyone thought Don Alexander loved me deeply, and I thought so too.

Until this afternoon, on our third wedding anniversary, I returned to Sicily early, hiding in the lounge of my husband—Don Alexander’s—office, wanting to surprise him.

Instead, I saw his secretary hiding under his desk.

While the underboss Marco was reporting the losses from the dock smuggling operation, Isabella was kneeling between Alexander’s legs, skillfully unbuttoning his trousers. Her head bobbed up and down.

After Marco left, Isabella smiled seductively. “Could your Donna serve you like this during a meeting?”

Alexander’s voice was filled with desire. His hands kneaded her breasts. “Sophia is too conventional, too boring. You’re much more exciting in bed, you little slut.”

I covered my mouth, completely devastated.

But when I actually left, the Don, who had found me boring, was the one who completely broke down.

I finished my arms dealing business in Milan early, flying straight back to Sicily. Today was our third wedding anniversary. I wanted to surprise my husband —— Don Alexander.

I slipped quietly into the headquarters building. My plan was simple - hide in Alexander's office lounge and jump out to embrace him after his meeting.

Through the half-open door, I watched Alexander sitting behind that black desk. His expression was serious as he listened to Marco, his second-in-command, report on losses from the dock smuggling operation.

"Boss, that shipment was seized by customs. We're looking at about three million in losses," Marco said respectfully.

I was thinking about how to comfort Alexander over the loss when I noticed something that made my blood freeze.

A golden head emerged from under the desk.

Isabella. His secretary.

She was kneeling between Alexander's legs, skillfully unbuttoning his pants. Her head bobbed up and down in a rhythm that made my stomach lurch.

My heart stopped beating.

Alexander continued discussing business with Marco as if the woman between his legs didn't exist. His face showed no change in expression.

"Next month's shipping routes need to be rearranged," Alexander said. His voice remained calm, but I could hear the underlying pleasure.

After Marco nodded and left, Alexander grabbed Isabella and pulled her onto the desk. He roughly tore open her silk blouse. Buttons scattered across the floor.

"Darling, you're so rough today..." Isabella gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Alexander chuckled softly. His hands didn't stop moving. "Slow down. This suit was picked by Sophia. Can't have it wrinkled when I need to explain."

Isabella laughed seductively. "Can your Donna serve you like I do during meetings?"

Alexander's voice was thick with desire. His hands kneaded her breasts. "Sophia is too proper, too boring. She's nothing like you, you little slut."

I pressed my hand over my mouth. Tears blurred my vision.

My heart felt like someone was cutting it with a dull knife. Each cut went deeper than the last.

Three years of marriage. This was how he really saw me.

Too proper. Too boring.

The moaning continued for a full hour. My heart gradually went numb from the searing pain.

I waited until Alexander and Isabella left before emerging from the headquarters building. The cold wind outside cut my face like knives.

In the plaza outside, a massive LED screen was playing footage of our wedding from three years ago. The five-hundred-million-dollar ceremony that the media called the wedding of the century.

On screen, Alexander knelt on one knee. He held a ring with a ten-carat pink diamond in both hands. His voice was solemn as he made his vow. "Sophia, I swear on my life to protect you and love you forever."

Passersby stopped to watch. Their voices carried admiration and envy.

"Look how much our Don loves his wife!"

"Now that's true love!"

I stood in the crowd, watching the passionate man on screen. The image of Isabella between his legs flashed in my mind. The irony was unbearable.

An hour later, I walked into Sicily's largest black market trading post.

This place was filled with every kind of dirty deal imaginable. But they had one rule - absolute secrecy.

"Donna?" A raspy voice emerged from behind cigarette smoke. "If your husband knew you were here, he'd turn all of Italy upside down."

I didn't waste time with small talk. I pushed a bag of uncut blood diamonds across the table.

"I need you to arrange a completely new identity. And I need you to stage my death." My voice was as calm as if I were discussing the weather. "I want Donna Sophia Rossi to disappear from this world completely."

The man was clearly shocked. "Why? The Don adores you. All of Sicily knows-"

"That's not your concern." I cut him off. My voice was so decisive it surprised even me. "How long will it take?"

"I need to ask my boss." He went outside to make a phone call.

Soon, he returned and replied. "Five days. Everything will be ready."

The next morning, I printed out a divorce agreement. I signed my name without hesitation.

I carefully placed it in an elegant velvet box and tied it with a beautiful bow.

Pretending I had just returned from my arms dealing business in Milan, I dragged my suitcase into the manor's main hall.

Alexander was standing there. The family's personal tailor was measuring him for a new custom suit.

When he saw me, his face lit up with surprise. He rushed over and pulled me into his arms.

"Sophia, baby, you're finally back." He held me tightly around the waist. His chin rested in the curve of my neck. His voice was low and carried a hint of complaint like a spoiled child. "You were gone for an entire week dealing arms this time. Without you here, even the air in Sicily felt stifling. Do you know you missed our anniversary yesterday? How should I punish you?"

I stood rigid in his embrace. I could smell perfume on him.

It wasn't a brand I wore.

"Some complications delayed me," I said calmly.

"Come, help me choose a tie." He took my hand and led me toward the tailor. "You always have excellent taste."

The tailor respectfully unbuttoned Alexander's shirt collar to replace it with a properly sized tie.

A slender pearl earring slipped from his collar and dropped onto the Persian carpet.

It was the same style Isabella had worn yesterday. I remembered it clearly.

The air froze for a moment. The tailor held his breath. The bodyguards around us lowered their heads.

Alexander's expression didn't change. He bent down to pick up the earring and casually tossed it to a nearby bodyguard. "Some maid must have dropped it while ironing. Deal with it later."

He wrapped his arm around my waist. His warm breath tickled my ear. "Later I'll take you shopping on Fifth Avenue. We'll make up for a perfect wedding anniversary."

I looked at his handsome, affectionate face. A dull ache spread through my chest.

"Don, your new suit will be delivered soon," the tailor said. He packed up his tools and bowed respectfully before leaving.

Alexander noticed my lack of enthusiasm. He touched my cheek with concern. "Darling, you look uncomfortable. Was the arms dealing too exhausting this time?"

"Just a little tired," I replied dismissively.

"Then don't go next time." He held me with what seemed like genuine care. "I'll handle all the family business. You just need to stay home and keep me company. As long as you're by my side, I'm satisfied."

I smiled coldly in his arms. Stay peacefully at home while watching him enjoy himself with his secretary in the office?

"There won't be a next time," I whispered back. Really, there truly wouldn't be a next time.

I calmly handed him the box containing the divorce agreement. "This is for you."

Alexander's eyes sparkled with delight. "Is this an anniversary gift? My Sophia is always so thoughtful."

I smiled and nodded.

He eagerly reached to untie the bow. I pressed my hand over his. "Don't open it here, Alexander. Promise me you'll wait four days before opening it."

He raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why? What kind of treasure needs to wait four days?"

I looked directly into his eyes. "This is blessed by God; opening it prematurely would bring bad luck."

Alexander looked puzzled but smiled indulgently. He kissed my forehead. His voice was gentle. "Alright, since it's the Donna's command, I'll obey."

The next morning, Alexander canceled all family business and personally drove me to the shopping center.

He acted like the perfect husband. In the car, he was attentive to my every need. He even peeled chocolate for me by hand.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

A text message came from Isabella's number.

It contained photos of them making love in the office yesterday. The caption read: "Dear Donna, this is the Don's third anniversary gift for you. Do you like it?"

In that moment, my fingertips felt as cold as ice.

"What's wrong? Sophia, you look terrible." Alexander noticed my reaction. He controlled the steering wheel with one hand while reaching out to touch my forehead with concern.

I instinctively turned my head away from his touch.

"It's nothing." I closed the screen expressionlessly and turned to look out the window. "I just didn't sleep well last night."

He cursed softly under his breath. He seemed to blame himself for not taking better care of me. Then he started chattering about which designer bags we should buy later.

I looked at the fake, affectionate man in the rearview mirror. My heart felt like a wasteland.

It didn't matter. Only three days left anyway.

When we stepped into Sicily's most luxurious shopping center, Alexander immediately rented out the entire building and cleared out all the people.

"Don, what do you need?" The mall manager ran over, sweating profusely and bowing submissively.

Alexander ignored him. His slender fingers traced along the neat rows of shelves. "Pack up all the blue items - jewelry, clothes, bags, everything. Send them all to the manor. That's my wife's favorite color."

"Yes, Don Alexander!" The sales staff immediately busied themselves.

I watched this extravagant scene with complete indifference in my heart.

At the haute couture shoe section, Alexander suddenly knelt down. In full view of everyone, he dropped to one knee in front of me.

He gently grasped my ankle and carefully changed my shoes to a pair of sapphire blue heels. His movements were tender and focused.

"Sophia, what do you think of these?" He looked up at me with deep, devoted eyes.

The store clerks whispered among themselves in the distance.

"Look how much our Don spoils the Donna!"

"He's treating the Donna like the queen of Sicily!"

"Now that's true love!"

I looked down at the top of his head. I remembered how roughly he had handled Isabella in his office two days ago. My stomach churned violently.

Just then, Isabella walked up to us, holding an exquisite black velvet gift box.

Alexander’s face changed the moment he saw her, but he quickly regained his composure, acting as if nothing was wrong.

I saw everything but said nothing.

"Don, this is the gift you ordered for the Donna," Isabella said, opening the box in front of everyone. "It's the dress for the upcoming anniversary gala."

Inside was an extremely explicit lingerie set with cold metal chains. The fabric was scandalously minimal, and the size was obviously too small.

The air froze instantly. The crowd fell into a deathly silence, followed by frantic whispers.

Isabella suddenly turned pale and fell to her knees. "I'm so sorry! I grabbed the wrong box! This was a surprise for my husband for our anniversary tonight. I... I meant to wear it for him."

Alexander's gaze darkened, and a hint of desire flickered in his eyes.

But he quickly suppressed it.

He shot to his feet and kicked the box aside and roared, "How dare you bring this filth in front of my wife!"

"Don! I... I don't know! I must have accidentally packed the wrong things." Isabella almost cried.

"Apologize to my wife immediately!" Alexander's voice was cold as ice.

"Donna Sophia, I'm truly sorry! My behavior was inappropriate!" Isabella sobbed her apology.

I watched them perform, my heart cold and silent.

After he ordered Isabella to get out, Alexander turned to me.

He gently took my cold hands, his voice full of apology. "I'll have them prepare something ten times better than that."

He then presented another diamond necklace, but I accepted it with a blank expression.

Seeing that I had accepted the necklace, Alexander breathed a sigh of relief.

He pulled me into his arms, patting my back comfortingly. "There, don't let this clown ruin our anniversary. Let's go home. I'll personally prepare dinner for you."

Back at the manor, Alexander didn't let the servants help.

He went into the kitchen himself, tied on an apron, and started cooking my favorite mushroom risotto. "Rest, Sophia. I’ll bring it to you soon."

But he seemed a bit distracted; he didn't even notice that he'd added the black truffle sauce twice.

A moment later, he brought the steaming plate to the table and sat beside me, personally feeding me a spoonful.

Suddenly, his phone on the table vibrated. He snatched it up with lightning speed, but I was faster.

I saw the notification on the screen: a photo of Isabella wearing that metal-chain lingerie from the mall, spreading her legs for the camera.

Below the photo, it read: " Missing you already. I’m in your office…"

Alexander’s expression didn't flicker.

He locked the phone and sighed regretfully. "Darling, there's an urgent crisis with the arms shipment at the warehouse. I have to handle it personally. Eat first, don't wait for me."

"It's fine, go ahead," I replied calmly.

He kissed my forehead apologetically and hurried out.

After he left, I threw the mushroom risotto into the trash can.

Half an hour later, my phone vibrated. It was a video from Isabella.

In the video, Alexander was already in his office, his coat tossed aside. Isabella was kneeling between his legs in those metal chains. "Why did you pull that stunt at the mall?" Alexander’s voice was low and raspy, his hand gripping her hair. "You almost ruined everything."

"But didn't it make you want me more?" Isabella giggled, rubbing her body against his suit pants. "Weren't you dying to fuck me right there in front of your boring wife?"

Alexander let out a husky laugh, his wedding ring glinting as he grabbed the chains. "You little devil. You’re lucky I can't resist you in this."

"But you were just yelling at me like that!" Isabella said, feigning hurt.

Alexander chuckled, caressing her breasts, and said, "I'll make it up to you."

Isabella pouted, "Then will you take me to the cruise ship party tomorrow? I want you to fuck me on the deck."

Alexander frowned, hesitating for a moment, but Isabella lowered her head and took his already erect penis into her mouth.

Alexander let out a sigh of pleasure, then nodded in agreement, "Okay, you little slut. But if Sophia asks, you can only say that you're helping me with some family business as my secretary."

I looked at the screen and rushed into the washroom, vomiting violently into the toilet. I wiped my mouth, the nausea still rising, but a cold smile formed on my lips.

It's perfect that Isabella is going to the cruise ship party; I was worried I wouldn't have a chance to get away.

I messaged my contact. "The night after tomorrow, near the cruise ship party on the sea, will my fake corpse be ready?"

The contact replied: "Everything is ready."

I deleted the message and smiled for the first time in days.