After returning home from a flight, I realize that my bottle of hair conditioner has run out in the bathroom.

The thing is, my husband, Carlos Zappa, doesn't use hair conditioner at all.

Seeing Carlos through the frosted glass, I decide to probe him for answers.

"Did any guests stay over lately? Or have you started doing hair care?"

Carlos flips through the documents, which are stamped with the Zappa family crest, impatiently at my questions.

"Maybe a maid accidentally toppled the bottle over when she was cleaning the bathroom. Also, why are you annoying me with such minuscule matters?"

When I put on the bathrobe, I feel a ticklish sensation coming from the collar. As soon as I look down, I notice a strand of dried yellow hair being entangled in the collar. The moment the steam dissipates, I see two pairs of intertwining handprints on the bathroom's glass door.

I never thought that my home would grow this popular during my one-week trip away from home.

I've been married to Carlos for three years, and yet this is my first time finding out that he's actually this wild in bed.

So, I secretly text my father, the Don of the Carozza family.

"Dad, Carlos has cheated on me. Does the bet we made three years ago still count?"

My phone lit up with a test message from Dad, Paolo Carozza.

"The bet is still on. The Carozza family will always be supporting you."

His reply was brief yet powerful.

I stared at his words, a bitter taste rising in my mouth. The joke we'd cracked just three years ago turned out to be real after all.

I replied, "You don't have to intervene this time. I'll handle everything myself."

Dad replied at once.

"I'll send Leo to assist you."

Leo Giordano was Dad's Underboss, and he was someone to be trusted.

I gripped the phone tightly in my hands as I stared at the string of numbers on the screen, feeling my fingers running cold.

In the past three years, my husband, Carlos Zappa, had been incredibly attentive to me. He spent millions of dollars on buying jewelry for me, tens of thousands of dollars on private fireworks displays, and even burned his contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars just to light up my cigarette.

It didn't matter if it were money, power, or love—if he had it, he would grant it to me.

I stood under the fireworks that lit up the entirety of Staples for me all night long, hearing my heart pounding loudly in my chest.

Carlos was the perfect husband in everybody's eyes.

He once even told me, "Sofia, you're the only ray of sunshine in my life." And at that time, I'd completely believed every word he said without ever doubting him.

However, the long, blond strand of curly hair stuck onto the bathrobe and the two handprints pressed against the floor-to-ceiling windows mocked me for my foolishness.

I inhaled deeply, combed my hair, and walked out of the bathroom.

When Carlos saw me walk out of the bathroom, he came up to me and hugged me from the back, resting his chin against the crook of my neck.

"You were in the bathroom for a really long time. I can't wait anymore."

His hot breath traveled across my collarbones, and I felt a wave of nausea in my stomach. I quickly pushed him off as discreetly as possible.

"The trip was really tiring, darling. I just want to sleep now."

Carlos then kissed me gently on the forehead and picked me up bridal-style before marching into the bedroom with me.

"Then go to sleep, babe."

Sometime during midnight that night, I received a text message from Leo.

He had sent me a photo of Carlos hugging and kissing a woman in front of the hotel entrance.

"This is Anna Notaro, from Zappa Finance. She's the CEO's secretary and has been there for three years."

Zappa Finance was a financial company that Carlos had founded under my identity. My entire body stiffened with my back to Carlos.

I then curled up as I dug my nails deeply into my palm, struggling to keep myself from trembling and making a sound while surrounded by his warmth, which had turned out to be a farce after all.

When I woke up the next morning, there was a glass of perfectly warm lemon water on the bedside table, next to a fresh bouquet of white roses in the vase.

Carlos kissed me gently on the forehead.

"Good morning, babe."

I played along and pressed my cheek against his chest, whispering, "Darling, don't forget our third anniversary dinner tonight at La Perla restaurant."

I could feel his arms tightening subconsciously around my waist.

He went silent for a short while. Then, he hugged me tightly and spoke in an apologetic manner.

"I'm sorry, babe, but an important client from Chizerland is coming tonight, and I really can't turn him down. You know that I'm only doing this for our future…"

I feigned just the right amount of disappointment as I looked up at him from his embrace. There was a gentle look in my eyes as I said, "Okay. Work is important, of course. But I'll still wait for you at the restaurant, just in case you finish earlier than expected."

Carlos nodded at that, his voice warming slightly. "Okay. I'll try to finish as soon as possible."

I smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips.

However, I didn't make my way to La Perla that night. Leo had sent me Carlos' location, showing that his car was parked in front of a restaurant owned by the Zappas.

I sat in the car opposite the street, watching as Carlos got out of his car with a relaxed smile on his face, one that I'd never seen in a very long time.

Ten minutes later, another white car arrived, and Anna got out of it.

Carlos naturally reached over to hold her handbag for her while slinking an arm around her waist, whispering something in her ear and making her grin widely in delight.

I then saw through the restaurant's large windows that Carlos brought out a large box from his coat and handed it over to her.

She covered her mouth in surprise and opened it, seeing a dazzling diamond necklace nestled inside. She put it on at once, tilting her head back slightly for him to admire.

He gently smoothed away a stray hair on her neck, his eyes filled with doting affection for her. However, it only pierced straight into my heart.

I took out my phone and captured that moment.

Then, I took a deep breath, forced back the tears welling in my eyes, and floored the gas expressionlessly.

With the loud roar of the engine, I left that eye-piercing tenderness behind, along with the last shred of weakness I still held for Carlos.

The next day, as I walked into Zappa Finance with a lunchbox, I overheard two Soldati whispering to each other.

"Anna messed up the order slip for the smuggled shipment and angered Don Zappa so much that he chased away all the Soldati on his floor, saying that he was going to interrogate her alone!

"Who'd ever dare to go up there now and risk getting into trouble with him?"

Yet, I went up to the top floor without any hindrance from anyone.

I approached the door that was left slightly ajar, seeing Carlos comfort Anna in his arms and wiping away the tears on her face with a handkerchief.

"You don't have to be afraid. It's not a huge loss for the Famiglia regarding this smuggled-in shipment. I'll take care of everything."

I watched the jarring scene and dug my nails into my palm as I struggled to contain my anger. Then I waited until they finally separated before knocking on the door.

Carlos instinctively shoved Anna off and looked at me with a hint of panic in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Anna swayed unsteadily on her feet after suddenly losing her support.

When she looked at me, I could see that her face was deathly pale and white. Yet, when her eyes swept across the wedding ring on my finger, a hint of indignation and jealousy immediately showed in them.

I took in their expressions, suppressed my anger, and made sure the smile on my face was gentler than ever.

"Hey, darling. I've brought you lunch."

I held up the lunchbox in my hands and continued, "But it seems like I've come at the wrong time. I'm not interrupting any serious business between you both, am I?"

As Carlos picked up the lunch box, I naturally walked to the bookshelf behind him, picked up the globe I'd given to him a while back, and pretended to dust it off.

With a flick of my finger, a miniature camera was installed in the gap at the base of the globe.

This camera position allowed me to see the entire desk area.

As I turned to leave, I could see Anna organizing some documents with her head hung low, tear tracks still obvious on her face.

She was such a dedicated actress after all.

I went back to my car after that and connected my tablet to the newly-installed miniature camera in Carlos' office.

I watched as Carlos impatiently swept everything from the desk to the floor, including the lunchbox I'd prepared for him, straight to the floor as soon as I was gone. He then hastily threw Anna onto the table and began tearing her clothes off.

Anna covered Carlos' mouth with a huff. "You were so gentle with Sofia just now that it got me so jealous."

She then asked in a probing manner, "You've fallen in love with Sofia Carozza, haven't you?"

"In love? With her?"

Carlos looked impatient and frustrated. "Don't say such ridiculous things. What's so special about a stupid woman like her? What should I even love about her?"

Anna then clung to him like a leech, wrapping herself around his body as she asked coquettishly, "Then when are you going to divorce her? I don't want to continue staying as your secretary anymore."

Carlos grabbed her chin and grinned sinisterly.

"What's the rush? It's not time yet. You know that Zappa Finance is registered under Sofia's name, and 80% of the Famiglia guns go through this company. She's the one who has to sign off on all of the documents."

He continued in a low voice, saying, "The dirty money and drug deals from Sorrombia need to go through Sofia's accounts first. Once the money has been laundered, or if anything goes wrong in the meantime…"

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Then, Sofia would be the perfect scapegoat. The police would only arrest her. It wouldn't have anything to do with me at all, right?"

With Carlos' assurance, Anna immediately spread her legs wide for him. He couldn't hold himself back anymore and violently thrust into her.

I looked at the two pale bodies on the screen as a cruel smile played on my lips.

"You'll soon find out who the real prey is after all, Carlos Zappa."

I, the Principessa of the Carozza Famiglia, was never a weak lamb to the slaughter.

I calmly backed up the video to Leo's encrypted cloud server. Then, I texted him.

"Investigate all of the recent funding flow from Zappa Financial, especially the ones to Sorrombia."

Leo replied at once.

"Yes, Principessa. Should I act now?"

I glanced at the screen, which showed the two of them still going hard at it, and replied, "There's no rush. Let them gloat for a few more days."

I then turned off the tablet and started the car.

The game had only just begun. But this time, I was going to show them what true despair really meant.

The Zappa Famiglia gathering was held at the manor where Carlos and I lived.

All eyes were on us when we descended the stairs, hand in hand. However, there was a sudden commotion arising in the crowd, drawing everyone's attention over.

Anna had just walked in amidst the astonished gazes of the guests. The haute couture gown she wore and the sapphire ring gleaming on her ring finger were the gifts that Carlos had promised to give me for my birthday last month.

But he'd just told me yesterday that the gown and ring wouldn't be ready for pickup for a while.

But now, it turned out that it wasn't that he hadn't received them yet—rather, he'd just given them to someone else.

I released Carlos' hand.

"Can you explain why Anna is wearing my gown and my ring?"

This was the last chance I was giving him. His answer would determine everything between us.

The noise in the banquet hall gradually subsided as Carlos' face turned grim.

He shielded Anna behind him, his tone frustrated as he said, "Stop making a fuss, Sofia. Don't you know how much Anna's sacrificed and contributed to the Famiglia these past few years? This is just the reward that I gave her."

After pausing for a moment, he lowered his voice and said, "Don't you get petty and upset all over this and embarrass me in public."

Meanwhile, Anna hid behind him, her face proudly gloating victoriously. She even purposely raised her hand, letting the sapphire ring sparkle under the light.

I stared at Carlos, but he just frowned back at me as if I were a difficult child.

"A reward?"

I laughed. "You rewarded your side chick with my things? You're really such a generous person, aren't you, Carlos Zappa?"

Whispers immediately rose around us.

Carlos' face darkened further. "What are you saying? Anna is just my secretary. Don't make any false accusations against us."

Anna bit her lip as her eyes reddened. "Donna, I just… I just…"

"You just what?" I spat, interrupting her. "You just accidentally wore my dress and ring by mistake?"

I refused to look at her again and turned to the Zappa Soldati standing near the wall, commanding, "Strip her of the gown."

The Soldati exchanged glances with each other, subconsciously looking at Carlos.

But since Carlos didn't say a word, they didn't move a muscle at my order.

Carlos gripped my arm and pressed in a low voice. "Are you out of your mind? Are you trying to embarrass me in front of the entire Zappa Famiglia? You're not considerate of me at all! All you know is to cause trouble for me!"

I looked at him and suddenly found it hilariously ridiculous.

He didn't even bother maintaining his pretense with me anymore.

"Sure. Of course. Brilliant."

I shook off his grip on my arm, grabbed a glass of red wine from a passing waiter's tray, and flung its contents at Anna's dress.

Anna screamed at once as her white dress was dyed a deep wine color.

Then, I grabbed her hand, tore off the ring, and threw it into the dustbin.

Some of the guests gasped in shock, while others continued whispering among themselves.

Carlos' face turned black. "Sofia Carozza!"

"What?" I asked, turning to look at him. "Feeling sorry for her? Then go and get it back from the trash and put it back on her finger yourself."

After everything, I organized my dress layers and turned to go back upstairs, ignoring Carlos' angry roars and Anna's sobs behind me.

I went back to the master's bedroom on the second floor and shut the door. Then, I leaned against it as I called Leo and said, "Reel them in."

Leo's voice was immediately heard from the other end of the line.

"Yes, Principessa Carozza."

I then walked over to the window and looked at the chaos in the hall from above.

"Game's over, Carlos," I muttered to myself. "It's my turn now."