The sound of the front door closing stirred me out of my nap. I looked up and found my son's deep eyes watching me with concern.

"How was school today, love?" I sat up and pulled him close to me.

He eagerly sat on my lap and hugged me. Panicked, I patted him, worried that something might have happened to him at school. "It's okay sweetie, you can talk to mommy."

Still holding on to me, he looked into my eyes and asked slowly, "Daddy didn't let you go out today again?"

The words came out quietly, like Caleb always spoke but they hit me harder than I could have ever expected. "What? No, of course not." The lie came out shaky and more emotionally charged than I intended. "Mommy just wasn't feeling well, that's all."

His expression didn't change, almost like he didn't believe me but he nodded. "Will you have to go to the hospital?" he asked, still studying my face.

"No dear, it's nothing serious. I just needed to rest." This time my lie had more composure behind it. "Why don't you go upstairs and change so you can help me make dinner?"

"Okay."

As I watched him go up the stairs, casting worried glances at me, I felt my throat burn as I bit down on the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to stay still. I couldn't let my son see me cry. Caleb was only eight and I had hoped he would be blissfully ignorant of the struggles Leo and I were facing, but I was wrong.

I needed to do better, as a mother, as a wife. It was my responsibility to shield my son from any negative emotion, and I was failing.

The thought dwelled in my mind for the rest of the day. I tried to act normally, for Caleb's sake, but I couldn't get rid of it, and the awful feeling of shame that had taken rest in my heart.

Later that night, after Caleb was long asleep, I sat next to Leo, unsure of how to bring up the issue. Finally, I decided to start in the way that felt right. "Leo," he stopped typing on his laptop but didn't turn to face me. And I didn't need him to, his attention was what I wanted. "Today, after Caleb got home from school, he noticed I hadn't gone out like I said I would.... And he asked if it was because you didn't let me." I noticed his fist tighten and I quickly added. "Of course, I let him understand that it was my choice to stay back. But it has me thinking.... I don't think I'm doing my job as a mother right."

He placed his laptop on the drawer by his side of the bed and turned to face me fully. "You see what I mean? You always spend too much time thinking about irrelevant things that you failed to notice that your son -your only child - was suffering."

When he said that, my heart shattered. I immediately wanted to undo everything I had done wrong during all our years of marriage. "I'm sorry Leo," I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "You must be so disappointed in me."

In the most gentle but firm way, he pulled me close to him. His embrace answered my question before his words did.

'Yes I am, but you can fix it.'

"You still have a chance to make things right." He finally said, still holding me.

I nodded, holding back tears. "I was thinking.... This Saturday, maybe we could go the park-"

It felt like the whole world stopped, even Leo's heart had slowed, or maybe I just imagined it. Slowly, he moved away from me. "What is wrong with you? Even after what we just talked about, you're still bringing this up?"

"N-no, I just-"

"This house is more than enough for anything you'd want to do. What are you always looking for outside?"

"I just felt that he might want to visit a park or maybe a movie theater -"

"Then let the housekeeper take him."

"Leo-"

His response was a slight click of his tongue, and it was more than enough to pass his message across. I swallowed hard, trying to fight off the feeling of disappointment that rose in my throat.

Smiling, I said, "I'll give him the news tomorrow. Goodnight."

He nodded and carried his laptop, returning his full focus on the device.

★★★

Almost immediately Leo left the house the next morning, I was greeted by the smiling face of my mother in law. "Hello dear," she hugged me as she let herself into the living room.

"Good morning mum, did Leo ask you to come?"

"He worries about you dear, thinks you might be lonely. And I hear you need some assistance with little Caleb?"

Her words held no hostility but it still poked at my heart with a painful jab. So Leo was disappointed after all. "I'm really not sure what I'm doing wrong mum, I don't want to fail my son."

She wiped my tears, smiling ever so kindly. "It's alright dear. Motherhood is tough, and this is your first child so it's very natural to make some mistakes from time to time. That's why I'm here."

I nodded and allowed myself to be led further into the living room. We sat next to each other on the sofa, my mother in law's hands never leaving mine. It was a kind gesture, but at the same time, it left me feeling like a child who had done something wrong and was supposed to be scolded.

Sharon was Leo's mother, and the only one in his family who was fond of me. She was always looking out for me and worrying for my comfort. She was also the only one who knew my secret.

Ever since I lost my mother, she never let me feel the gap and even before then, she had been my angel.

"Talk to me dear, what happened?"

In the most steady voice I could find, I started to explain. "Recently, Leo has been coming home very late...."

I told her how his withdrawal had been affecting me, how my emotions had been all over the place, even though Leo hadn't really done anything wrong. Finally, when I talked about Caleb and his comment, I noticed her expression change.

Though it only lasted a second, I caught it, the slight furrow in her brows and the tiniest frown that twitched the corner of her lips.

After I finished, she smiled again. "Well, it seems like you already know what to do, don't you?"

Slowly, I nodded. "I should respect Leo's actions more."

"Good." The way her smile widened indicated that my response pleased her. In her warm, motherly tone, she added, "And don't talk back. A perfect wife should never question her husband."

The same thing she had been saying to me throughout my nine years of marriage.

It felt like those words had been etched into my brain and it made voicing out my opinion feel like I was at war with my body.

A part of me wanted to go against them, but another- much bigger part of me- had been clinging so desperately to them for the past nine years that my whole personality had been built around them.

"Thank you mum." I smiled softly, regaining most of my composure.

"Do you feel better?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now go and get dressed, we have a family meeting this weekend and you need a new dress."

Excited, I rushed upstairs to change. Opportunities like this were rare, and I didn't dare waste any time delaying.

The meeting was to be held in Leo's family home. It was a tradition held once every six months to catch up on family members, discuss business progress and to show respect to the head of the family, Antonio Moretti, Leo's father.

My role in all of it was simple; sit still and look pretty, and I had always learned to excel at it. That morning too, Leo had called in a professional make up artist to doll me up. The dress my mother-in-law chose for me was perfect, a deep blue silk with the prettiest white flowers. Leo, being the jealous man he was, had always been against me wearing revealing outfits, so it went all the way to my heels and it had a long sleeve made of a lighter material.

Leo loved my long hair so it was always left flowing down my back. He also loved gold accessories, and I had grown to accept it. My neck, wrists and fingers were adorned with bright heavy jewelry to stand out as the wife of the first son- which I always did.

I sat next to Leo, my back straight and a practiced smile on my face. Not too wide that it looked stupid, and not too small that it looked fake. Just right. Just the way I always did.

"Leo, how have things been at the company?" Antonio asked, his deep voice filling the whole room.

"Very good sir."

Leo smiled so brightly that I couldn't test my eyes off his face. He explained how he had been getting new contracts and deals, his pride-filled smile never leaving his face.

It was moments like this I loved most, the times when he wasn't wearing the strains of our marriage on his face. When he could just smile as freely and as happily as he did when I fell in love with him. But even as he smiled, the light never reached me anymore.

"And Elysium Autos?"

For some reason, I became very attentive when I heard that name. My heart skipped a beat and I could feel my cheeks flush, either out of anger or embarrassment. I looked at Leo, as if his reply would provide me with the answers to my curiosity.

"Good news as well sir. The CEO will be flying into the country by month end and we should finalize the deal by then."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear, but there was nothing I could do. Asking him was clearly out of the option, and there was no way I could use my phone at such a moment.

At exactly two minutes past twelve, the formal meeting finally ended. I knew because I'd been watching the slow, deliberate ticking of the clock the entire time, counting down each second like it might somehow set me free.

Antonio retreated to the inner part of the living room, leaving the siblings and spouses to mingle.

"Leo, I haven't seen you in a while." Isabella, Leo's older sister walked up to him smiling brightly.

He matched her energy as he hugged her, lifted her and spun around. "I see you're doing well."

"Oh well, what can I say?"

They made small talk, laughing and playing around, and eventually left me seated there like a doll that had been turned off, waiting for its master's orders.

"Is that Leo's wife?"

I heard a woman say somewhere behind me, but I didn't recognize the voice. The masculine voice that replied however, was one I could never forget.

"She's hot, isn't she? Too bad that's the only thing she's good for." The hurtful comment was made by none other than Louis, Leo's younger brother. "She doesn't do anything other than to sit around all day and spend my brother's money." He added, intentionally trying to get under my skin.

"Why not just get a job?" The woman asked. Whether it was out of curiosity or mockery, I didn't know.

"Isn't it obvious? She's a gold digger!" The other part was said louder than was necessary for a conversation between two people.

Leo stopped his chat with Isabella and glanced at me. "Go and stay with mother." He said simply.

Grateful for having a reason to leave the room, I smiled and immediately went in, ignoring the continued mockery going on behind me.

"What are you doing mom?" I found her in the kitchen, humming to herself.

"Making tea for Antonio, help me."

We stayed quiet for the first few minutes, but then she suddenly spoke up. "Why do you let Caleb's babysitter attend all his school events? People will start to wonder if she's his mother."

I looked her in the eyes, confusion and something else filling mine. Anger?

"Doesn't Leo attend his school events?"

"No." Almost as if she realized something, she quickly added. "Don't worry about it too much. Leo cares about you a lot and just doesn't want any stress for you."

Even though I wanted to argue, to tell her she was wrong, and that I would want more than anything to be able to be there for my son when he needs me, the only response I could give was an uncertain nod.

She placed the ready tea in my hands and asked me to serve my father-in-law.

My mind had gone blank from what I had just heard but I still walked forward. I dropped to my knees and placed the tray on the table. I poured the right amount of tea into the tiny ceramic cup and handed it to him.

He took a tiny sip and exclaimed loudly. "Are you trying to kill me?!"

His reaction momentarily snapped me out of my thoughts. "What's wrong father -" before I could finish my sentence, the hot liquid in the cup had been splashed all over me, burning my face.

"How do you expect me to drink something so hot?" He complained. "What kind of wife doesn't know how to make tea? Is this how nonchalantly you're treating my son?!"

'But I didn't make the tea.'

That was what I should have said, instead I bowed my head. "I'm deeply sorry, father."

"Get this nonsense out of my sight." In one swift movement, the entire tray-tea and all- had been thrown to the ground.

The noise must have gotten the attention of the others, because Leo walked in, scanning the room for an explanation. When he found me on the floor, he sighed and walked back out.

As I stared at the perfectly broken porcelain, it felt like it mirrored something in me.

I didn't know why but holding back my tears proved to be impossible at that moment. To keep Antonio from seeing, I kept my head bowed as I cleaned up the mess.

I could hear him mutter angrily as he walked away. Only after he had left the room did Sharon allow herself to move towards me.

"Are you okay dear?" She held my shoulders, as if she could see the tremors in them. "Things like this happen, don't let it get to you."

I couldn't find any words to express myself so I just stared at her.

I couldn't tell if she understood my feelings or not, but she hugged me, patting my back.

DANTE.

"Don, Mr Orpheus is here." When he didn't get any response, he said again, "Don, Mr -"

"Do you think I'm deaf?" I sat up.

"N-no sir. I apologize, when you remained quiet I assumed you were sleeping." He explained, keeping his head lowered as a sign of respect. Or fear. I didn't know, and I didn't care.

"So? If I was actually sleeping, you would have woken me up because Orpheus wants to see me?"

"I-I apologize sir, your meeting-"

"Who do you serve?"

"Sir?"

"Do I have to ask again?"

"N-no sir, of course not." He dropped to his knees, one hand placed firmly on his chest. "I serve you, Don."

Bored of the sight in front of me, I got up and casually strolled out to the meeting area.

I already knew what the meeting was about, and if I had the choice I would be doing literally anything else than having it.

"Dante, you look well." Orpheus said with a smile as he reached out for a handshake.

I didn't offer my hand and instead poured myself a glass of whiskey as I sat across him. "Let's keep this brief, shall we?" I downed the alcoholic drink one sip and returned the empty glass on the marble table.

"Of course." The older man leaned back in his seat and folded one leg over the other. "As I'm sure you've heard, old man Arno is dead."

"And?"

He raised a brow, visibly surprised by my reaction. "His district is left unprotected, and you know it's only going to cause trouble."

"And this concerns, how?" I knew what he was hinting at, only an idiot wouldn't. "Orpheus, Arno passed of old age and from the looks of it, you're next. So instead of worrying about someone's unprotected territory, I'd worry about your health."

His wrinkled face turned red and he spoke in a loud voice. "I know what your plan is. You think you can use your devious ways to take control of his district. Well let me tell you, it won't work!" His nostrils were flared and he kept pointing his aged finger at me like it was supposed to intimidate me.

In one swift movement, the golden pistol tucked at the back of my pants was aimed at the old man.

"You think because -" his rants were stopped abruptly and his eyes widened. "What is this?" His tone was much calmer, and even a bit jittery.

"In seven days, the four territories will have a meeting to decide on what to do. Why don't you save this little outburst for that time?"

"Do you realize you're missing out on a golden opportunity to control thirty percent of the Seraphine Circle?"

"We're done here."

I was tired. Too tired.

"Take your golden opportunity somewhere else." I didn't wait for his response before walking back into the room.

"Sometimes I feel you might be too harsh on others."

I sighed and turned around. "Ma, aren't you supposed to be in bed?" I immediately walked up to her and held her by the shoulders, leading her back into her bedroom.

"Dante, I understand the nature of your work requires you to be firm, but it doesn't mean you have to keep yourself from feeling at all."

There was worry in her weak voice and the reason touched me and annoyed me at the same time. "If this is about me having kids again-"

"Dante," she reached up to cup the side of my face. "I don't have much time left in this world. I want to be sure that when I go, you won't be left all alone."

"Ma, let's bring back this issue when I turn thirty." I helped her get in bed and tucked her in. "I'll tell Gloria to bring up your meal, then you take your medication. Okay?"

She looked like she wanted to argue but the sound of my phone interrupted her. "What is it?"

The stern voice on the other end explained that some guys were causing trouble in my territory and had been captured.

"I'm on my way." I hung up and left the room before Ma found something else to say.

When I arrived at the holding center, I immediately sensed something was off. Smiling, I confidently walked in. "Drey, where are the imposters?"

He flinched, almost as if the sound of my voice was painful to him. "Uh they're in the cell."

"Bring them to me." I sat in the only leather chair in the room.

Click!

I smirked. Who did these fools think they were dealing with?

Drey watched with keen interest and was almost too visibly pleased when I sat in the chair. He disappeared into one of the dark rooms and returned seconds later, not with prisoners, but with three armed men.

"Your time is up Dante. All these years, you have been nothing but a bully and a pain in the ass! Everyone knows I'm supposed to be the head of La Rosa Nera, but you stole it from me. Now, I'm going to take it back."

My eyes scanned the room, checking for any hidden subordinates that I might have missed on my way in, but I was almost disappointed when there were none.

"So? You want to kill me and take my place, and you decided to bring three imbeciles from Orpheus?"

Drey threw his head back and laughed maniacally. "Do you even know the situation you're in right now?"

"No. But it seems to me that you forgot who you're dealing with." Before either of them had the time to react, the sound of gun shots echoed through the silent room and the bodies of the three goons from Orpheus group dropped to the ground with a dull thud and my pistol was aimed at Drey.

Sweat trickled down his face as he stared at the lifeless bodies on the ground with horror. He opened his mouth but nothing but slow raspy breaths came out.

I leaned back in the chair, not entirely enjoying the scene in front of me. "Why?" I asked, not that it mattered. Regardless of the reason, betrayal is the same.

"I-I-"

I took the first shot, hitting his left thigh. Drey cried out in pain and collapsed to his knees.

"Why?" I asked again.

Silence.

I took the next shot, hitting his right arm and Drey let out another pained scream.

"It's just a gun shot, Drey." but it wasn't. My guns were customized so the trigger was stronger and the bullets were much sharper and they didn't stop spinning even after piercing through the skin. It was deadlier and definitely more painful.

"Die, you motherfucker!" He took out a small rectangle device with a big red button in the middle but he didn't have the chance to press it.

I fired another shot at his hand and the device flew to the side, along with two of Drey's fingers.

This time, he collapsed to the ground, rolling around. He cradled his hand, crying loudly.

"Drey," I was losing my patience, and it would be a waste to leave without learning anything.

"It wasn't my choice." He finally confessed mid sobs. "Orpheus promised me he would make me the Don if I got rid of you."

"And you thought that was possible?"

"H-how did you know? Did Orpheus betray me?"

"No. But you just betrayed him by spilling. Your traps were just too stupid not to see through." I heard the same clicking sound from before. My cue to get up.

I stretched my legs as I got up, and adjusted my jacket. "Next time, maybe go with a bomb that doesn't make so much noise when activated." I turned like I was about to leave and I heard the light sound of a gun being cocked. I smiled.

Some people just didn't learn.

I heard the gun fire but my reflexes were faster. I dodged and immediately delivered the final blow to Drey. A shot to the head.

As I started to leave, I heard his phone ring and I answered it after seeing the familiar name on the screen.

"Well? Did you finish the job?"

"I was trying to be lenient Orpheus, but you were stupid enough to do something like this. Drey was my favorite bodyguard too, I have to avenge his death, don't I?"

I heard Orpheus swallow hard but he offered no response and instead just hung up the call.

I didn't have the intention of attending the meeting, but things had changed. I called my personal assistant. "We're heading back to Italy tomorrow. It's time I addressed things in person."