On my sixth wedding anniversary, as my husband Julian—a Mafia Don—leaned in, his kiss hungry, I turned my head and pushed him away, my cheeks burning. "Go get the lubricant from the bathroom," I whispered.

What he didn't know was that I had hidden an ultrasound and a positive pregnancy test in the nightstand drawer. I could already picture his face lighting up the moment he found them.

But as he turned toward the bathroom, I caught a glimpse of the tattoo on his back.

It was supposed to be an iris, a flower he'd had designed just for me, which had bloomed alone between his shoulder blades for six years. But now, a small snake I had never seen before was coiled around the stem—Seraphina's mark. My sister's symbol.

It was a knife twisting in my gut. As an art restorer, I am hyper-aware of symbols, of details. The altered tattoo told me everything.

My arms, still draped around Julian's neck, began to tremble. In that moment, my hesitation vanished. I would accept the invitation to the European art restoration project.

In three days, I would disappear from Julian's world forever.

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1

Julian Valachi felt my arms slip from his neck. He leaned in, pressing a deep kiss to my lips.

"Something on your mind, darling? Am I losing my touch?"

He gave me the same adoring look he always did, a look that now struck me as utterly ridiculous.

Just minutes ago, I'd discovered the tattoo he designed exclusively for me had been defiled by a symbol for my sister, Seraphina. And now, here he was, playing the part of the perfect, devoted husband.

How long had he been playing this part? I couldn't bear the thought.

I buried my face in his chest, hiding the bitter twist of my lips. "Nothing. I was just admiring the new addition to your tattoo. It's incredible."

A smug smile touched Julian's lips. "Just a little something new. I'm glad you like it."

He must have been too caught up with Seraphina to remember who he married. An art restorer. I was trained to see every symbol, every lie.

The air grew heavy, suffocating.

I pushed him away, my voice unnaturally steady. "I'm suddenly thirsty. Why don't you bring up a good bottle from the cellar? We can continue our celebration."

Before Julian could say a word, I slipped on a silk robe and headed downstairs.

As I passed the living room, I heard the maids whispering.

"The Don is so devoted to the Donna. Did you hear? He just ordered a custom blue diamond necklace for her. Ten million dollars."

"The storage room is overflowing with his gifts. She hasn't even had time to unwrap them all. He worships the ground she walks on."

In the past, those words would have made me feel like the luckiest woman alive, certain I had married the best man in the world.

But now, I had to fight to keep the pain from showing on my face. No one knew that this model husband, the man everyone praised, was living a sordid lie.

Just yesterday, I had snuck into Julian's study to leave his custom-made anniversary gift. It was a room I rarely entered, filled as it was with family secrets.

But this time, tucked inside his cigar box, I found a cufflink that wasn't my anniversary gift to him. It was engraved with an exquisite serpentine design. The sight of it was a physical blow.

In that moment, I knew my marriage was over.

My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was my mentor, Professor Alistair Finch.

"Evangeline, I see you've accepted the invitation for the restoration project. You gave up your career for Julian. I'm so glad you're finally ready to come back. Someone will be there to pick you up in three days. Take some time to say goodbye to your family."

My family?

I nearly crushed my phone.

Six years ago, my parents died in an "accident." After that, Julian and Seraphina were my only family. But their betrayal meant they were nothing to me now.

I took a deep breath, my voice barely a whisper. "Professor Finch, that won't be necessary. Please apply for the highest security clearance for me. Erase every record of my identity."

Alistair's voice grew sharp with shock. "Why? Once we erase your records, Evangeline de Rossi will cease to exist. If Julian can't find you, he'll tear the world apart."

I let out a bitter laugh. "He won't. He already betrayed me."

My eyes began to sting.

I had traded my own world for the trivialities of his, lost myself completely, and received nothing but betrayal in return.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line before Alistair finally sighed.

"I knew something was wrong when you accepted the invitation so suddenly. I just didn't expect this. I'll make sure the clearance is approved. Be ready in three days."

I closed my eyes, feeling a calm I hadn't felt in years. With this protocol, I wouldn't have to fight to shed the title of "Mrs. Valachi."

"Thank you, Professor Finch."

The last word had barely left my lips when a familiar, chilling voice cut through the silence behind me. "Betrayal, darling? Who's betraying whom?"

I turned to face Julian. His eyes were sharp, laced with suspicion.

I kept my usual gentle smile fixed in place. "Just a friend on the phone. She was telling me about a nasty scandal in the art world—some collector cheated on his wife. Now she's taking him for everything he's worth."

If he wanted to play a part, I would play mine right up to the end.

Julian studied my face, searching for any crack in my composure. Finding none, his tense shoulders finally relaxed.

He wrapped an arm around my waist, his lips brushing my forehead. "The man's a fool. Doesn't he know the woman who waits up for him is the only one who matters?"

"If it were me, I would die before I betrayed you."

I met his intense gaze, forcing a weak laugh. "But what if? What if it did happen—hypothetically—"

Julian cut me off. "This isn't a hypothetical, Eva. I, Julian Valachi, swear on my blood and soul that I will never betray you."

I shook my head, swallowing the sharp pain in my chest as if it were nothing. "Of course. I was just wondering."

Julian fell silent, his rough stubble grazing my cheek. I could feel the tension in his jaw.

It was absurd. He had so clearly been with Seraphina, yet he still clung to me with such stubborn possession.

"If I break that vow, then I deserve to lose you forever. You are my angel, Eva. My everything. Without you, I'd be in hell."

I said nothing, just gently eased out of his embrace.

I would be gone in three days. The consequences he swore he'd bear were finally coming for him.

Just then, Julian's Consigliere, Dominic Russo, appeared at the door. "Don, everything is ready."

Julian nodded, then gave me an unreadable smile. "Come. I have a surprise for you."

He took my hand and led me into the garden, then suddenly covered my eyes. He whispered in my ear, "Get ready for your surprise. Five… four… three…"

The moment the countdown ended, he uncovered my eyes.

I froze, stunned by the sight.

The entire garden was a sea of my favorite blue irises. Thousands of them, meticulously arranged into a giant number six, shimmered under the moonlight.

Julian wrapped his arms around me from behind, his voice thick with tenderness. "Darling, even after six years, every day with you feels as perfect as the day we first met."

The scent of the flowers was intoxicating, but it only made the hollow in my chest ache.

Six years. I had gone from the treasured daughter of the de Rossi family to the matriarch of the Valachi family, swept into a world of blood and power.

Six years had changed everything. It was long enough for love to curdle into betrayal, for vows to become lies.

Julian turned me to face him, his eyes holding me as if I were his entire world. "We'll have countless more six years, my love. And in every one, I will give you the very best."

He leaned in slowly to kiss me.

If I hadn't found Seraphina's cufflink in his cigar box, I might have been lost in that gaze forever.

Just as his lips were about to touch mine, his phone rang. He frowned, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

Perfect. I didn't have to figure out how to dodge his kiss.

"Dammit. I said no disturbances tonight. Let's see who has the balls to disobey me."

But when Julian saw the caller ID, his expression shifted. The name "My Little Snake" flashed across the screen.

I didn't need to guess who it was.

Julian cleared his throat, angled the phone away from me, and quickly tapped the screen.

I could see the conflict in his eyes—a flicker of panic, a flash of desire. A second later, he turned back to me, his face a mask of familiar apology.

"What's wrong?" I asked calmly, my nails digging into my palms.

I already knew. I just wanted to see who he would choose.

Julian shoved the phone into his pocket, his expression apologetic. "Darling, a family emergency. A traitor needs to be dealt with. I have to handle it myself."

"Now?"

"I'm so sorry. I know tonight is important, but this is about the family's honor. It can't wait. Can you go up to the bedroom and rest? I'll be back as soon as I can."

I nodded obediently. "I understand. Family comes first."

Julian was visibly relieved. He gave me a quick, tight hug and then was gone. His car pulled away from the estate, its taillights swallowed by the darkness.

I walked to the garage. I was going to see for myself just how "urgent" this business with the "traitor" was.

I tailed Julian's car to a private winery owned by the family, then pulled my own car into the shadows to park.

Fortunately, the guards on duty recognized my vehicle. They simply nodded respectfully and let me pass without a word.

I stayed in the car, watching through the windshield.

The moment Julian stepped out, Seraphina rushed from the winery. She was wearing a ridiculously short skirt and coiled herself around him like a viper, pressing her body against his.

"Darling, that whole flower display made me so jealous."

Julian patted her back, his voice indulgent. "Didn't I give you a fireworks show for your birthday last week? Wasn't that enough, my little snake?"

"Just be a good girl and make sure Eva doesn't find out about us. You'll get everything she has, and more."

My chest tightened until I could barely breathe. The extravagant fireworks display from a few days ago flashed in my mind.

That night, Julian had told me he needed to fly to New York to "handle" a provocation from a rival family. He was gone all night.

I'd been sick with worry, staying up and even pouring his favorite whiskey, waiting for him to come home safe.

Now I understood. "Handling a rival family" meant sleeping with my sister.

Seraphina let out a flirtatious laugh, her fingers tracing slow circles on his chest, beneath his shirt. "So, I'm not even allowed to be jealous now, am I, Don? Fine. What's a girl to do?"

"You're all mine tonight. And I have a special show just for you."

She leaned in and whispered something in his ear. His eyes darkened with raw want.

There, under the moonlight, Julian swept her into his arms and strode toward the small cabin on the property. The same cabin where we'd shared our first kiss six years ago. Just before his mouth crushed down on hers, she let out a soft, sensual moan.

I stayed in the car, watching until they disappeared inside.

In that instant, our six-year marriage crumbled into dust. I thought I was numb, but hot tears streamed down my face.

When we first married, Julian had promised we would spend every anniversary together, no matter what. Now, one call from Seraphina was all it took for him to abandon me and our vows.

I had lost. Utterly. I took a long, shuddering breath, forcing the pain down.

I just had to survive for three more days. Then, I would be free.

It was three in the morning when I returned to the estate. I walked straight past the master bedroom and into my art studio, locking the door behind me.

Around 3:30 AM, I heard Julian storming down the hall, shouting my name, his voice growing more frantic with each call.

"Eva? Eva! Dammit, where is she? I pay you to watch one person, and you lose her?"

The butler, Francesco, answered in a trembling voice, "Don, the Donna's car isn't in the driveway. She might have gone out."

"Find her! I don't care what it takes. Turn Chicago upside down if you have to!"

His footsteps grew closer. I switched off the light, curled up on the sofa, and let my eyes flutter shut, feigning the grogginess of someone just woken by the commotion.

The door was thrown open with a bang.

The moment Julian saw me, his fury melted into relief. "Oh, thank God. Eva, you scared me to death. I was going crazy looking for you."

He rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace. I could feel his heart hammering against my chest.

I patted his back gently. "What's wrong?"

Julian kissed the top of my head, his voice still laced with fear. "Nothing. I just… I couldn't find you, and I panicked. Why aren't you in our room?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I came to the studio hoping for some inspiration."

The lie came out effortlessly. I was getting good at them.

A flicker of relief crossed Julian's face. "Don't do that again. I can't stand not knowing where you are. You know I'd do anything for you."

If he really believed that, he never would have been with Seraphina in the first place.

I closed my eyes, a silent sneer on my lips, my resolve hardening into steel.

The next morning, I prepared a small, exquisite gift box. Inside, I placed my wedding ring, the positive pregnancy test, and the property division agreement I had signed in the dead of night.

I closed the lid, tied the ribbon, and handed it to Julian. "Julian, this is my anniversary gift for you."

He took the box, a little surprised. "Can I open it now?"

"Not yet. Wait two days. It'll mean more then."

He nodded, carefully placing the box in his safe. "Whatever you got me, I'll love it."

Good. That was exactly what I wanted him to think.

In two days, I would be gone. By then, that "gift" would tell him everything.

Just as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang.

He opened the door to find Seraphina standing on the step, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful.