In the fifth year of my marriage with Luca Salvatore, his older brother, Kendall Salvatore, suddenly passes away. As such, Luca becomes the new Don due to the circumstances.

But the Salvatore family has one condition for Luca—he has to sire an heir with Kendall's widow, Cindy Newton, in order to maintain the marriage alliance between both families.

I refuse to accept that condition. Luca turns it down firmly as well. He even takes my hand and makes a vow right in front of me.

"Xandra, I will never yield to my family. You're the only woman fit to become the Donna of the Salvatore family. Our child can be the only one who inherits my position as the Don in the future."

But gradually, he has been staying up late due to family affairs more and more often. There's also unfamiliar perfume clinging to his clothes.

But today is the day when my suspicions are finally proven to be true thanks to a video sent by an unknown number.

In the video, Luca can be seen accompanying Cindy to a prenatal check-up. As he caresses her baby bump, he says in a tender tone, "You must have suffered a lot, Cindy. Thank you for siring the heir of the Salvatore family."

At that moment, I finally realize that Luca has already broken the vow he has made to me. Hence, I burn down our home and leave without hesitation.

After all, my dad—the Don of the Caprese family—is already urging me to go home and take over the family as the new Donna.

I watched that clip over and over, ten times in total. In it, Luca Salvatore's gaze on Cindy Newton's belly was more sincere than the look he had when he swore his vows to me in the church five years ago.

The screen went dark, reflecting my numb face. At that moment, I had to admit that the man who once swore he would never betray me was gone.

The bedroom door opened. Luca walked in, exhausted. When he saw me, the gloom in his eyes softened instantly. "Why aren't you asleep? Didn't I tell you not to wait up?"

He walked over, leaning in to kiss me out of habit. But I turned my head, and his lips brushed my hair instead.

"I just woke up," I replied lightly. My gaze fell on the faint smear of foundation on his shirt collar.

Luca's hand froze midair, then withdrew as if nothing had happened. He sat beside me and said, "Xandra, I'm sorry. The senior members of the family have been putting pressure on me lately. I've neglected you."

Before, I would've reached out and smoothed his furrowed brows. But now, the scent of Cindy's perfume lingering on him made me sick.

"Is that so?" I stared straight into his eyes.

His gaze flickered for a second but quickly steadied. "Of course. Xandra, trust me. Everything I'm doing is to protect our family. That's why I have to be the Don."

What a noble excuse. To protect me, he has to have a child with his sister-in-law?

"Go take a shower." I cut him off. I didn't want to hear any more.

When Luca came out of the shower, he lowered his head and kissed me. "Xandra, I've missed you."

He pushed me onto the bed, rough and urgent. "Xandra, only with you can I feel like I'm just myself, not some damned Don."

For a fleeting moment, I was dazed, as if I saw the young man from years ago, the one who only had eyes for me.

But suddenly, his phone rang abruptly. It was the special ringtone set for Cindy's calls.

Luca's body stiffened. The desire in his eyes vanished instantly. He glanced at his phone, his expression changing at once.

"What is it?" I asked, though I already knew. My voice was so calm that it even surprised me.

As he hurriedly got dressed, he quickly explained, "There's a problem with the shipment at the docks. I have to go deal with it in person. You should sleep. Don't wait for me."

What a perfect excuse.

Previously, I would've believed him without question and lay awake all night worrying about his safety.

"Is it serious?" I looked at him.

"It's a little troublesome, but I can handle it." He gave me a quick kiss on my forehead and got up. "Go to sleep. Don't wait up. Have the bodyguards watch the doors and windows."

The heat of his touch hadn't even faded, yet his heart had already flown to another woman.

"Luca," I called out just as he was about to leave.

He paused and turned back. "What is it?"

"Once something important is lost, you can never get it back, right?"

He was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, assuming I was worried about the shipment.

He rubbed my head and said, "Xandra, you should trust my abilities." With that, he left without looking back.

Through the window, I watched as his cab sped toward Cindy's house. I let out a bitter laugh. Turning around, my gaze fell on our wedding photo from five years ago.

Back then, Luca was still just the overlooked second son of the Salvatore family. He had held my hand and swore, "Xandra Caprese, you are the most important person in my life. If I ever have to choose between you and the Salvatore family, I would rather destroy the family."

Those vows now were nothing more than a reckless joke of youth.

Since he had chosen his family and the "heir" in Cindy's belly, it was time for me to make my choice too. I took out my phone and contacted my father, George Caprese, whom I hadn't spoken to in five years.

Back then, George had strongly opposed my marriage to Luca. But for love, I had cut ties with my family, hidden my identity, and married Luca in secrecy. I played the role of a docile wife for five years.

Now, it was time for the daughter of the Caprese family to return home.

Early the next morning, I was woken by commotion downstairs.

Luca had brought Cindy back. I watched coldly as he carefully supported her, as if she were some priceless treasure. Several men were carrying things inside—prenatal supplements of the highest quality and imported medical equipment.

"Careful! Don't bump into anything!" Luca directed them nervously.

When he looked up, he saw me. Panic flashed across his face for a moment before it was replaced with a kind of justified helplessness.

"Xandra, you're awake?" He let go of Cindy and rushed upstairs, lowering his voice as he explained, "The Salvatore residence was attacked last night. Cindy… She's pregnant, and the shock affected the baby. I brought her here to stay for a few days."

As if realizing that he said too much, he hurriedly added, "The child isn't mine. It's an IVF baby using Kendall's preserved sample from before he passed. I'm just taking the name to shut those old men up."

Such a clumsy lie. He must've forgotten that his brother, Kendall Salvatore, had always despised the idea of IVF. There was no way he would've left anything behind.

I looked past him at Cindy. She deliberately tugged down her collar, revealing the marks on her neck, and shot me a provocative glance.

"If Cindy's not feeling well, it's only right for her to stay here," I said expressionlessly.

Luca froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes as he reached out, trying to pull me into an embrace. "Xandra, I knew you'd understand. Don't worry. She'll stay in the guest room downstairs. She won't disturb us."

I dodged his hand. "She's pregnant. We don't have enough staff. I'll have the housekeeper bring in more help."

"No need!" Luca blurted.

When I looked at him, he coughed awkwardly and explained, "Cindy's situation is special. I'm worried about outsiders with bad intentions. More people would mean more risks. I'll arrange for my own people to take care of her."

Was he afraid I'd harm Cindy's child? It seemed as though he already saw me as an enemy.

"Suit yourself." I turned back toward the room. "I haven't been feeling well lately. I don't want to see anyone."

Luca followed behind me, his tone turning coaxing. "What's wrong? Should I call the family doctor? Oh, right. I brought you a gift."

He pulled out a box. Inside it was a dazzling pink diamond necklace. "When I saw it, I thought it would suit you perfectly."

I glanced at it and laughed bitterly. Cindy was the one who liked necklaces. I was allergic to metal and couldn't even wear jewelry.

Five years of marriage, and he had even forgotten that. He had clearly just taken this necklace straight from Cindy.

"Thanks. Just leave it there." I didn't take it and walked straight into the master bedroom. A room once filled with our best memories now felt unbearable to look at.

I took out a large suitcase and began stuffing all those unbearable things inside. If they were no longer beautiful, then they didn't deserve to stay.

Leaning against the doorframe, Luca frowned at me. "Why are you cleaning the room?"

"Cindy is pregnant. How can she stay in the guest room? I'm clearing out the master bedroom for her," I lied casually.

Luca didn't doubt it. He walked over and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin against my neck. That familiar scent of Cindy's perfume hit my nostrils again. My stomach churned, but I forced myself not to push him away.

"Xandra, I know this is hard on you. Once the baby is born, the alliance between the two families will be secured, and the elders won't have anything to say. Then, we'll finally be free," he whispered in my ear, as if trying to hypnotize me, or himself.

Free? What a brilliant plan.

He wanted the power of the Don, my love, and a legitimate child with Cindy. He was far too greedy.

Suddenly, Cindy's panicked scream rang out from downstairs. "Luca! My stomach… It hurts!"

Luca's arms stiffened instantly. Almost by reflex, he let go of me and rushed out of the room. "What's wrong? Call the family doctor!"

The urgency and panic in his voice were far beyond what should exist between in-laws.

After I finished clearing out the bedroom, I went to the study and opened the safe. Inside were our prenuptial agreement and transfer documents for a portion of the Salvatore family's core assets.

When he proposed, to prove his sincerity, he willingly handed over to me the family assets that had been allocated to him. As long as I wanted, a third of the Salvatore family's holdings could be mine. But I had never touched them. They felt tainted.

As the daughter of the Caprese family, I had never lacked wealth. What I had accepted back then was his sincerity. But now, that sincerity was gone. I rolled up the documents and stuffed them into the suitcase along with everything else.

Just then, a housekeeper's voice came from downstairs. "Signor Salvatore, your mother and the elders have arrived."

My hand paused. Cindy had only just gotten pregnant, and Luca's mother had already come with the elders?

It seemed that Cindy wasn't here to seek security. She was here to force a decision.

The atmosphere in the living room was tense. Cindy sat reclined against the couch, while Luca sat close beside her, protectively guarding her belly. Across from them sat Luca's mother, Krista Mangione, along with several of the Salvatore family's senior elders.

When I walked downstairs, every gaze turned to me at once. From their stares, I felt it all—scrutiny, disdain, contempt, and even pity.

"Xandra." Luca stood, about to come over, but a single look from Krista stopped him.

One of the elders cleared his throat and spoke sternly. "Since everyone is here, let's get to the point. As agreed, now that Ms. Newton is carrying the Salvatore family bloodline, Luca can officially assume the position of Don. I believe their wedding should also be arranged. Why not announce this joyous news at the coronation ceremony in a few days?"

I noticed Luca was looking down at Cindy with concern, as if he hadn't even heard the conversation. A sharp pain twisted in my chest.

Without stopping, I walked over and sat on a single-seater couch, speaking coldly. "If you want Luca to marry Cindy, then what am I, his wife, supposed to be?"

A subordinate beside the elder let out a mocking laugh. "You are just an orphan of unknown background. Do you really think you can be the Donna of the Salvatore family? You really don't know your place, even interrupting a family meeting."

Krista lifted her cup of coffee, blowing on it leisurely, her gaze arrogant. "For the sake of your past with Luca, you can stay on as his secret lover. Cindy isn't doing well, and she'll need a bridesmaid to take care of her at the wedding. You can do it. Consider it a bit of dignity for you."

"Enough!" Luca snapped, seemingly unable to stand it anymore. But when his gaze fell on Cindy's belly, he swallowed it back. "Mom, be nicer with your words."

But that was all. He didn't even deny a single word of Krista's arrangement for me.

I smiled. "I have no objection to Luca marrying Cindy." I lifted my head, a calm smile on my face. "But I won't be anyone's secret lover. I'll divorce Luca and have nothing to do with him from now on."

Everyone was stunned. Luca stared at me in shock. "Xandra, you…"

"What? Did you really expect me to stay on as your secret lover?" I looked at him, my smile mocking.

He fell silent, his face flushing. But Krista smiled with satisfaction. "Since Signora Caprese is so sensible, that's great! Luca, you should prioritize the family. That's what a Don must do."

After seeing Krista and the elders out, Luca dismissed the household staff and, in a panic, grabbed my wrist. "Xandra, you were just saying that out of anger, right? You're not really going to leave me, are you?"

I looked at him indifferently. "Then what do you want me to do? Stay here and watch you and Cindy live happily together?"

A trace of guilt flashed across his face. "Xandra, don't be like this… I admit I was wrong. But I swear, this is the last time. Once I have full control of the Salvatore family, I'll give you the best of everything. The position of the Donna of the family can only be yours."

"I believe you," I said softly, resting my head against his shoulder.

I believed he could take control of the Salvatore family, but he would never get the chance to make it up to me.

Over the next few days, Luca was so busy that he barely had time to have a rest. He had to prepare for the coronation ceremony and the wedding, while also taking over family affairs.

At home, Cindy had already assumed the role of the lady of the house. She ordered the housekeepers to redecorate everything to her liking, having all the roses I planted uprooted and replaced with lilies she preferred.

Luca turned a blind eye to it all. When Cindy complained that the sound of my footsteps was too loud, he even had thick carpets laid down in the hallway. I watched it all coldly, quietly cooperating as Cindy erased every trace of me from the house, bit by bit.

The night before the coronation ceremony, Luca came home early for once, holding a wedding dress I had once dreamed of. "Xandra, I owe you a wedding," he said guiltily. "Tomorrow, wear this and come to my coronation, alright?"

I nodded. "Alright."

At least it would settle my last regret.

Luca let out a relieved smile. He wanted to stay the night, but I sent him away with the excuse that Cindy needed him more.

After he left, I casually tossed the wedding dress onto the table.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Quentin Hart. "Principessa, I'll come pick you up at 9:00 am tomorrow."

I looked around at this "home" that had been altered beyond recognition.

Goodbye, Luca.