I barely slept that night, haunted by fragments of the past.

Marco and I were in an arranged marriage. The Moretti Famiglia and the DeLuca Famiglia—one controlled the ports of Bellevue and the other ruled the casinos of Aethelgard. Thus, the alliance of these two Famiglias represented a reorganization of the entire eastern side of Arinthia's criminal underworld.

I had hesitated about this engagement back then, as I knew that it was common for men in Mafia Famiglias to keep mistresses by their sides. Their wives would remain at home to raise the children, while they would be out carousing with mistresses, each side accepting their role without a word.

Papa valued my input. He told me that I should consider this carefully before committing to it, saying that the Moretti Famiglia didn't need to pawn their daughters off in a marriage alliance to grow its influence.

Marco had been the one to kneel before Papa, swearing solemnly. "Lina will be the only woman in my life, Don Moretti. I'm not like the others—I'll never betray Lina. There will only be room for her in my sight, my heart, and my bed."

He then turned toward me, his eyes gleaming. "Please marry me, Lina Moretti."

It felt like his vows had been made just yesterday, yet they had already turned into nothing but a cruel joke.

I caught the look of distress in Marco's eyes when Fiora stood at his office door with bloodshot eyes and a stubborn expression. I knew that the exclusive affection he once reserved for me was now given to another woman.

I confronted Marco with tears streaming down my face and struck him across the face repeatedly, only to receive his outrageous explanation. "That's just how it works in Mafia Famiglias, Lina! I've done nothing wrong in this whole situation—Fiora is merely my secretary!"

I had a breakdown back then. I refused to eat or drink, locking myself away in my room for three days straight.

Marco had used the spare key to open the door that night and saw me standing on the windowsill, one foot already hanging over the edge.

It was the 20th floor, with Fifth Street's traffic streaming far below.

Marco burst into tears on the spot. He lunged forward, grabbed me, and pulled me onto the carpet. He kneeled on the spot and repeatedly slapped himself. "I won't say those horrible things anymore, Lina. I'll send Fiora away for good so that she'll never appear before you again."

I gave in once I looked at Marco's bruised and swollen face. It seemed like things between us had returned to normal, with him treating me with even greater devotion and care.

I felt my heart becoming increasingly cold and hard without even realizing it, eventually reaching a point where it was completely frozen. I should have canceled the engagement back then. I didn't, though, because I found out that I was pregnant with the baby that Marco and I had been looking forward to for two years.

…

I woke up to broad daylight. I went down to the living room and found the dining table laid out with my favorites—lobster Benedict from Balthazar and cronuts from the famous bakery in Novaris—alongside a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, the glass still beaded with condensation.

Marco looked at me with an eager, attentive expression. "You must be hungry, Lina. I had someone wait in line early this morning for these. You should come and have some."

He looked completely unfazed, as if the previous day had never occurred. He went so far as to pull out my chair and carefully drape a napkin across my lap.

I sat in silence and started eating. I needed the nutrition for my body at that moment, so I didn't bother to pick a fight.

Marco relaxed visibly as I finished my meal, clearly under the impression that the storm had blown over. "I'm going to Caspian for a few days for some business with the Famiglia. I'll have Maria come by to look after you, so you should just stay at home and take it easy, Lina."

I nodded calmly and said, "We'll talk about the separation once you return, then."

Marco's expression immediately shifted. He hurled the coffee cup to the floor, sending porcelain shards flying onto the hem of my dress. "What is your problem, Lina? Haven't I already gotten rid of Fiora, sending her away from Novaris? What else do you want from me, Lina?"

He sounded both ashamed and infuriated. "I've played the submissive role and catered to your every whim. What are you still unhappy about? Why are you being so aggressive? I'm telling you, Lina—the engagement won't be called off! You are mine, and you always will be!"

I stared at Marco's trembling rage with total indifference. I would have been in tears in the past. I had been so attached to him that I stayed even when he stopped caring, choosing to suffer just to see a flicker of regret in his eyes. I didn't feel that way anymore, though. I was done with him.

"I'm getting out of the way so that Fiora can take my place, Marco. I don't get why you're so upset. I'm doing you a favor here."

Marco became even more infuriated. "You should stop being so unreasonable, Lina! I already told you yesterday that this is the last time! I did what you wanted and moved her to the western side of Arinthia—I'm never seeing her again!

"What more do you expect? I also never actually cheated on you! What else do you want from me, Lina? You're the one I love—only you and no one else!"

I couldn't help but laugh at how shameless Marco was. "Do you really take me for a fool, Marco? You came home so late yesterday, with marks on your neck and perfume on your clothes. You're suddenly claiming that you're heading off to Caspian today as well. You honestly make me sick, Marco."

In that instant, everyone in the room fell silent. Marco's chest heaved with rage, his face alternating between pale and flushed. I didn't pay him any attention and headed upstairs to pack my things.

Marco had probably forgotten this. He had signed an agreement when he kneeled before Papa to ask for my hand, stating that I had the right to cancel the engagement and claim triple the assets the Morettis had put into the DeLuca Famiglia if he ever betrayed me before the marriage.

That agreement had now become his punishment.

I left the penthouse in Aethelgard and returned to the Famiglia estate in Bellevue.

Papa was momentarily stunned the moment he spotted me. He then approached me with a smile, asking, "How come you didn't let me know ahead of time that you'd come back, Lina? Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

He noticed the luggage I was carrying, his smile slowly vanishing. "What happened, Lina?"

I broke down completely as the tears streamed down my face. "I want to call off the engagement, Papa. I've also lost the child."

Papa was in the dark about Marco and Fiora.

I was consumed by indignation and hurt then, but I couldn't bring myself to be ruthless. I kept it to myself and endured everything in silence.

Papa fell silent for a long time after hearing what I said. He then walked toward the window and lit a cigarette; the Don of the Moretti Famiglia—the ruler of the criminal underworld of Bellevue's port—now looked like a typical old man with his hunched back.

Mamma, Sofia Esposito, stepped out of the kitchen, her eyes welling up with tears the moment she heard what I said. She then gathered me into her arms and asked, "Are you in a lot of pain, my darling Lina?"

I wept even more uncontrollably. I then laid out the entire situation regarding Marco and Fiora to Mamma and Papa.

I was aware that the partnership between the Moretti Famiglia and the DeLuca Famiglia was intricate. If the engagement was called off, their alliance would fall apart, followed by a full redistribution of power and interests. It was more than a personal issue; it was a restructuring of the criminal underworld of Novaris.

Papa stubbed out his cigarette and brought his hand down hard on the table. "You can just call off the engagement, Lina! I'm already 62 years old—I've got nothing to lose! If it's a fight the DeLucas want, we'll give it to them. If it's a talk, we'll listen.

"You ought to know that the Moretti Famiglia has ruled Bellevue for four decades, and we didn't do it by marrying off our Principessas! You're back now, so you don't have to worry about a thing, Lina!"

I broke down and wept even more after hearing what Papa said. I moved back into the estate, letting Marco's calls go to voicemail one after another. I just wanted some quiet time to focus on my own physical recovery before addressing the fallout.

Papa suddenly returned one day, looking absolutely livid. "That bastard Marco!"

I found out through Papa that the DeLuca Famiglia had begun to target the Moretti Famiglia's port business. They were hijacking shipments, paying off snitches, and had even turned two of our captains against us.

I hit my breaking point and bolted out the door to confront Marco. I couldn't believe how shameless Marco was.

I returned to the penthouse in Aethelgard, and the moment I opened the door, I found someone else in the living room—Fiora, whom Marco claimed to have sent to the western side of Arinthia.

Marco's expression immediately hardened the moment I returned.

Fiora flinched slightly, but she didn't retreat behind Marco. She remained seated on the couch, tracing the edge of her coffee cup with her fingers while keeping her gaze fixed downward in silence.

Marco's expression soured even further. "You've got a lot of nerve coming back after what you did, Lina."

I regarded him with an indifferent expression. "Why should I be ashamed to return, Marco? You're the one who openly brought your mistress into our home. Where do you get the gall to blame me? You didn't need to sabotage the Moretti Famiglia's operations, even if the engagement is called off, Marco!"

Marco's gaze hardened. "You should consider this a warning and a consequence for your actions, Lina. You had no business going after Fiora, especially when she was already set to depart."

I fixed my gaze on Marco, finding the whole situation incredulous. "You think I went after Fiora? I wouldn't want to dirty my hands on someone like her, Marco."

Marco interrogated me sharply. "Who else could it have been? You sent men to corner her at the Levant Airport with the order to break her legs! If I hadn't provided her with security, Fiora would be in a hospital bed right now!"

He looked at me coldly, a mocking smile touching his lips. "You told me yourself that you were going to destroy her, Lina."

I had indeed been crazy enough about Marco once to swear to destroy Fiora even if it meant destroying myself. I had changed, though. I glanced at Fiora, who sat perfectly still like a fragile porcelain figurine; her long eyelashes created a shadow that masked the emotions in her eyes.

I noticed Fiora lifting her gaze to meet mine the moment Marco looked away. I found no malice or victory in her expression, only a great weariness and a slight, almost invisible guilt. I was momentarily dazed by that gaze.

Marco continued speaking. "I'll have Fiora relocated to Lansport so that you won't cross paths again. You can consider this the price for the harm you did to her, Lina."

He then softened his tone, continuing, "I'll let it slide this once, Lina; after all, I know you only acted out because you love me. I'll hold a meeting to stabilize the situation while the Moretti and DeLuca partnership stays in place. You're still carrying my child, so please just take care of yourself and stop causing trouble, Lina."

I knew then that he had no idea that I had lost the child when he chose to go to Fiora's side. I refused to waste any more words on him, and since he didn't care about his own dignity, I didn't care about sparing his feelings.

I looked him in the eyes and nodded with a smile, thinking that it was time for me to deliver a grand gift to Marco.