"Ms. Rowe, are you certain you want to delete all identity records? Once they're erased, you'll be completely removed from the system. No one will be able to find you again."

Eva Rowe pauses for a moment before nodding with quiet resolve. "Yes. I want to disappear from this world. I want to make sure no one can ever find me."

Two seconds of silence follow on the other end, as if they're giving her one last chance to reconsider.

"Understood, Ms. Rowe. The wipeout protocol will be completed within 14 days. By then, you'll be officially 'dead' in all databases. Please make the necessary arrangements."

With that, the call ends.

Eva books a one-way ticket to Felnor, scheduled for 14 days later. Then, she turns off her phone, watching as the screen goes dark.

She stands by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the endless city lights, and lets out a soft, cold laugh.

She is no longer anyone's Eva.

The TV played a live broadcast of Sereno Group's global jewelry launch.

The powerful conglomerate, headquartered in Veritas and dominating both luxury and financial sectors across Avalon, had long been shrouded in mystery.

But one name loomed behind its empire—Leo Sereno, the enigmatic kingpin of Veritas' criminal underworld.

Tonight, for the first time in years, he made a public appearance. Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, he unveiled the group's newest masterpiece—the Amoura Eva necklace.

The necklace featured a 30-carat pear-cut diamond at its center, surrounded by seven blood-red rubies. Each stone symbolized silent devotion.

The moment it was revealed, media across the globe went into a frenzy, and social media feeds exploded, with hashtags trending in less than a minute.

Leo said only one thing. "For her, any price is worth paying."

The screen flickered, cutting to street interviews. "Hi there, do you know anything about Don Leo and his wife, Eva's love story?" the reporter asked.

A woman in a floral sundress sighed dreamily. "Who doesn't? He published an entire private journal just for Eva—every single page was a memo to her. She once mentioned that she liked cherries, so he flew in an entire shipment of cherry trees from Bellavigna and planted them all over their estate.

"It looks like a damn forest from a fairytale now! If my husband had even half that devotion… Forget it. It's infuriating to even think about it."

The screen flickered again.

A college student clasped her hands, her eyes gleaming. "He's beyond devoted! A few years ago, Eva had acute kidney failure, and the doctors said she needed a match immediately.

"That night, Don Leo went under the knife and gave her one of his kidneys. He said, 'If she can't live, I don't deserve to either.' That's not just love—it's something out of a romance epic."

Across Veritas and the internet, everyone was in awe of Leo and Eva's romance.

Eva sat in the dimly lit living room, her gaze fixed on the interview playing on the screen. A cold smile tugged at her lips.

She had never been short of admirers.

But she never believed in love. After watching her parents' marriage fall apart piece by piece, she had come to see even family as fragile. She thought romance was even more fleeting.

For every romantic gesture, she gave the same answer. "Sorry, I'm not interested in relationships."

That changed when she met Leo—the man who ruled a criminal empire with ruthless precision. He was obsessive, cold-blooded, and powerful beyond reason.

Yet in front of her, he humbled himself, chasing her for three relentless years.

She turned him down time after time, but not once did he back away.

To get her a single 18th-century oil painting she had only glanced at once, Leo stormed into an underground auction in Londaire.

It was a black-market antique exchange so dangerous that even international agencies stayed away.

But he risked everything to claim it—trading under the table, dodging gunfire, and nearly being ambushed by a rival syndicate.

Yet, when he brought the painting to her, looking bloodied and bruised, all he said was, "Worth it."

In that moment, the part of her that had been frozen for as long as she could remember finally began to melt.

When they got together, he gave her everything and protected her like a precious treasure. He proposed 52 times, each one like a sacred ritual. And she finally said yes.

She remembered that day clearly. He got down on one knee, holding out the ring.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him and whispered, "Leo, I'll try to be the best wife I can be. Rich or poor, in sickness or in health, I'll never betray you. But promise me one thing—never lie to me. If you do… I will vanish from your life. Forever."

And now, every vow sounded like a cruel joke.

Three months ago, Eva discovered something that shattered her entire world. Leo had taken a lover six months earlier.

By day, he played the devoted husband, but by night, he disappeared into the arms of a woman named Cleo Guzman.

It turned out, the heart that had felt the most was the first to go numb.

Eva slowly raised her hand and turned off the TV. She pulled open a drawer and took out a divorce agreement, one she had prepared weeks ago. With calm, deliberate strokes, she signed her name.

She headed to the garage and stepped into the RV Leo had given her on their 100th day together. Quietly, she placed the signed papers on the bed inside.

Then, she placed the RV keys into a velvet gift box and tied it shut with a ribbon by hand.

…

An hour later, Leo returned to the villa in his signature black suit. He didn't even take off his coat before crossing the room in long strides, headed straight for Eva, where she stood staring blankly out the window. He pulled her into his arms, his voice filled with playful affection.

"Eva, I'm sorry. There was an issue at the port. I had to go pick up the necklace myself. That's why I was late for our anniversary. Please don't be mad, okay?"

As he spoke, he pulled out the custom jewelry box carrying the Amoura Eva and offered it to her, his eyes full of eager devotion.

The top buttons of his black shirt were undone, and his collar was crooked. Below the fabric, faint hickeys and claw-like scratches trailed down his skin.

Eva hadn't left those.

Her fingers trembled slightly, her gaze stinging as she looked at him.

Whether he had gone to retrieve the necklace or had just come from Cleo's bed no longer mattered. The truth was already etched across his skin.

Leo remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing behind her eyes.

With a gentle smile, he unfastened the necklace and clasped it around her neck himself. The diamonds shimmered under the low light.

"Eva, you look… breathtaking."

Eva didn't smile. Her eyes were slightly red, but she kept her tone even as she handed him a gift box. "This is for you."

He blinked. "What's this?"

She said calmly, "It's only fair. You gave me something for our anniversary. I wanted to return the gesture."

Leo looked into her eyes, a flicker of suspicion and guarded curiosity passing through his gaze. He asked, "Can I open it now?"

She laid a hand over his and shook her head. "No. Open it in two weeks."

He froze. "Why two weeks?"

"Because it won't mean anything until then," she said softly.

Leo stared at her for a moment, then gave a slow smile. He didn't press the matter. Instead, he kissed the back of her hand.

"Whatever you say. I'll wait for the surprise."

He scribbled on a small note, peeled it off the pad, and stuck it onto the box himself. "Open in two weeks."

Eva stood silently, watching him label it with such care.

Yet, her thoughts were quiet but clear. "Leo, I truly hope that in two weeks, you'll still think this was a surprise."

At dawn, as Eva slowly opened her eyes, Leo was already pressing a kiss to her temple. It was tender, yet possessive.

He murmured, "Eva, I ruined our anniversary last night. Let me make it up to you today, alright?"

She opened her mouth to decline, but the words never made it out. Leo was already giving orders.

The security team was instructed to prepare the car. The maid rushed to prepare breakfast. Eva's dress, coat, shoes, and even matching jewelry had all been laid out with obsessive precision.

Leo took her to a private estate owned by the Sereno family. It was a castle-like retreat deep in the countryside—one he had built for her, brick by brick. It was her personal wonderland.

Today, he had arranged a fairytale anniversary, planned down to the last extravagant detail.

Deep within the estate grounds, the private amusement park looked like something out of a dream beneath the sunlight. A vintage carousel turned slowly beside a horse-drawn carriage, a Euria-style hedge maze stretched in the distance, and a soft-pink Ferris wheel towered above it all.

Leo didn't care how extravagant or childish it all seemed. If Eva so much as hinted at wanting something, he would give it to her, no matter the cost.

Eva barely wet her lips with the tip of her tongue, and he immediately handed her an opened bottle of Fillico—the limited-edition kind priced at over 1,300 dollars.

She lingered for a moment in front of a vintage marionette. Minutes later, he had someone buy out the entire design studio behind it.

He held her hand tightly, his palm warm and unyielding.

She tried to pull away, but he gripped her hand harder. "Eva, if you disappear again… I won't be able to find you next time."

"I'm not going anywhere," she said softly.

But deep down, she knew. This time, where she was going, he would never find her.

The estate wasn't open to the public, but exclusive guests were invited from time to time. As Eva and Leo walked past a rose-covered wall, a couple nearby recognized them.

"Oh my god, that's Leo, the CEO of Sereno Group! The finance legend! And his wife, Eva." The young woman whispered excitedly to her boyfriend, then rushed forward with a shy smile.

"Mrs. Sereno, could we take a photo with you two?"

Eva gave a faint nod, and the camera shutter clicked.

"You two are honestly perfect together. I hope you're happy forever," the young woman said shyly.

Leo smiled and nodded, ever the flawless figure in public—charming, composed, untouchable.

At lunch, he sat beside Eva, but he glanced at his phone more often than at his plate. Eva watched him, her expression unreadable.

Leo noticed her stare and immediately looked up, flashing a casual smile. "Eva, something came up with the family business. Just give me a minute, alright?"

But in the faint reflection on the glass wall behind him, Eva caught a glimpse of his phone screen—Cleo, perfectly made up, was live streaming.

She stood confidently at the grand front gates of the estate—the very same private estate Leo had brought Eva to that morning.

Wearing a fitted white dress that hugged her curves, Cleo beamed at the camera with bold delight.

"Hey, guys, check it out! This whole estate? My boyfriend gave it to me. If you wanna come and snap some pics, just drop my name at the gate!"

Eva couldn't take it anymore. She quietly unlocked her phone and slipped into Cleo's livestream.

Cleo wasn't just another influencer. She was a "special talent" signed personally by Leo.

The media had long speculated that she had a sugar daddy backing her, and some even suspected she was Leo's lover. But no one had ever found solid proof.

Until now. Grinning at the camera, Cleo held up an official property deed and said sweetly, "Look at this. It's here in black and white—this entire estate's amusement park is mine. Isn't that the most romantic thing ever?"

The livestream exploded with comments.

"No way that's real! That place is worth tens of millions. You think you're that special?"

"No way. Is she leeching off Leo's name like that?"

"This has to be a declaration of war, right?"

Then, Cleo flipped the document to the title page, holding it steady for the camera. Her name was printed clearly on the property deed.

The comments blew up again.

"It's legit."

"He gave her an estate? This isn't just love; it's obsession."

"Who does Leo truly love? For Eva, press 1. For Cleo, press 2!"

Thousands of "1"s flooded the screen. To the public, Leo's devotion to Eva was unquestionable.

But then, a sudden burst of special effects lit up the chat, and thousands of virtual helicopters streaked across the screen.

One user, under the name SangueFreddo, dropped an avalanche of expensive gifts before sending a single message. "I love Cleo."

Cleo laughed, looking proud and triumphant. "Did you see that? He said he loves me more."

Eva's fingers trembled as she gripped her phone. That username… She knew it too well.

It was Leo's first private account, one he had created years ago. The password had always been her birthday.

And now, everything made sense.

It wasn't a misunderstanding. It wasn't jealousy or insecurity. It was truth—clear, cruel, undeniable truth.

Leo sat across from her at that very moment, a tender, indulgent smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It was the kind of smile that used to heal Eva. But now, it tore her apart.

Eva clutched her chest, struggling to breathe.

Leo immediately noticed that something was off. He immediately steadied her by the shoulders, his voice full of panic. "Eva, what's wrong?"

The worry in his eyes didn't look fake.

But it was this same man—the mafia king who had once worshipped her like she was his entire world—who kept so many secrets buried beneath that love.

Eva forced her emotions down and managed to steady her voice. "I'm fine... Just a little tightness in my chest."

Leo gently rubbed her chest, trying to ease her discomfort. Then, he unfastened his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders, protective and firm. Once he was sure her breathing had steadied, he signaled one of his men to bring the car around and ordered them to take her home.

Eva didn't smile once on the ride back.

Leo sat beside her, cautious, tentative. "Eva… did I do something wrong?"

She shook her head slowly. "No. I just remembered a mafia drama I watched once."

"Oh? What was it about?"

She looked at him and said calmly, "It was about a mafia boss who once swore he'd love only one woman. But later… he changed. And he hid it all so well. Leo… if one day, you changed too—"

He cut her off immediately. "Never. That would never happen. Eva, my loyalty and my vows, they belong to you—only you. I could never betray you. I can't live without you."

But his words didn't soothe her anymore. They only added weight to the pain already sinking in her heart.

Before she could respond, his phone rang. He hesitated, clearly debating whether to answer.

"Go ahead," she said quietly.

The voice on the other end said something Eva couldn't hear.

At first, Leo's expression remained calm. But then, his pupils contracted sharply, and something shifted. The ease on his face vanished.

He pressed his lips together, his jaw tightening. After a pause, he ended the call and turned to face her.

"Eva, something's come up at the port. A weapons manifest got rerouted last minute. I have to handle it personally. Is that okay?"

Eva didn't ask questions. She simply nodded.

She stepped out of the backseat of Leo's Maybach and quietly watched it drive away. Then, she flagged down a yellow cab.

"Follow that black Maybach," she said to the driver.

The black Maybach came to a stop outside a secluded estate, its gates wrapped in ivy and surrounded by towering stone walls.

As soon as Leo stepped out, the front door swung open. A woman in a skimpy bunny-maid outfit appeared, her lips curling into a sultry smile. Without hesitation, she ran straight into his arms.

It was Cleo.

The second their bodies met, they kissed hungrily.

Breathless and flushed, Cleo clutched Leo's tie and giggled, her voice syrupy and teasing. "Mr. Sereno, I've got something special for you tonight. Want to see it?"

She trailed a teasing fingertip down his throat, her nails grazing his skin.

Leo's eyes darkened as he gripped her hand tightly. "I ran five red lights to get here. What do you think?"

Cleo laughed and pulled him toward the car. "Then let's open your surprise in the car."

The door slammed behind them. The city lights shimmered through the tinted glass as shadows flickered. Inside, breathless sounds began to rise.

Leo kissed her with fevered hunger. Cleo pulled at his shirt, her hands sliding under his suit. He lifted her, pinning her to the seat, trailing kisses down her face, her neck, and her collarbone.

She arched beneath him, moaning softly. "Mr. Sereno, I want more…"

Within minutes, the vehicle began to rock in rhythm.

And just a short distance away, Eva sat frozen in the back of a yellow cab, watching everything unfold.

She had long suspected that Leo was no longer her safe harbor. But despite knowing that, seeing it with her own eyes—seeing Leo and another woman tangled in the very seat she had once sat in beside him—still shattered her.

She pressed a hand against her aching chest as tears spilled down her cheeks like a broken string of pearls.

Back when they first fell in love, Leo had been disciplined to a fault. He used to hesitate for several seconds before even holding her hand.

He said a mafia king's marriage must remain sacred. He said he wanted to save his first time for their wedding night.

She remembered the way he held her that night—so carefully and reverently. His voice trembled with emotion as he whispered, "Eva, you're finally mine. I love you. I'll love you forever."

And that night, she believed him. She believed that even in a world full of bloodshed and shadows, he would still be her one true light.

He once said, "I only love you, Eva."

Now, he was the one who tore that vow apart with his own hands.

From the front seat, the female cab driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Seeing Eva's tear-streaked face, she sighed and passed a packet of tissues.

"Men… What man doesn't cheat? I've got three kids with my husband, and even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't. You're already married. Just turn a blind eye. Forgive him once."

Eva gripped the tissue tightly, her voice raw and steady as she replied, "No. I won't forgive him."

When she returned to the villa, she opened the safe.

Inside were the gifts Leo had once given her, from designer watches to fine jewelry. Then, there was the necklace he had designed just for her, the only one of its kind in the world—the Amoura Eva.

She picked up her phone and called a secure line.

"Is this the Asset Liquidation Bureau? I need to offload a collection immediately. Please transfer the full proceeds to the Women's and Children's Relief Foundation in Bellavia. It must be done anonymously."

Within an hour, everything was packed and shipped.

Then, she began to gather her things, ready to walk away for good.

She was halfway through when Leo suddenly burst through the door. He looked frantic, soaked in sweat, his hair and suit damp from the rush.

He rushed toward her, his voice cracking with panic. "Eva... why did you sell the Amoura Eva?"