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?"

The Amoura Eva wasn't just expensive. It was priceless.

In the black market, it would only appear at the most exclusive underground auctions. Leo only found out because one of his informants intercepted the catalog and sent word before the auction began.

Leo asked, "Eva, why did you sell the Amoura Eva?"

Eva didn't look at him. Her voice was calm. "Did you go to the auction?"

Leo froze. A flicker of something unreadable passed across his face. After a beat, he spoke, his voice low and careful. "I just... wanted to find you something. Maybe pick out a new piece. So I—"

Eva cut him off. "I didn't sell it. I donated it."

Leo's jaw clenched, and he gripped her hand. "Eva, I know you're compassionate. You always have been. But if you wanted to donate something, you could've chosen anything else. Not that necklace."

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a velvet box, placing it in front of her. When he flipped it open, there it was—the Amoura Eva, shimmering under the soft light.

He said, "I got it back. This necklace is proof of how much I love you. No one can take that away from you. Not even you."

He leaned in and gently fastened it around her neck.

Eva looked down at the necklace. It felt heavier than ever.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. This man could sneak around with another woman, then come home and deliver a love confession so flawless that she almost bought it.

Leo had always been quick with his hands and even quicker with his mouth—and he never lost at either.

The necklace had never been proof of love. It was a shackle—an exquisite, glittering chain designed to keep her locked in place. His perfect sugar baby.

Later that night, as Eva was about to fall asleep, Leo's phone vibrated on the nightstand.

He silenced it instantly, slipping his arm around her and gently stroking her back with practiced tenderness.

But a few seconds later, his phone vibrated again.

Leo's brows drew together. This time, he answered it, lowering his voice. "Keep it down. Don't wake Eva."

The voice on the other end was tipsy and loud, clearly hyped on whiskey and ego. "Leo! We're all at the Red Rose Club tonight. If you don't show, everyone's gonna think your wife's got you on a leash!"

Leo's voice went cold. "I'm with Eva tonight."

"Come on, Leo! Don't tell me you've forgotten about us. It's been years, and we finally got the whole crew together tonight. You're seriously not coming? You promised we'd never change, Leo. Don or not, you'll always be one of us."

Eva opened her eyes. "Go ahead. It's been a long time since you all saw each other."

Leo hesitated, but she had spoken. He nodded. "Then you're coming with me. If you don't go, neither will I."

Eva didn't argue. She got up and changed.

At the Red Rose Club, the moment they pushed open the door to the private room, a wave of perfume, liquor, and smoke hit them. Inside, half-naked women lounged over leather couches while Leo's men drank and shouted over a poker game.

Leo's jaw tightened, and his voice was icy. "Out."

The room froze. Then, someone finally reacted. "Shit—Eva's here! Out, all of you!"

The women scattered like smoke in the wind. The room instantly quieted.

One of Leo's men gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder and chuckled. "Ten years, and you still haven't changed. No other woman can even get near you."

Leo's voice was flat. "Self-control is the bare minimum for a married man."

Eva stood beside him in silence, watching.

Someone lit a cigarette, and Leo shot him a glance. "Put it out. Eva hates the smell."

Someone else passed him a glass of wine. But Leo waved it off, saying, "I'm not drinking. Eva doesn't like me drinking."

Another tried queuing a track on the karaoke screen. Leo reached over and shut it off. "Too loud. Eva doesn't like noise."

The men exchanged helpless glances. Eventually, they settled into a quiet poker game, each of them careful not to step out of line.

Leo picked up a knife and started slicing an apple with practiced precision. Within seconds, a neatly plated fruit tray appeared in front of Eva.

"Here. Eat something."

Noticing that she only had a thin shawl over her shoulders, he immediately took off his coat and draped it around her.

"Cold?"

"A little."

"A little means yes," he said softly, then called a server to bring hot tea.

Across the table, someone finally couldn't hold it in. "Leo might be bulletproof out on the street, but at home? He's scared of his wife."

"Don Leo can run all of Veritas's underworld, but he can't do a damn thing when it comes to Eva."

Leo didn't bother replying. He just kept his eyes on Eva, his gaze tender and unwavering.