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.

Eva stayed quiet the whole time. After a while, she just couldn't keep playing along.

She said, "It's getting late. I'm heading out."

Leo stood to leave with her, but his friends immediately blocked the way.

"Come on, Leo. Eva's health isn't great—let her rest. But the rest of us haven't seen each other in forever. You can't just bail."

"Yeah, let her head home. You stay and chill with us for a bit."

Eva gently pulled her hand from Leo's grip and said softly, "Simon will take me. You should stay."

Before he could stop her, she turned and walked out. Her steps were quick, and Leo didn't catch up.

The car had barely pulled away when Eva reached into her coat and felt a phone that wasn't hers. The phone had a sleek black casing. It was Leo's.

She frowned and told Leo's driver, Simon Walker, to turn around.

The car had barely stopped outside the Red Rose Club when Eva spotted Cleo stepping out of a luxury sedan.

She kept checking her makeup in the car's tinted window, then turned and walked into the club.

Eva's grip around the phone tightened as she followed.

Sure enough, Cleo stopped outside the same private room Leo was in. And the moment she opened the door, she threw herself into Leo's arms.

Leo slipped an arm around her waist, his fingers playfully brushing through her hair. "You just got my call. How are you already here?"

Cleo leaned into his shoulder with a coy smile. "I missed you. The second I got your call, I dropped everything and came straight here."

Leo smirked and said, "Then you deserve a reward."

With that, he kissed her—deep, hungry, and unapologetic. Their lips tangled as if no one else was in the room.

"Alright, alright! Save it for later. There's no need for the live show!"

No one in the room seemed the least bit surprised. Instead, they chuckled and joked like they had seen it all before.

Eva stood frozen outside the door, watching everything unfold. A cold numbness spread through her body.

So they all knew. Every single one of them had been playing along, putting on a show just for her.

"Now that Cleo's here, can we finally turn this party up a notch?" someone joked.

The guys exchanged grins, clapping their hands.

A second later, the same scantily clad women from before poured back in from the adjoining room, draping themselves over the men like accessories.

Within moments, everyone had someone in their lap.

The rules were simple—spin the bottle. Whoever the neck pointed to had to answer a question.

After a few rounds, the bottle finally stopped on Leo. The room erupted with cheers and whistles, the energy building to a high.

"Alright, Leo. When was the last time you had sex?"

The guy grinned, and everyone instantly caught the insinuation.

Leo raised a brow, his expression calm and unreadable. "Yesterday. In my car."

That answer sent the room into a frenzy.

"Damn, how was it?"

Cleo was already flushed scarlet, tucked tight in his arms. Leo smirked and answered slowly, word by word. "Hot. Absolutely unforgettable."

"See? I told you—lovers are always better than the wife."

"No kidding. Guys like us? You gotta have a few extras outside the house."

"As long as you keep it quiet, man, you can live the dream. Eva will never find out."

At the mention of her name, Leo's expression froze, and his smile vanished.

"Don't ever bring this shit near Eva. If she finds out... You know what happens next."

"Yeah, yeah! We got it! No one's telling her a thing. Don't worry."

The laughter continued inside, loud and shameless. But outside that door, Eva stood frozen in place. Her entire body felt numb, like the life had drained right out of her.

She turned and walked away like a ghost, hollow and lifeless.

Simon noticed something was off and rushed toward her. He was about to head inside to inform Leo, but she stopped him right away.

"Don't tell him I was here. And I don't need a ride. I just want to walk for a bit."

A heavy downpour broke out suddenly, but she moved through it like she didn't feel a thing.

She didn't know how long she wandered. She only knew that it was long—longer than that snowy night years ago, when she had twisted her ankle and Leo had carried her home.

She wondered if true love ever really stayed the same in this world. Did it ever remain unwavering and unbroken?