My fiance, Simon Rossi, is a mafia Don with a reputation for brutality. He suddenly takes in an orphan girl and spoils her rotten.

He names her Giara, saying she's pure, like a beam of light. But that is the name he has promised for our future daughter.

He thinks he's hidden it well. But the night before our engagement party, I notice his cufflinks. The ruby ones I gave him are replaced with cheap plastic cartoon cats.

I don't believe he's really cheating, so I abduct Giara to get answers without hurting her.

Then Simon bursts in with his men. 50 people die, and three armories go up in flames.

"Ivina Coleo, consider this a lesson. But don't worry. I'll send her away. Remember, this is the first time you touch her, and the last."

But at the engagement party, Giara sits with Simon's parents, smiling right at me.

The sight sparks a fury I can't control. I lunge forward, determined to send her away myself.

Simon tells Giara to leave, coaxing me through the ceremony.

But that night, he binds my limbs with stones and sinks me into the sea.

"I told you that was the last time."

Cold water fills my lungs.

When I open my eyes again, I'm back on the day I first abducted Giara.

This time, I don't want Simon or the wedding anymore.

In my last life, I drowned because I abducted the lover of Simon Rossi, my mafia Don fiance, before our wedding.

When I opened my eyes, I was back on that day.

"Please, don't hurt me! My husband is a mafia Don, and I'm pregnant with his child! He'll never forgive you if he finds out!

The young lady, Giara Vaughn, pressed trembling hands to her belly. Her tears threatened to spill as she looked at me and my crew behind me.

I crouched down and pulled out a knife under her panicked gaze.

Before, I had held it to her throat. This time, I cut the ropes binding her wrists.

"You know what? Simon hates weak, sniveling women. He admires partners who can stand beside him at the negotiation table."

Giara cut me off and raised her chin stubbornly. "Like you, right? But he told me I'm different. He said he'll spoil me. He's going to marry me and make me his princess forever! I don't know who you are, but you'd better let me go!"

Last time, those words had lit a fury in me. I was sure she was lying. Now, I stayed silent, feeling only a bitter numbness.

She thought my silence meant disbelief. She quickly fished out her phone and thrust it at me.

"I'm not lying. This is the ultrasound. And this… is the venue he booked. He said this is the perfect place for our wedding. He'll marry me once I have the baby!"

My hand trembled, and the knife clattered to the ground.

I worked connections and spent a fortune to book that slot after 12 tries!

When I went to confirm it with Simon, he dismissed it flat without even looking at it.

"Ivina, I want your wedding to be special. That place is too common and outdated. Besides, our identities are too sensitive. That's a public place. What if someone sets an ambush? Trust me. I'll pick the venue."

So it wasn't about safety, and it certainly wasn't because it wasn't unique. He simply never intended to marry me in a church that represented eternal commitment.

"Shut up, you lying bitch!"

Sally Lynch, standing behind me, couldn't bear it any longer. She rushed forward and pressed a gun against Giara's forehead.

"Ivina's been with Don Rossi for seven years! Who do you think you are? Don Rossi's not the man you claim!"

"Sally!" I barked without thinking and slapped her hand away.

Sally stared at me, stunned. "Ivina!"

I took a deep breath, pushed down the rising anger, and waved my hand wearily. "Get her out of here. Take her back to wherever she came from. Now."

Sally and the others froze for a beat, but they had followed me since childhood, and they never disobeyed my orders.

They didn't know that in my last life, I had questioned Giara until dusk before releasing her.

To be precise, it was Simon who had smashed open my front door with his men and slaughtered their way through.

Sally, Serena McFadden, and the rest of my crew had died from stray bullets.

I had broken down, screaming again and again, "I didn't hurt her!"

Simon had ignored me and coldly pressed a button in his hand.

With a deafening boom, the three core armories I had bled to build were gone in an instant.

In this life, I didn't want him anymore, and I wouldn't hurt Giara. I just wanted everyone to live.

We followed the car that was taking Giara back to the orphanage and watched her until she got out. Once we confirmed she was safe, we started to leave.

Just then, a familiar Maybach roared up beside us, screeching to a halt. It hadn't even come to a complete stop before the door was kicked open.

Simon strode out and pulled Giara into his arms. "Luca said you were abducted! What did they do to you? Are you hurt?"

My heart ached.

Simon and I had been together for seven years. Even when I nearly died after taking five bullets to protect him, he had never lost control like this.

"I'm fine. Really." Giara hugged him back, sobbing in his arms.

"If you're fine, why are you crying?" His jaw tightened as he clamped down on his temper. "Tell me who did this. I'll kill them."

"Don't!" Giara grabbed him and looked up at him with that helpless, pleading look. "You promised. No more killing without reason, and save your blessings for the baby."

I had said the same thing. Simon had scoffed and shoved a half-smoked cigar into my mouth.

"Ivina, when did you start listening to those superstitions? We're her parents. That's her greatest blessing."

The smoke made me cough. I hastily spat it out, afraid that even a single puff could harm the baby inside me.

Simon laughed and pulled me into a rough kiss that smelled of tobacco.

But now, with just a few words from Giara, his entire fierceness seemed to melt away.

"Fine, but I'll need to add another security team for you."

He held Giara awkwardly but as gently as he could, while his left hand instinctively reached for a cigar.

"You forgot again!" Giara scolded, cute and sharp. "Smoking's bad for the baby."

Simon clicked his tongue, tossed the cigar into a trash can, and muttered, "Okay, I'll stop."

He scooped her up and headed for his car. "But you'll need to make it up to me some other way."

The Maybach peeled away, disappearing in a cloud of exhaust.

"Ivina…"

Sally cautiously turned to me and handed me a tissue.

Only then did I notice the tears streaming down my face.

I grabbed the tissue and simply wiped my face. When I spoke again, I was already composed. "Sally, book me an abortion. We're going to the hospital now."

On the drive to the hospital, no one said a word. No one tried to talk me out of it.

Before I went into the operating room, Sally grabbed my hand. Her eyes were raw and red. "Ivina, we can raise the baby together."

I patted her hand, smiled without saying a word, and entered the operating room.

After dying once, I didn't want a single trace of Simon on me—whether it was a child carrying his genes or anything else.

As the anesthesia flowed in, a warm dizziness spread through me.

I let out a long, quiet breath.

Thankfully, it was still early enough in my pregnancy to have an abortion.

Before I slipped under, the corridor outside erupted in noise.

"All obstetric doctors and nurses, get in here now! If anything happens to her, there won't be a single hospital left willing to hire you!"

That was Simon's voice.

He knew I was here?

Panic reached up inside me.

The doctor hurriedly explained, "Sir, please calm down! This is the surgical area! She's just experiencing morning sickness. It's not an emergency! We have patients waiting for surgery!"

"Shut up! When I tell you to examine her, you follow orders! One more frown out of her, and this hospital closes today!"

A gunshot slammed into the floor with a deafening crack, making the nurse beside me flinch.

She was inserting a curette into me. When her hand shook, it jabbed sharply against my uterine wall.

I groaned in pain. Even under anesthesia, a cold sweat broke out over me.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am! B-But I have to step out now. Wait for me. I'll be right back!"

The nurse apologized and stumbled away.

I lay on the table, my legs spread in that humiliating position. Pain, numbness, and a biting cold washed over me.

I forced a bitter laugh.

How stupid of me. How could I have thought Simon came because he found out I was going through an abortion?

His eyes were only for Giara. Even her morning sickness had him this worried.

The anesthesia chewed at my thoughts, and I drifted into a scatter of dreams.

First was the memory of when we met.

Back then, Simon wasn't the all-powerful Don. He was just the overlooked second son of the Rossi family, eager to make his mark and prove his worth.

I was the daughter of a mafia family who refused an arranged match and fled home on my coming-of-age night.

Somehow, I ended up working under him.

During a firefight, I had barreled into danger and dragged his bleeding, unconscious body out.

I had taken five bullets. When I was sewing my wounds, Simon woke. He leaned back against the wall and watched me for a long time.

"Ivina," he called out, smiling at me for the first time. "Why did you risk your life? Do you have feelings for me?"

I bit down on the bandage as I wrapped my wound, then looked up at him. "You're my boss. Protecting you is my job."

"Ha!" His eyes lit up instantly as he lunged at me.

I instinctively pushed him away, and he slammed into the wall. Grimacing in pain, he smiled even brighter.

"It's the first time I've seen a woman like you. You've got fire."

Simon pulled out a cigar and held it between his teeth. "Marry me."

We fell in love in the time it took one cigar to burn down.

Later, we learned we were meant to be each other's arranged match.

He had said more than once, "Lucky it was you. I'm sick of those fragile dolls who only think about girly things and faint at the sight of blood."

I was happy too. I thought I had found the perfect partner who respected me.

Happiness faded into a blur. When things came back into focus, it was the day of blood and fire.

Simon looked down at me, his face splattered with the blood of my crew.

"Ivina Coleo, you crossed a line. Giara is not like you. She doesn't know anything, and she's an orphan. Only I can protect her. I'll honor your wishes and have her sent away before our wedding. And once we're married, my entire armory will be yours. But you have to learn a lesson."

He leveled the gun at Sally as she crawled forward to shield me.

"No!"

The shot hit her square in the chest.

Simon lowered the weapon and patted my face. "She's the one who egged you on to abduct Giara, right? Now she can't lead you astray anymore."

The nightmare throbbed through me even in that half-conscious haze. I struggled and groaned.

The doctor and nurse were still gone. The curette was shoved in deeper with my involuntary flinch. The pain swept me under.

When I came to again, everything was stark white. Sally and a few others were around me.

"Ivina, you're finally awake! How do you feel? We stopped Don Rossi and tried to make him leave at least one doctor behind. But we couldn't say it was you inside… He just wouldn't listen. He went mad and took every doctor and nurse with him."

I tugged at the corner of my mouth, trying to smile and show I was fine. "Well done… I'm okay now, aren't I?"

Serena ground her teeth. "Okay? The doctor said if they'd been one minute later, you would have had a uterine perforation and massive bleeding! You're covered in scars from taking bullets for him. How could he do this to you for that bitch?"

Maria Camacho, the quietest of them, had already stood. "I'm going to kill her."

"Come back!" I summoned all my strength to stop her.

Gasping, I continued, "If she dies, Simon will have us all killed. To him, she's not just a lover. She's his life. Listen, while I recover, your job is to move the assets we've accumulated in the Rossi family. We'll go home when I can walk again."

Once my crew had a mission to focus on, they finally stopped thinking about revenge.

They didn't understand why I chose to endure it all.

Only I knew that the armory's master control for the explosives was still in Simon's hands. Once I got it, I'd be gone.

I stayed in the hospital for a week. During that time, Simon kept sending me messages.

"Ivina, why are you suddenly hospitalized?"

"Rest up and come home soon. Luca's an idiot. He knows nothing. You're the best underboss I could have."

"Why aren't you replying?"

I responded with a perfunctory "Okay", then ignored him and fell into a deep sleep.

In the seven years I had been with Simon, I had been running nonstop. I couldn't even remember the last time I had truly slept.

When I woke, sunset painted the sky outside, and the pleasant scent of food filled the room.

"You're awake?" Simon's deep voice came from beside me.

I turned sluggishly. He was sitting by the bed, and a cart beside him was covered with delicate dishes.

"When… did you get here?" I tried to sit up.

He stood and helped me, letting me lean against his shoulder. "Since the moment you started talking in your sleep about how much you loved me."

His actions and words made my stomach turn. I raised a hand to push him away.

"So eager, huh?" Simon teased, raising an eyebrow as he undid two buttons and let out a chuckle. "Go on, touch me."

He used to tease me like that all the time, and I would blush.

But this time, I pulled my hand back coldly. "Is something wrong?"

His smile faded. He buttoned his shirt again and sat back down. "Yes. My wife got hospitalized and didn't tell me. And now she's giving me a cold shoulder."

"Ivina."

Simon took my hand. His eyes were filled with genuine confusion. "Did I do something to upset you? Don't hold it in. It's not good for you or the baby."

Then, he lowered his head and pressed his cheek against my stomach. His voice softened as he asked, "Is she kicking me? Do babies kick at three months?"

My throat tightened as I stared at the crown of his head.

Who was he putting on this act for? Ever since the day he betrayed me, there had been no going back.

When I didn't respond, Simon held me tighter.

He was never a patient man, and his temper started to show. When he looked up again, his expression had darkened.

"Ivina, you know I hate women who make people guess instead of speaking up," he said coldly.

I looked away. "Oh, yeah? I thought you liked women like that."

The moment the words left my mouth, I bit my lip. That was too impulsive of me.

Simon straightened and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. Through gritted teeth, he hissed, "What did you say?"

I'd had enough pretending. I slapped his hand away and raised my voice. "I said, you must like women like that. Otherwise, what's with that young lady?"

His hand trembled, and the arrogance drained from his posture.

"I-It's not what you think." He loosened his grip and sank into the chair.

Then, something clicked in his head. His gaze turned sharp. "You already knew, so why didn't you ask me? Was it you who abducted Giara a few days ago?"

I pressed my lips together, knowing I couldn't admit it.

For the first time, I lied to Simon. "No. I just found out about her, then got sick and ended up here."

He visibly relaxed. He took a bowl of cream mushroom soup from the cart and brought it to my lips.

"Sorry, babe. I shouldn't have doubted you. I'll explain everything about her later."

I kept my mouth shut, refusing to eat. He put down the bowl, broke off a piece of bread, and held it to my lips.

"Ivina, stop sulking. Even if you're mad, you have to eat for our baby. She's hungry. If you don't like Giara, I'll send her away before the wedding. But you have to promise me one thing."

Simon gripped my shoulders, his expression deadly serious. "Don't lay a hand on her. She doesn't know anything. She's still young."

"Of course," I heard myself say, my voice distant and hollow.

Satisfied, he pulled me into his arms and whispered sweet nothings meant to comfort.

My body went rigid as I listened.

Just then, his phone buzzed. After a quick glance at the screen, Simon immediately let go of me and stood up. "I have an urgent family meeting. I'll get going now. Rest well, okay?"

But that caller ID flashing across his screen was "Babe".

I lay back on the bed, covering my eyes with one hand. A laugh broke out of me and turned into tears that wouldn't stop.

How pathetic. For a moment, I'd actually hoped for an explanation, that maybe it had all been a misunderstanding.

…

After another week of rest, I was discharged early because I was eager to go home.

But the moment I stepped outside the hospital, a sharp pain struck the back of my head.

Everything went dark. In a daze, someone clamped a hand over my mouth and nose and dragged me away.