Panic flickered in Riccardo's eyes.

"What? That's nonsense! You are the love of my life."

He said it so naturally.

Seeing the change in my expression, he leaned closer, scrutinizing me. Then, as if realizing something, he laughed.

"Ah… my little wildcat is throwing a tantrum again? Just say you want me to comfort you," he teased, moving in for a kiss.

I turned my head instinctively. "Don't touch me!"

Even someone as oblivious as him could sense something was wrong. He straightened slowly, staring at me.

"Lia… you've been off since yesterday…"

A rapid knock at the door cut him off.

"Don… Li… uh, there's trouble up north!"

"Leave! Don't you see the Madre needs me?" he barked at his assistant, though his eyes flickered constantly toward his lit phone.

I spoke coldly, "Go ahead. Don't let it delay your… serious matters."

"There's nothing more important than keeping you calm. Sleep, I'll stay with you."

But once he confirmed I was "asleep," he was gone in a flash.

Two hours later, my phone lit up.

Last time, Lina had sent memories. This time, she sent evidence of what had already happened: photos of Riccardo's scarred, muscular abdomen, and a leather whip on the sheets.

Her voice message was full of triumph.

"Sis… since you got pregnant, he hasn't touched you, right? Afraid of hurting the baby? Well, guess what? I'm pregnant too, and the moment he saw me, he started stripping me. Now he's exhausted and asleep. Oh, and we're naming our child Alexander—the firstborn name set by the Colombo family."

She even sent a photo of their hands intertwined—a tattoo on their wrists: two lilies that only completed the full flower when joined. Below it, in flowing script: 'My beloved Lily.'

At last, I understood. The night of our wedding, when I kissed that line over and over, moved to tears, that flicker of guilt in his eyes—it wasn't for me. For the past three years, every tender "Lily" he whispered had been for another.

I had been living a colossal lie, a cruel joke.

I opened my phone and found the message from someone I hadn't contacted in ages.

[I agree to your proposal. But can you do one thing for me?]

He replied instantly, as if he had been waiting a long time: [Of course, my queen.]

I couldn't get a proper rest.

Just as I drifted off, the noise downstairs jolted me awake. I buried myself under the covers, my head splitting with pain.

But the maid kept knocking.

"Miss, are you awake? Don Rossi insists on hosting a birthday party for you."

Since my birthday coincided with my mother's death anniversary, I hadn't celebrated for years.

What was he thinking?

I went downstairs. The hall was packed with Mafia family heads. I scanned the room, and my eyes froze. Every photo of my mother on the walls had been replaced with portraits of Rosa and her daughter.

The butler hurried to explain.

"Your father said there's something he wants to tell you, Miss…"

I let out a bitter laugh. So, after scheming behind my back, they now had the nerve to confront me face-to-face.

Guests whispered among themselves.

"Did you hear? All the Rossi family's northern casino holdings were transferred to Rosa's name."

"Tsk, tsk… all the legitimate wife's property, and in the end, it goes to a prostitute."

"Shh! She's officially the Madre now."

Rosa leaned against my father's shoulder, offering me a fake, saccharine smile.

"Lia, let bygones be bygones. From now on, I'm your mother. I'll take care of you better than Maria ever did."

"Ha!" I laughed sharply. "And just who do you think you are, trying to replace my mother?"

Rosa's eyes instantly reddened, and she looked to my father.

My father hadn't expected me to publicly shame him; his face darkened.

"Lia, I know this is hard for you to accept, but so much time has passed. Have some compassion for your father—I need someone by my side too."

My eyes burned red, the words "Today is mother's death anniversary" caught in my throat.

He tried to smooth things over. "Enough, let's leave it for today. We'll talk when we get home."

Before he could finish, Lina and Riccardo appeared together.

"Happy birthday, my dear Lily," Riccardo said, offering a red gift box with tender formality.

"Good heavens! That's the exclusive Blood Rose packaging from Christie's!" a guest gasped. "A mysterious buyer paid a fortune last month. Turns out it was Don Colombo! What a romantic scene! Lia is unbelievably lucky!"

I didn't care. Priceless treasures, a doting Don—none of it mattered.

My gaze locked on the aquamarine hairpiece atop Lina's head. It had been my mother's final gift, a piece she personally designed for my coming-of-age ceremony. But I never got to have her place it on me.

"Take it off," I rasped.

Lina's eyes immediately reddened. She shrank behind Riccardo.

Riccardo's tone was gentle but firm.

"Lia, don't make a scene. That style is old-fashioned anyway. Tomorrow, I'll make you a bigger, better one. Let Lina play with this—it's just one of your many jewels."

But I heard nothing. I lunged straight at Lina.

"Give it back!"

He caught me in his arms, his voice darkening.

"You're being reckless! Can't you behave for once?"

"Don't blame her—it's all my fault!" Lina screamed, ripping the hairpiece from her head and flinging it to the floor. The gem rolled across the marble, and she stomped on it like a madwoman. "I'll do it myself! I don't need your help!"

The same cruel game I had known since school: provoke me, make me lose control, then play the victim so everyone believed I was the villain.

The guests murmured in shock.

"I used to think the illegitimate daughter was detestable, but Lia is far crueler. Now that Lina is legitimate, how can she be treated like this?"

Lina cried until she nearly collapsed.

Riccardo held her tightly, and for the first time, he scolded me sharply.

"Lia! Apologize to Lina!"

I didn't react. I only bent down, futilely trying to gather the scattered gems. My hand was cut, but I couldn't feel the pain.

Riccardo stared at me in shock, his outstretched hand frozen midair.

"Lia…"

Lina leaned over, feigning concern.

"Don't pick them up, Sis. I'll ask Mom to buy you a better one."

Instinctively, I shoved her away. She retaliated with a push. I slammed into the cabinet behind me. Pain radiated from my stomach.

She used the momentum to hurl herself into the champagne tower.

Crash!

She curled up amid the shattered glass, screaming, "Why did you push me, Lia?!"

"Lina!"

"Call the hospital!"

Riccardo and my father rushed to her side, shielding her from view. No one saw the blood seeping between my legs.

"Lia… you've disappointed me," Riccardo said, turning to me, exhaustion in his eyes. "Stay here and reflect. Think about how you'll apologize to Lina!"

They fled with her toward the hospital.

I trembled, dialing the family doctor. "Help… save my child… I'm bleeding."

"Miss Lia?" The voice hesitated. "The Don just instructed everyone to treat Miss Lina. Please wait…"

Wave after wave of pain hit me. I curled up on the carpet.

A few guests moved to check on me, but suddenly a group barged in.

"Make way! We're here to treat Miss Lia."

I exhaled in relief—until I saw the woman at the front, dressed in a white coat, smiling in a way that made my blood run cold.

"Miss Lia," she said, "Miss Lina specifically asked us to check on you."

Lina? No… this could only be bad.

I tried to struggle, but my body refused to obey. They dragged me to an unfamiliar room.

The woman in front smiled, speaking as if savoring it.

"No one here knows you're the heiress. Miss Lina instructed us… to make sure your child disappears from this world."

"No… what do you want? Money? Anything! I'll give you whatever you want!"

She scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. It's obvious neither Don wants you anymore. Where would you get the money? I suggest you lie still—less struggle means less pain."

"No… no…"

I thrashed, fumbling into my pocket and pressing the emergency number.

Riccardo answered, but Lina's tinkling laughter came through instead.

"What's wrong, Sis? Are you in trouble?"

Riccardo's voice came faintly from the distance, "You're too kind. This little princess has been spoiled by me long enough. It's time for a little… punishment."

The call was abruptly cut.

The fake doctors burst into laughter.

"Told you so! Didn't believe us, huh?"

"No one cares about you anymore, Lia!"

A heavy metal tray swung down toward me—

Bang!

The hand gripping it was blown off by a gunshot.

A deep, magnetic voice rang out above me, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."