"Julian, can't you just spend a little more time with me?"

As Julian Griffin's Consigliere, Bianca Valente always used work as an excuse to insert herself into his life, her voice a sickeningly sweet tone that made my stomach churn.

My gut told me Bianca had her sights set on Julian the moment she first set foot in this manor.

At first, I thought that even if our marriage was just a cold transaction to settle a debt, our daughter, Chloe, would be an anchor between us. We would at least try to maintain a semblance of peace.

But after our five-year-old daughter went missing, I called Julian all night, only to get a cold, repetitive busy signal.

The next day, when Julian finally came home, he reeked of alcohol, a stench layered over the expensive perfume Bianca always wore.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I didn't even have the strength to argue with him anymore.

After a moment of silence, I looked up at him. "I want a divorce, Julian."

The Don of the Griffin family, a man accustomed to absolute control, glared at me with bloodshot eyes. He moved like lightning, his hand snapping around my throat and pinning me to the wall as his fingers tightened.

"A divorce? What right do you have to demand a divorce, Scarlett Hayes?"

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1

Fierce wind whipped cold rain against the glass. I sat on the living room sofa, my knuckles white from clenching my fists.

I heard a key turn in the front door. Julian Griffin strode in, reeking of alcohol. Underneath the sour smell of liquor, I caught the cloying scent of Bianca Valente's signature perfume. The combination turned my stomach.

A woman's intuition is a powerful thing. I knew their "professional relationship" had crossed a line the very first time Bianca, his Consigliere, came to our home to "discuss business."

I didn't care at first. After all, my marriage to Julian had been a transaction from the start. I needed his wealth to pay off my family's massive debts, and he needed a respectable wife to solidify his image as Don.

But now, our five-year-old daughter, Chloe, was missing.

"Where's Chloe?" I shot to my feet, my voice trembling uncontrollably.

Julian loosened his tie and growled impatiently, "What about Chloe?"

"Chloe's missing! You never came home. I've been calling you all night!" I lunged forward and grabbed his arm, my nails digging into the fabric of his expensive suit.

He shoved me away. "Stop being so dramatic. She probably just wandered off to play somewhere."

"She wouldn't do that!" My eyes burned, the fear and anger that had been simmering since last night finally boiling over. "I want a divorce, Julian."

Julian lunged, grabbing my neck and slamming me against the wall. I felt his fingers tighten, cutting off my air. "A divorce? How dare you even suggest it, Scarlett!"

I clawed at his hand, desperate for air, tears streaming down my face. He froze for a second, then let go. I stumbled back, clutching my throat and coughing violently as I glared up at him.

Just then, the click-clack of high heels echoed from the foyer. Bianca walked in carrying a file, every step a calculated, seductive sway. She deliberately handed the file to Julian, her fingers brushing the back of his hand. "Don, this needs your urgent signature. I brought it straight over so it wouldn't delay matters."

Julian signed it, then turned to me, his eyes filled with contempt, as if daring me to fly into a jealous rage.

I watched their intimate exchange, my daughter's fate an unknown horror hanging over us. I couldn't stop myself. I grabbed Bianca's wrist. "Where is she? What did you do with my daughter!"

Bianca shrieked and scrambled into Julian's arms. He shoved me so hard I stumbled back into the wall. A dull pain flared in my back, but it was nothing compared to the searing ache in my heart.

"Have you lost your mind, Scarlett?" Julian shielded Bianca, glaring down at me. "And so what if she's missing?"

"Leave Bianca out of this!"

"Chloe is your own daughter!" I pushed myself off the wall, my whole body trembling.

Still nestled in his arms, Bianca added timidly, "Scarlett, your first duty is to look after your daughter. If you can't even manage that, how can you be fit to be the Donna?"

I stared at Bianca's sickeningly innocent expression and sneered. "And you think it's fine to abuse your position as Consigliere to hang all over my husband in my own home?"

"That's enough!" Julian cut me off.

Just then, two men in black suits walked in. They were from the family's security team. The one in the lead glanced between us. "Mrs. Hayes? We've pulled the security footage from the main gate regarding your daughter's disappearance."

I immediately stepped forward. "I am! Have you found any clues?"

The security man took out a tablet and played the footage. "Your daughter was here at 4:20 PM yesterday." He paused, his gaze flicking to Bianca. "She got into this woman's car."

Bianca's expression soured, a mask of offense as she turned to Julian. "I ran into Chloe, that's all. She wanted ice cream, so I took her out for a bit. I had work, so I had to leave. I don't know where she went after that..."

"I believe you," Julian said, patting her back reassuringly.

The security team member questioned her, his expression stern. "Ms. Valente, you were the last person to see Chloe before she disappeared. We need you to tell us exactly what you said to her and where you went."

I stared daggers at Bianca. "Speak! Where did you take Chloe?"

A flicker of panic crossed Bianca's eyes. She shrank behind Julian, who stood firm, shielding her. "Bianca is my Consigliere. I trust her. She would never harm a child. Any questions go through me. Don't frighten her."

My heart sank. Bianca clutched her chest, her voice laced with tears. "Julian, I don't feel well. Maybe I'm just exhausted from work..."

Julian immediately pulled her into his arms and snapped at the security team, "You can see she's not well. Wait until she feels better to ask questions!"

"No, she can't leave!" I rushed to the door, blocking their way with my arms outstretched. "She was the last person to see Chloe. She has to know something!"

The security team member frowned. "Mrs. Hayes, we understand, but without a direct order from the Don, we can't hold Ms. Valente."

"You heard him. Move." Julian shoved me aside. I stumbled back, my shoulder slamming into the doorframe.

He left without a backward glance, his arm protectively around Bianca.

After the security team left, I slid to the floor, my back against the doorframe. As night fell, Julian finally returned.

I was waiting in the dark when he returned. I stood, the divorce papers I’d prepared in my hand. "Sign them, Julian. I'll find Chloe myself. After this, we go our separate ways."

Julian's lip twitched. In a blur of motion, he slammed me onto the sofa, the crack of his hand across my face echoing in the silent room. Pinning me with his weight, his eyes blazed with rage. "I gave you everything, Scarlett! Everything! You are mine!"

He gripped my chin, his fingers so tight I thought the bone would shatter. "You want a divorce? Over my dead body!"

My phone suddenly rang. It was the security team. I snatched it up. "Hello? Have you found Chloe?"

"Mrs. Hayes, we've reviewed more footage. We have a new lead. We need you to come to the office."

"Okay, I'll be right there!" I hung up, grabbed my coat, and rushed out. I hesitated at the door, trying Julian's number one last time. Straight to voicemail.

I took a cab straight to the security team's office. The same man from before greeted me. His face was grim. Without a word, he led me to a car. "Come with us to the scene."

The car sped down the highway. The scenery outside became increasingly remote, finally stopping at the entrance to an abandoned industrial pier.

The security man spoke. "A hidden camera at the pier entrance caught Ms. Valente's car. She went in. An hour later, she came out alone. We've sent men to search the warehouses, but it's a maze in there. No sign of your daughter yet."

"What?" A tremor shot through me. I threw the car door open and sprinted toward the pier, screaming her name. "Chloe! Chloe!"