For three years, I was the secret lover of Nico Carbone, Don of the notorious Chicago family. And for three years, the fire between us never died.

Before me, Nico was Chicago's most infamous playboy.

After me, his bed was empty. There was only me.

He promised me a surprise on my birthday.

I thought he was finally going to make us official. But the moment the clock struck twelve, Nico called.

"Ava, get to the Glory Casino in the neutral zone. Now. My mother's St. Christopher charm—give it to Bianca Russo."

For a moment, I couldn't believe my ears.

Before I could react, Nico’s patience snapped. "Don't just stand there like an idiot! Get moving! Bianca and I are waiting!"

Bianca Russo. A pawn sent by a rival family for a marriage alliance.

The color drained from my face. "You're with her, Nico? Then… what am I to you?"

Nico was silent for a moment before letting out a low, cruel chuckle.

"You? You're just a useful little pet. Nothing more."

So, the surprise wasn't about us. It was about me, deluding myself with a love that was never real.

The illusion shattered on my 25th birthday.

After that, a carefully orchestrated "car accident" changed my life forever.

The next time I saw Nico Carbone, he would learn that you can't win back the heart of a pet you so carelessly discard.

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1

In that moment, the blood drained from my face, a cold numbness spreading as everything went red. I couldn't utter a single word.

On the other end of the line, the undisguised amusement in his voice hit me like a physical blow. As if teasing a favorite pet, he purred, "You didn't actually think this was real, did you, Ava?"

That mocking tone pushed me over the edge. I hung up without a word.

The room plunged into an oppressive silence, so heavy it was hard to breathe. Then, my phone lit up again.

A message from Nico Carbone: the location of the Glory Casino.

I stared blankly at the address for a long time, my heart a hollow ache where something had been brutally carved out.

That night, I didn't sleep a wink. Every time I closed my eyes, Nico's insults echoed in my mind.

I met him three years ago. He was the Don of the Carbone family; I was just a graduate student in art history.

To be honest, I never imagined I would step into this dark, seductive world.

Everyone in it lived on a knife's edge. Coming from nothing, I had given everything for the protection and status he promised.

Back then, I thought I was the luckiest woman in the world, never imagining that even better things were in store.

At a private dinner, the man every woman in Chicago dreamed of had, in front of everyone, chosen me to be by his side.

After that, we laundered the family's money together, we dodged bullets together, and we spent countless nights tangled in sweat-soaked sheets.

By day, he was the cold, ruthless Don. At night, he became rough and uninhibited, pinning me beneath him, possessing me with a desperate abandon.

At the peak of our passion, he would whisper against my ear that I was the only light in his dark kingdom. Afterward, he would gently wash my body, his lips tracing the marks he’d left on my skin.

I thought those were things only lovers did. The most intimate of lovers. And now he was telling me I was just a pet?

A bitter smile touched my lips. I pinched my thigh, hard. The sharp pain screamed that this was not a dream.

I sat by the bed for a long time. It wasn't until the first ray of dawn cut across my face and my alarm blared that I jolted from my trance and shuffled into the bathroom like a zombie.

When I emerged, I found Nico had let himself in. He was sitting on my sofa.

He eyed me, wrapped only in a bath towel, and raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you go to the casino last night?" he asked calmly.

I froze, the sheer absurdity of the situation making me want to laugh. He had come all this way, this early, just to question me?

Before I could answer, he rose, pulling an encrypted flash drive from his jacket and tossing it onto the coffee table. "Just as well. Saved you the trouble of getting your hands dirty."

"Bianca's not feeling well. This is the intel on a new shipment she was supposed to run. You handle the analysis."

For a second, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

He was talking about his new flame so casually and even asking me to handle her share of the family's dirty work?

Tears instantly welled in my eyes. I stared at the man I had loved for three years. "Nico, are you replacing me with her?"

He paused, then smiled, the picture of utter indifference. "Replace? Ava, don't be so childish. But the Russo family is very useful."

He propped his chin on one hand, his gaze sweeping over me as if I were merchandise. "Their territory, their channels… this alliance solves a lot of problems for the Carbone family. Besides, she's obedient. Not like you."

"Enough!" I couldn't listen anymore and cut him off.

I snatched the flash drive and pushed him toward the door. "Mr. Carbone, I understand my task. You can leave now."

Hearing the cold formality in my voice, Nico froze. He didn't get angry. Instead, the corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk as he seized my wrist. "Ava Sloane, are you angry?"

I pushed hard against his chest, stiffly denying it, only to be slammed against the wall the next second.

His fingers traced my lips, then brushed the corner of my eye, collecting a tear. He chuckled softly.

"Still denying it? You're so angry you're crying," he whispered. "Ava, you look like a stray kitten. I much prefer you when you're smiling."

He lifted my chin, his eyes locking on my lips. Then, he slowly leaned in.

I closed my eyes on instinct. The kiss never came. Instead, his cold voice slithered into my ear. "Be a good girl. Do that, and I'll keep you around. But if you pull another stunt like last night, neither the Carbone family nor I will have any use for you."

There wasn't a hint of a joke in his tone. I knew he was dead serious.

With that, he walked out. Pausing at the door, he added, "Oh, and from now on, the family car won't be picking you up. Bianca lives farther away."

The moment the door clicked shut, I slid down the wall and collapsed, covering my face as uncontrollable sobs wracked my body.

I thought Nico had feelings for me, but I was just a toy he could discard at any moment. What did three years of love and companionship even mean?

I looked down at the flash drive in my palm, my cheek stinging as if I'd been slapped. After crying for what felt like an eternity, I finally pulled myself together and changed.

But when I reached the door, I paused. I didn't even know how to get a car to the estate. For three years, Nico's private driver had been my only transport.

Numb, I stepped out into the biting Chicago wind and hailed a cab. Just as I got out in front of the family estate, a heavy snow began to fall.

Shielding my head with my hands, I ran through the flurries, only to stop short. Across the street, I saw Nico. He was holding an umbrella, walking toward me.

For a dizzying second, hope surged through me, and I couldn't stop myself from calling his name. "Nico..."

Nico smiled, but not at me. He strode right past me, stopping in front of another woman. He held the umbrella over her head and draped his overcoat around her shoulders.

He wrapped an arm around Bianca Russo, his tone a mix of scolding and affection. "Didn't I tell you to rest? Why did you come out?"

She tapped his chest shyly. "Because I wanted to see you, Don Carbone."

Seeing them so intimate made my fleeting hope feel like a cruel joke. I lowered my arm and slowly walked toward the estate, letting the snowflakes soak my clothes.

Nico glanced at me, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but he said nothing.

The moment I entered my office, everyone stared at my drenched state. I ignored them and silently sat down.

After a while, I nudged my friend beside me. "Jenna," I whispered. "You once mentioned you had contacts in Los Angeles, right?"

She nodded. "Yeah, but it's Grimaldi syndicate territory. They have iron-clad rules, so most people don't dare try their luck there. What's up?"

"I want to go."

Jenna Morales shot up from her seat. "Ava, are you serious? Nico treats you so well, and you want to leave?"

I pressed a finger to my lips, shushing her. "This isn't about him. It's about my career. Please, Jenna. I need this."

Jenna wanted to ask more, but seeing my resolute expression, she finally agreed.

She contacted the middleman in Los Angeles. After hanging up, she wrote down an encrypted number for me. "It's arranged. Use this to contact them. The rest is up to you."

As I took the slip of paper, a wave of relief washed over me. What I’d told her wasn't a complete lie.

While Nico had shattered my heart, that wasn't the only reason I wanted to leave. In my three years with the Carbone family, I had never been truly happy.

Nico often said he doted on me, but that meant most of my work was for show. I was less an art consultant and more a pretty pet to accompany him to meetings.

A pet. The word twisted in my gut like a knife.

Since my master no longer needed me, I wouldn't beg to stay. On my 25th birthday, I decided it was time to leave and reclaim my freedom.

After sitting back down, I immediately saved the encrypted number.

Just then, someone knocked on my desk. I looked up to see Nico. I slammed my laptop shut instinctively.

He paused, frowning. "What are you so jumpy about? Hiding something I shouldn't see?"

I shook my head, my tone distant. "You startled me, Mr. Carbone. Is there something I can help you with?"

My coldness clearly irritated him. But with others present, he reined in his temper, his voice turning icy. "I was wondering if you've finished analyzing the data for that shipment."

"I'm still working on it. I'll send it to your secure server before dinner."

"Good. Make it fast. I'm taking Bianca to an important family dinner tonight. I can't be late."

With that, Nico turned and walked back to his study.

The moment the door closed, Jenna let out a long breath. "God, that was terrifying. Mr. Carbone looked like he was going to kill someone. I've never seen him like that."

I managed a small, bitter laugh. "Like what?"

"So arrogant!" she whispered. "He's always like that with us, but he's always been so gentle with you, hasn't he? And I've never seen him give you any real work. Your job has always been—"

"Handled by us, you mean?" a smirking associate at a nearby desk suddenly cut in, his voice dripping with mockery. "For the past three years, because the Don had a thing for you, most of your work landed on our plates."

"Now that he has a new favorite, you've been knocked down to doing grunt work with the rest of us. It's been a while, Ava. Still remember how to cook the books? If you've forgotten, you can always come ask me for a little refresher."

"You—" Jenna glared at him, but I stopped her.

I swept a sharp gaze over the gawking associates and said slowly, "If you're unhappy with the work assignments, take it up with Mr. Carbone directly. But if you don't have the guts, I'd be happy to pass the message along."

They exchanged glances, and the jeering stopped. I knew they wouldn't dare bet on whether Nico had truly cast me aside.

After all, if I mentioned this to him, given his past affection for me, they might just find themselves taking a permanent swim in Lake Michigan.

Once, an associate, green with envy, "accidentally" knocked over a restoration fluid while I was appraising antiques. Nico had shattered the man's hand on the spot and made sure he'd never work in the Chicago underworld again.

But now...

I picked up the flash drive, and my confidence wavered. Taking a deep breath, I began to sort through the data on the illicit art pieces.

In less than an hour, I had sent the files to Nico's email.

He seemed surprised by my efficiency, sending a quick message: "So fast. Get someone to help you?"

In that instant, all the suppressed bitterness in my chest overflowed.

Even if everyone else thought I'd gotten my position through connections, Nico knew better than anyone that my skills brought real value to the family.

I stormed toward his study, ready for a confrontation, but froze when I heard him talking to Bianca.

"Mr. Carbone, I finally see why Miss Sloane is the family's chief appraiser. This analysis is impeccable."

Nico snorted. "Chief appraiser? If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have even made it through the door. The Carbone family has never lacked talent, only people I find... amusing. She probably slapped this report together in five minutes."

I felt as if I'd been struck by lightning, my legs barely holding me up. So from the very beginning, I had never truly belonged.

I remembered how other members used to ostracize me. Back then, when I was disheartened, Nico had pulled me aside and comforted me. He said one day I would prove my worth with my own abilities.

Because of those words, I had secretly worked my ass off, even when I had no assignments.

It wasn't just for my reputation; it was to live up to his "trust." I never thought it was all just a lie.

I chain-smoked on the estate's balcony until my fingers went numb. When I finally stubbed out the cigarette and returned to my office, I saw Nico and Bianca emerging from his study.

In front of everyone, he draped his coat over her shoulders. My colleagues all looked up, then cast smirking glances my way.

I wanted to pretend I didn't care, but my legs felt like they were filled with lead. I couldn't even lift my head.

However, Bianca wasn't going to let me off that easily. She walked up to me with a faint smile. "Ava, the information you compiled was quite good. I'll have to learn more from you."

I couldn't be bothered to respond. Nico frowned at my silence. "Miss Sloane, did you not hear Miss Russo speaking to you?"

Jenna shot me a shocked look, clearly stunned he would speak to me that way.

I suppressed the bitterness in my chest and looked at Bianca. "Thank you for the compliment."

Bianca nodded, then enthusiastically took my hand, her smile widening. "In that case, can I just have you handle all my work from now on? After all…"

She turned to Nico, her voice soft and cloying. "I've been feeling so weak lately. I just don't have the stomach for all that dirty work."

Every word was a slap in the face, igniting a fire in my chest.

Just as I was about to refuse, Nico's firm voice cut in. "Of course. It's a superior's duty to take care of their subordinates."

In that moment, all desire to argue vanished. I just felt utterly ridiculous.

After they left, I ignored the smirks and whispers around me, shoved my laptop into my bag, and fled the estate.

The moment I stepped out the main gate, the tightness in my chest eased slightly. It's okay, I told myself, all you lost was a man. It's not the end of the world.

Just as I had finally calmed down, I caught a glimpse of a familiar armored car parked not far away. Inside, a man and a woman were locked in a passionate kiss.

Nico's eyes were closed as he held Bianca's face, looking both gentle and utterly captivated.

I stood frozen, rooted to the spot. In three years, Nico had kissed every inch of my body—everywhere except my lips.

Even if I stood on my toes to kiss him, he would always turn his head, claiming he didn't like kissing.

So, it wasn't that he didn't like it. He just didn't like kissing me.

A wave of dizziness washed over me. So, was I not even worthy of a kiss? Or was Bianca something more to him? Either answer was unbearable.

Heavy snow suddenly began to fall again, and Nico finally broke the kiss, slowly looking up.

Just before our eyes met, I stumbled back a step and ran blindly into the snowstorm.

On the way back to my apartment, I bought myself a birthday cake and clutched it to my chest.

The moment I stepped inside, I collapsed, not even having the strength to open the box.

The delicate cake was smashed to pieces. My body was on fire, my head was spinning, and I couldn't even find the strength to crawl to bed.

Just then, I recalled Nico promising me an unforgettable 25th birthday months ago.

He had probably forgotten, but he was right. This one would be unforgettable. A bitter smile twisted my lips.

I lay on the floor as time slipped by, until an encrypted notification popped up on my phone. It was a message from the Grimaldi syndicate. "Congratulations on passing the initial screening, Miss Ava Sloane. Your video assessment is scheduled in three days."

Reading the message, I felt a flicker of defiance. At least there was one piece of good news.

Lying on the cold floor, I managed a faint smile and drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I was in my bed. Nico, who hadn't been home all night, was sitting beside me, gently wiping the sweat from my forehead.

"Why didn't you call me when you had a fever?" Nico handed me a glass of warm water, his voice tight with exasperation. "Stop throwing a tantrum. Take the medicine."

I turned my head away, refusing to look at him.

Nico frowned at my defiance. "Ava, have you forgotten what I told you?"

I knew exactly what he meant. If I didn't obey, I'd be cast out by him and the Carbone family. But even with his dark expression, I held my ground.

"Hah." A sneer. "Looks like the pet has grown claws." He slammed the glass on the nightstand. "You don't answer my messages. You ignore my calls. Now you won't even take your medicine. Do you hate me that much? Fine. We'll stay here all day. I'm not leaving until you take it."

With that, he took off his jacket, leaned back, and settled in for a standoff.

I couldn't understand him. If he didn't love me, if I was just a plaything, why go to all this trouble?

Finally, I turned my head. "I'm just your pet. Why does it matter if I take the medicine?"

"Of course it matters," Nico answered without hesitation, his gaze fixed on me. "If you're sick, you can't handle my business."

Before, his intense gaze would make my heart race. Now, it just made me sick. I pulled the blanket over my head, done with the conversation. He didn't say anything else, just sat there in silence.

During that time, he took a few calls about family business, his reply the same each time. "I have more important things to deal with. Postpone all meetings." He raised his voice deliberately, as if to make sure I heard.

I don't know how much time passed, but just as my irritation was about to make me give in, Bianca called.

With just one word from her, Nico immediately stood, put on his jacket, and rushed off. His threat of "not leaving" evaporated into thin air.

At the door, he glanced back. "Oh, right. I was busy yesterday and forgot your gift. Don't throw it out in a fit of pique. It's valuable. That lighter alone could keep you comfortable for the rest of your life."

His flippant, disdainful tone made my heart sink.

All this time, Nico never believed I would actually leave. And why would he? I was an ordinary person he had "promoted" into the Carbone family, living in a luxury apartment he bought. In his eyes, without him, I had nothing. I'd be back to a menial job at a small gallery, sharing an apartment with strangers, and squeezing onto crowded buses. That's why he was so confident, so brazenly cruel.

But he was wrong. I refused to live a life where someone else held my fate in their hands. Even if I obeyed him now, once he grew tired of me, I would still end up with nothing.

At that thought, I sighed and reached for the water on the nightstand. It was cold. My hand trembled so badly I couldn't hold the glass steady. It slipped through my fingers, shattering on the floor.

Just then, my phone buzzed incessantly with notifications from the family's internal channel. "Look! Did the Don just announce his engagement to Miss Russo?"

The word "engagement" plunged into my heart like a shard of ice.

With trembling hands, I clicked on Bianca's profile. She had posted a photo of a stunning ruby ring. The caption read: "One month with my fiancé, and he already gave me the Donna's ring! Feeling so blessed! ❤️"

Seeing the ring, I froze. My birthday gift was a diamond-encrusted custom Zippo lighter. A consolation prize he picked up while shopping for his fiancée? Even though I had accepted reality, the pain was still sharp.

But the cruelest part wasn't the gift. It was Nico's reply: "As long as you like it, my love. There's more where that came from." He hadn't corrected her. They really were engaged.

My phone slipped from my hand. I stood there for a long time before taking the lighter and listing it on a black market website. As a limited edition, it sold quickly. When the notification for a large cash transfer came through, I forced a smile and wiped away my tears.

"What are you crying for, Ava?" I muttered. "Three years of my life for a fat check. I guess I came out on top."

Just as my mood hit rock bottom, Nico called. His tone was flat. "Did you take your medicine? Bianca said she was in a bad mood, so I—"

"I took it," I cut him off.

A brief pause. Then, his satisfied voice. "Oh, good. See? You should have just been obedient. Don't act up again, Ava. I don't like coddling people."

"I know."

Nico, clearly pleased, hung up. He didn't know that as soon as the call ended, I collapsed, tears streaming down my face, my eyes empty, my heart completely hollow.

I had no expectations left. And there would be no next time.