Amara’s POV

The sonogram on Luca’s desk was the first thing I noticed when I came home to an empty house, with the note scribbled in Casey’s handwriting: “For our future.”

I didn’t need to read it twice to feel my stomach churn. It was like a punch to the gut. As I picked up the image, my hand trembled while I stared at the blur that Casey had labeled ‘our child.’

I was away for three days dealing with Syndicate matters—endless meetings, hard negotiations, and keeping things together. But this? This was what I came home to? I had bled for this family—his family. I thought that was enough.

The staff avoided my eyes like they knew. Everyone knew but me. They were all in on the lie and I was the last to find out, as always.

I didn’t ask the butler, but Davenport confirmed it anyway when I cornered him. “The Don and Miss Casey are spending the evening at the cabin, ma’am,” he had muttered, avoiding my gaze as though looking at me would burn him alive.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter as the anger quickly crawled under my skin like poison, making my fingers itch at the gun on the passenger seat, gleaming under the flickering streetlights like an invitation to end this madness right now.

But I didn’t. Not yet. Not now.

I blinked back the tears that began to burn my eyes as I slammed the brakes when I reached the cabin and stepped out. All I could feel was the pain in my chest—the betrayal, like a fresh wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding.

I didn’t knock. I didn’t care. I kicked the door open and barged in.

Casey was the first thing I saw, sitting comfortably on the couch in a robe that used to belong to me. Her legs were curled up, her smug face frozen in shock as she turned to face me, only to be greeted by my gun aimed squarely at her head.

“Don’t move,” I snarled, stepping further into the room. I didn’t know if I could hold it together much longer. I wanted to scream, to thrash the place, to kill…

But Luca’s voice rang out, “Amara!” He stood at the bar, holding a glass of wine, also clad in a robe and god knows what they had been doing hours before I arrived. Unbidden, the image of them tangled together flashed in my head and a tear rolled down my cheek which I quickly wiped as my finger hovered at the trigger.

Luca didn’t seem surprised, rather, looked irritated at my presence as if I disturbed a damn honeymoon.

“What is this, Luca?” My voice cracked, the words coming out like a sob. I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. “You hide away here with her, playing house, while I—” I paused, holding back a sob, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Amara, put the gun down,” he warned, taking a slow step forward. “You’re upset, but this isn’t how we handle things.”

“Don’t you dare tell me how to handle this!” I hissed, “Was this your plan all along? To humiliate me? To replace me?”

“Luca,” Casey trembled. I could see the fear in her eyes, but I wasn’t backing down. I wasn’t going to let her play the victim here.

She moved then, trying to rush toward Luca.

“Move one more inch, Casey,” I warned, my grip tightening on the gun. “I’ll give you exactly what you deserve.”

Her eyes went wide, panic flooding her face, and I didn’t hesitate when she didn’t listen and took a step.

I squeezed the trigger, the loud bang of the gun echoing through the room. The bullet missed her by inches, but it shattered the vase sitting on the table behind her with a deafening crash.

Casey screamed, her hands flying up in front of her face in a desperate attempt to protect herself, but the damage was done.

“Amara!” Luca shouted, and when I turned to him, he already had a gun aimed at me.

I froze, not from fear of death, but in disbelief that the husband I had devoted my life to had his gun pointed at me, willing to kill me for his mistress.

“Put it down, now,” he ordered, like I was one of his men that he could order around. But no, I was his wife, the Donna of the Obsidian Syndicate, and yet, the barrel was staring back at me, waiting for a bullet to discharge.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. All I could see was the gun in my hand, trembling, slipping in my grip. I couldn’t let it go.

My lips quivered as I spoke, “What happened to us, Luca?” I knew I sounded pleading and pathetic, but hell I care. “How could you do this to me?” I whispered in disbelief. How did we come to this? We were doing fine, building an empire we had dreamed of, what happened?

“Don’t make me do this, Amara,” he threatened. “You shoot Casey, you kill my child in her womb, and I will bury you without a second thought.”

The air in my lungs disappeared, I gritted my teeth and my hands shook, but I kept the gun trained on Casey.

It wasn’t the threat of death that crushed me. It wasn’t the gun or the fear. It was the fact that he would choose her, that he was willing to kill me, just for her. Everyday, I gambled with death, facing criminals, and dodging bullets—this was my life, and I was prepared to take my chances. I feared nothing.

But this… the cheating, the betrayal, it pierced harder than a bullet in the flesh, it burned hotter than hell itself.

Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the man I had loved, the man who had once sworn loyalty to me. “So, you’re choosing her over me?”

His silence was my answer.

The gun slipped from my hand, landing with a dull thud on the floor, and it felt like the world had gone quiet all at once, and I stood there, broken, and hopeless.

Luca didn’t move. He didn’t rush to me, didn’t lower his weapon until I took a step back.

Casey exhaled shakily before she rushed to Luca’s side as he wrapped his arm around her, protectively.

I looked down as I left the cabin, hiding the pain and humiliation. Luca followed me out, not to console, but to slap me in the face with his insults.

“You need to understand Amara, that this is an heir for the family—an heir that you’re incapable of producing.” he spat, coldly and indifferent.

And before I could even beg for an explanation or an apology, he slammed the door shut, leaving me shattered in the chilly night.

Amara’s POV

The blood on my blouse had dried when I returned home. The deal with the smugglers had turned sour—shots fired, bodies dropped, and somehow, I’d managed to walk away. Barely.

I was exhausted and all I wanted was the comfort of my own bed, to lay my head down and forget the world for a few hours.

But as I pushed the door open, I froze.

Luca sat beside Casey on the bed—my bed. His sleeves were rolled up, his hands cradling a steaming bowl of soup while Casey leaned against the pillows with her lips curled into a faint, satisfied smile as Luca carefully brought the spoon to her mouth.

“What... what is this?”

Luca glanced at me with a calm expression, but it was almost indifferent. “You’re here,” he simply uttered and immediately turned back to Casey as if my presence was barely worth acknowledging. “Casey fainted earlier and the doctor said she needs rest.”

“In our room?” I questioned. This was more than a form of disrespect. I was still the Donna, regardless of the child the mistress was carrying.

“She’s pregnant, Amara,” he replied sharply, setting the bowl on the nightstand. “She’s sensitive right now. I won’t have her moved around. You can sleep in one of the guest rooms tonight.”

I stepped further into the room, my fists clenched at my sides. “What?! This is my bed, Luca. Our bed. If anyone should move, it’s her!” I pointed at her but the smug on her face did not fade.

He stood tall, looming over me, and his jaw tight in irritation. “I’m not having this conversation with you right now.”

“Not having this conversation?” My voice cracked as anger and hurt bubbled to the surface. “She shouldn’t even be here! How could you—”

“Enough!” Luca shouted firmly, making me jolt in place. “Do as I say, Amara. Go,” he ordered firmly, pointing at the opened door behind me, and I knew I had lost. The look in his eyes was not the same the way he had once used towards me—with passion, now they’d changed. He had changed.

I gritted my teeth and glared over Casey who wore a victorious smile, clearly enjoying the treatment she was getting and the dismissal I was receiving.

I swallowed hard, biting back the words threatening to spill out, fighting a war I knew I’d never win—he’d made his choice. And it wasn’t me. I turned away and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me, and leaving them both in his fantasy.

The guest room felt like a cold prison. The bed was neatly made, untouched, and utterly lifeless. I sat on the edge, and despite its soft mattress, it felt hard beneath my body, and despite the thick blanket, it still felt cold to the touch. It was not the same as the warmth of my bedroom. I stared at the empty walls with the silence wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket that I had to endure.

I had never felt more humiliated in my life. My own husband had cast me aside — for her.

The image of Luca feeding Casey played on a loop in my mind, each replay was twisting the knife deeper in my chest. He had never done that for me. Not once. Not when I had fallen ill with a fever that left me bedridden for days, nor when I sprained my ankle and could barely walk.

When I needed him, Luca would send someone else—a housemaid, a doctor, anyone but himself. But for Casey? He sat at her bedside, tending to her like she was some fragile treasure.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, and I bit back the tears that threatened to spill. I had given Luca everything — my loyalty, my love, my life. And in return, he gave me this: a cold bed in a guest room and a front-row seat to my humiliation.

I leaned back against the headboard as the memories flooded in.

—

The first time I met Casey was at a gala, one of those events Luca always insisted we attend. I remember standing by his side, a glass of champagne in hand, as he introduced her to the room.

“This is Casey Tartt,” he said. “She’s an advisor we’ve brought in to streamline our financial operations.”

She had looked so modest back then with her doe-like eyes darting nervously around the room. She barely spoke, she looked so innocent with a shy smile like she didn’t belong in the world we live in. I had even felt a flicker of pity for her, assuming she was just another cog in the syndicate’s machine.

But looking back, I should have noticed the way Luca’s hand lingered on her back a moment too long. Or the way her eyes flicked to him every few seconds, seeking his approval, and at the same time, luring him to her den.

At the time, I brushed it off. I had no reason to doubt Luca. And while things were not perfect, I thought we had a partnership built on love and trust.

Then the subtle changes began.

Luca started coming home later and later, his excuses growing thinner by the day. “Business meetings,” he would say, or “urgent matters with the council.” I did not question him at first. Luca was a busy man, the Don of the Obsidian Syndicate. His responsibilities were extensive.

But then there were the whispers—the hushed conversations that stopped when I entered a room, the lingering glances between Casey and Luca at meetings.

I was a fool.

I believed his lies.

Casey was not just another advisor. She was not just some woman brought in to streamline operations. She was Luca’s mistress, his lover, the mother of the child he so desperately wanted, because I could not give him an heir, no matter how much we tried.

A knock at the door came, and my head snapped up. I wiped at my face quickly, straightening my posture as the door creaked open.

It was one of the maids. “Don Luca has requested your presence tomorrow to join them at a luncheon in Le Nora Vox with Miss Casey and other guests.”

Luca wanted me to play the dutiful Donna. Fine. But I would remind him exactly who I was—and what I was capable of.

Amara’s POV

I should’ve known Luca wasn’t requesting me to this luncheon out of goodwill. Le Nora Vox was not just a restaurant; it was a place where power was displayed.

Luca sat at the head with Casey seated at his right. She didn’t glance at me to show respect, she must be so confident now that Luca had taken her side.

I took my seat at the opposite end of the table. I was the Donna after all, and I’d be damned if I let Casey think she could sit across from me as an equal.

“We’re here to discuss the future of the Syndicate,” Luca began, “And to ensure there’s no misunderstanding about what’s best for the family.” His eyes went to me, serious, and warning.

Casey tilted her head with a face that was deceptively sweet. “Luca thought it would be good for us to spend more time together—especially now that the heir is on the way.”

My fingers curled tightly around the base of the glass. “An heir doesn’t make you a queen, Casey. You’d do well to remember that.”

Her smile faltered for a second. “Of course, Donna. I am here to support Luca in any way I can. And the baby is a blessing for all of us since you cannot bear one.”

I felt the veins in my neck throbbed and my blood boiled, making me tremble but I fought to keep my composure. The room felt too quiet, as though everyone had heard her insult and was waiting for my reaction.

My lips curved into a faintly sarcastic smile, though the heat in my chest threatened to be unleashed. “How generous of you, Casey. You’ve certainly proven your... value.”

She paled, and I didn’t care who else had heard or what the others thought. The message was clear. She was a lowborn bitch.

Luca’s gaze shifted to me in a warning. “Amara, we all want what’s best for the family. Casey’s pregnancy is a gift. I need you to accept that and act accordingly.”

“Accept what, exactly?” I retorted, narrowing my eyes at him. “That you’ve paraded your mistress in front of me and now expect me to play nice? That you have undermined everything we have built together for... this?” I gestured subtly toward Casey.

Casey shifted in her seat, placing a protective hand over her stomach. “Donna Amara, I understand this is hard for you. But you need to see the bigger picture. This child—our child—will secure the future of the Syndicate.”

“Our child,” I scoffed, snickering sarcastically, yet classily still, and took a sip of the champagne that was just poured by a waiter beside me.

“You speak as if you’ve already replaced me,” I said, glaring at her.

“You’ve replaced yourself,” Luca snapped, “By denying the Syndicate what it needs. Casey is doing what you couldn’t. You should be grateful.”

“So, this is how it is now?” I replied sharply, my gaze shifting between Luca and Casey. “She flaunts what she thinks she has, and you lap it up like a fool?”

“Enough,” Luca growled, slamming his hand on the table, drawing the attention of a few servers who quickly pretended not to notice.

“Enough?! You drag me here to put on this pathetic display of power, and now you want to silence me?”

“This is a warning. Either you fall in line, or you make things harder for everyone—including yourself.”

A knot of fury twisted in my chest, but I refused to let it show. I wasn’t going to leave crying and looking so pathetic. I wasn’t the one who had done anything wrong.

I stood, smoothing my dress and lifting my chin. “Enjoy your luncheon,” I uttered icily. “But don’t mistake my silence for submission.”

I turned and walked away, ignoring the heat of their stares on my back. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I made my way to the exit.

But then something stopped me. A strong aura that was difficult to ignore. Being a part of the Mafia, I learned to distinguish people and feel their power to gauge them. It was a subtle skill that was crucial in this kind of lifestyle.

I glanced toward the second floor, where a private balcony overlooked the heart of Le Nora Vox and I saw him.

Don Matteo Vitale.

His mere presence was commanding—everything about him screamed danger wrapped in elegance. He stood still for a moment, watching me, then began descending the stairs, while holding my gaze, and I couldn’t turn away.

Matteo wasn’t the type to appear without reason. For a man like him, every move had a purpose. By the time he reached me, I wore a facade of cold indifference. He was a rival, the head of Vitalus Circle I can’t afford to show weakness in front of this man.

“Donna Amara,” he greeted without hiding the amusement in his voice. “It seems congratulations are not in order.”

I didn’t respond. I refuse to be lured into his den for I knew that he was eyeing for a weakness to attack.

“News travels fast in our world,” he continued. “Your family is in disarray. Luca has chosen his... priorities.” He glanced briefly toward the dining room before settling back on me, making his point.

“And what does that have to do with you?”

He smirked. “I’m here to offer you a choice. Divorce Luca Moretti. Leave the Obsidian Syndicate behind, and I’ll help you destroy him. Thoroughly.”

Tempting.

I never expected less from ‘the’ Matteo Vitale.

“And why would you want to do that?” I demanded. “What’s in it for you?”

“Do I need a reason?” Matteo shrugged lightly, but his eyes gleamed with something deeper—something I couldn’t quite pin down. “Let’s just say I have an interest in you.”

Liar.

Matteo Vitale was never without an agenda. Whatever his plan was, it wasn’t out of goodwill. I knew better than to trust a man like him.

And yet...

The idea of Luca’s downfall, of seeing him stripped of his power, his pride, and everything he’d taken from me, was a temptation I couldn’t deny. Matteo was ruthless, cunning, and, most importantly, capable of delivering the kind of revenge I craved.

“I’ll think about it,” I simply replied.

His smirk widened, a predator sensing its prey. “You have three days, Amara. After that, my offer is off the table.”

I held my tongue and watched him turn and walk away, leaving a bait within reach but certain to disappear before I dared claim it.

Matteo Vitale definitely knew how to play.