I've had a crush on Don Luciano Damiani for ten years. Heck, I even agree to his request to sleep with him a thousand times before we finally get to announce our relationship to the world.

The locations vary, be it Luciano's private shooting range or the VIP lounge. He uses every trick up his sleeve just to groom me into his personal plaything.

Every time we do it, Luciano will kiss me while coaxing the answer out of me.

"Do you want our relationship to go public, babe?"

I've answered him "yes" 999 times. Of course, he disappoints me 999 times as well.

But on the thousandth time, Luciano says, "Cecilia, let's announce our relationship on my birthday, which will be held in two days."

Excitement washes over me at that moment. But that's when my best friend, Valentina Fiore, starts a video chat with me.

"I lost to Luciano in a racing competition. Yesterday, I had to go to the City Hall to get our marriage registered there.

"But he still intends to keep you as his mistress. That's why we shall fight for his affection to the best of our ability on fair grounds.

"The next two days shall be our contending period. We'll bet on who matters to Luciano more. The loser will travel to the Republic of Azamir as a war correspondent, whereas the winner gets to attend his birthday party and announce their relationship to the world."

Cecilia's POV

I didn't believe Valentina Fiore, so I quietly took a taxi to tail Luciano Damiani to one of the private clubs they often frequented.

I reached the top-floor private room and had just opened the door a sliver when I froze in place.

Luciano was down on one knee, his slender fingers holding a diamond ring as he looked up at Valentina.

"Valentina, do you dare to spend the rest of your life with me?"

Valentina smiled, arching an eyebrow. "We've already registered our marriage. What's there to be afraid of?"

Before I could push the door wide open, I heard one of Luciano's men tease, "Sir, I have a feeling your point isn't really to see whether Cecilia will choose between love and friendship at your birthday party in two days. You just want to use this bet as an excuse to marry Ms. Fiore, don't you?"

Another voice chimed in. "I mean, the engagement ring you gave Ms. Fiore is an eight-figure collector's piece, whereas the one you gave Cecilia was just a cheap piece of junk you bought off a street vendor."

"Zitto!" Luciano snapped, throwing his wine glass.

No one dared to make another sound.

I looked down at the faint mark left on my ring finger that the too-tight ring had left. I thought that, at least over the past four years, he had developed some feelings for me.

But his next words cast me straight into hell.

"She's just a maid's bastard daughter. Keeping her as an Amante Clandestina on the side to play with is more than enough."

Because of her beauty, Mamma had been forced by Padre, and that was what led to my existence. I had been called a "Bastarda" ever since I was a child, and I swore I would never be someone's Amante Clandestina—a secret mistress.

Back then, Luciano had held me and promised me that he would marry me. He wouldn't let history repeat itself. But now he said keeping me as an Amante Clandestina on the side would be more than enough.

How ironic.

I felt my heart twisting painfully, and my tears fell uncontrollably.

Another voice rang out in the room.

"How about letting me have my fun playing with Cecilia?" the man said, laughing.

Luciano pressed his burning cigar against the man's hand, making him howl in pain. Smiling lazily, he asked, "You think you're worthy?"

I went still.

Behind me, Valentina appeared and handed me a handkerchief, just like she always did whenever I cried.

"I deliberately lured you here to see this, but who would've thought…" she said, letting out a short, self-deprecating scoff. "But he still wants to keep you on the side. So let's have a fair competition."

"The time limit is two days, and the bet is on who matters to him the most. The loser goes to the Republic of Azamir as a war correspondent, while the winner stays and takes their relationship public at his birthday party."

I switched off the recorder in my pocket and took the handkerchief.

"Bene," I replied softly.

I knew Valentina wouldn't stop until this bet was settled. As for the outcome… it honestly no longer mattered to me.

Cecilia's POV

Late that night, I went back to pack my things.

To my surprise, when I opened the door, I saw the shirt I'd bought for Luciano with my scholarship money tossed carelessly on the floor. Lying on top of it were several used condoms stained with white fluid.

When we first moved into this apartment, Luciano had held me in his arms and said solemnly, "You always said you're a nightingale without a home. From this moment on, this is our home."

But now, he had brought Valentina into our home.

As I stood there frozen, the bathroom door opened, and Luciano walked out with a towel loosely wrapped around his waist. Water droplets dripped from his hair down his bare chest, making him look sexy and alluring.

If this were before, I would have blushed at this sight. But now, I didn't feel even the slightest flutter in my heart. I simply picked up the shirt from the floor and looked at him.

"We haven't even broken up yet," I said calmly. "And you're already in such a rush to bring someone else home?"

Luciano casually leaned back on the couch, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He pulled a box from a drawer and tossed it at me.

"A gift."

I scanned the "home" where I had lived for four years. There seemed to be nothing worth taking. I took the ring off my finger and threw it in the trash.

This action made his hand jerk, and the cigarette burned his fingertip, but he didn't seem to care.

Gritting his teeth, he hissed, "What tantrum are you throwing now, Cecilia Rossetti?"

I only had eyes for him before, but now, those same eyes were filled with nothing but calm indifference.

"Can't you see? I don't want the ring. And I don't want you either."

With that, I turned to leave.

Luciano grabbed my wrist almost instinctively, his grip so hard that I winced. He slammed me against the door, his jaw tight as he glared at me.

"Who gave you permission to break up with me, Cecilia?"

"Let go of me!"

I struggled, but the difference in strength between us was too great, and he pinned my hands above me.

Suddenly, the sound of the keypad lock came from the door. My eyes widened.

Valentina's confused voice followed. "Maritino?"

Luciano acted as if he hadn't heard. He tore my cotton dress, grabbed my thighs, and roughly forced himself inside me.

I almost screamed in pain, but he bit my earlobe wickedly.

"Amore, you better press against that door hard, or she'll come in here soon."

I bit my lip to stifle my groans, glaring at him. What I didn't know was that my tearful gaze only ignited the primitive possessiveness inside him.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he slammed even harder into me.

Outside, Valentina froze, then turned and ran downstairs. She returned with a baseball bat and began smashing the door in a rage.

"Do you have no shame, Cecilia?" she screamed. "Sleeping with my man in front of me? How much of a slut are you?"

The series of heavy bangs drowned out the moans I could no longer stifle.

With one last thrust, Luciano brought me to the height of pleasure. He leaned down to kiss me, but I slapped him across the face.

"Get lost!"

A mocking smirk played across his lips. "Amore, next time you tell me to get lost, make sure your body learns how to reject me first."

I was so mad that I could barely catch my breath. Before I could steady it, a loud crash rang out.

Valentina had kicked open the door. With bloodshot eyes, she grabbed me by the hair and dragged me into the bathroom.

I tried to struggle, but she pinned me to the floor. She turned the water to scalding hot and even grabbed the toilet brush lying to the side, scrubbing my skin harshly.

"This brush is cleaner than a man-stealing slut like you!" she snarled.

The coarse bristles scraped across my supple skin, instantly leaving bloody streaks. Fighting through the pain, I struggled to my feet, snatched the brush from her, and looked straight at her through the veil of water.

"Valentina," I started, my voice trembling from the pain. "When you married Luciano behind my back… Did you ever remember that I was your friend?"

A loud slap rang out as she smacked me across the cheek.

"If I weren't using a Bastarda like you to make myself look good, do you really think I'd bother being friends with you?" she snapped, looking down at me.

The slap caused me to fall back onto the floor, and she scrubbed even harder.

"How pathetic. Let's guess—will he come in to stop me?"

The next second, Luciano's voice came from outside. "Basta. How far do you plan to take this while I'm standing right here?"

Valentina threw open the door, glaring at him. "Fine. Go feel sorry for your Amante then. Don't come looking for me!"

Before Luciano could react, she ran right out the front door. He immediately chased after her, yelling to me as he ran, "I called a doctor for you. Don't be mad at her."

…

After the doctor treated me, I asked for emergency contraception under his contemptuous gaze. I wouldn't allow anything tying me to Luciano ever again.

Once the doctor left, I forced my tired self to pack everything I owned and throw it all into the dumpster downstairs.

As I was leaving, a maid stopped me, holding out the ring. "Ma'am, do you still want this?"

"No," I said without hesitation.

Friendship or whatever else it was… I didn't want any of it anymore.

To make sure Luciano wouldn't go to the Republic of Azamir to look for me, I decided to go somewhere he would never think to look.

The next day, I met with my mentor.

"I'd like to apply to join the volunteer team heading to Kovana."

Cecilia's POV

"I've made my decision," I said, my voice firm.

Only after my mentor confirmed my name was added to the list did I book my flight and tell Mamma.

She was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Stay safe. If anything happens, contact Enzo Genovese. He happens to be stationed there on a peacekeeping mission."

"I'll contact him," I replied obediently.

After hanging up, I looked up and met Luciano's deep, dark eyes.

"Which Bastardo are you planning to contact?" he asked.

My gaze turned cold as I retorted, "What does it have to do with you?"

As far as he could remember, I'd always been sweet and meek. Even when he exhausted me until daybreak, I would only timidly ask, "Can we continue this tomorrow?"

But now, I was cold and sharp-tongued, like a cat that had had its tail stepped on.

For once, this seemed to amuse Luciano, and he pulled me into his arms.

"Don't be mad. Even if I'm married to Valentina, there's still a place for you by my side."

"What place?" I asked, shoving him away. "The place for an Amante Clandestina?"

Luciano's face darkened at my repeated sharp remarks.

"Don't tell me you actually want me to marry you? Amore, that joke isn't funny. Do you even understand that if I married you, I'd have to—"

His tone was teasing, but it still cut straight into my numb heart.

"You're right. It isn't funny," I interrupted flatly. "After all, we're through."

I promptly turned around to leave, but my phone suddenly slipped and hit the floor. A message from Valentina lit up the screen.

"Last round. Let's make the bet bigger."

Luciano picked up the phone first, his eyes narrowing. "What bet?"

I quickly snatched my phone back, my lowered lashes hiding the panic in my eyes. As calmly as possible, I said, "It's nothing. It's just a joke."

Luciano stared at me, trying to find anything off in my expression. Just then, one of his men called, sounding frantic.

"Sir! Ms. Fiore heard you went to see Cecilia. She got furious and challenged Matteo to a race. She said if she loses, she'll sleep with him!"

Everyone knew how cruel Matteo Barbieri's proclivities were. The women who fell into his hands ended up crippled or even dead.

After hanging up, Luciano grabbed me and shoved me into the car, then sharply drifted into traffic. This was the first time I'd ever seen him panicked. He even ran multiple red lights in a row.

He had always been the type of man whose love was three parts sincerity and seven parts deception.

The irony was that I'd been with him for four years and slept with him a thousand times, yet even those three parts of sincerity had been just an illusion of mine.

But soon, it would all be over.

…

We arrived at the port district soon enough.

Luciano saw Matteo pinning Valentina against a car hood, kissing her. He didn't even bother to park properly before rushing over and punching him.

Then he grabbed Valentina, eyes red with rage, as he demanded, "If I hadn't come today, were you really going to sleep with Matteo, Valentina?"

"What right do you have to ask me that?" Valentina roared back, her eyes just as red. "Weren't you busy with Cecilia?"

"Because I'm your man! The man you're married to!"

Watching them, my heart ached even more. I turned to leave, but Matteo's bodyguards blocked my path.

"Luciano, choose one," Matteo called out.

With a wave of his hand, his bodyguards surrounded us.

Luciano pulled Valentina behind him protectively as he glared at Matteo. "Choose what?"

"Take someone if you want, I've got no problem with that. But rules are rules. Between these two women, you have to leave one of them here. Otherwise…"

The words had just barely left his mouth when a dozen guns were aimed at the three of us.

Luciano's expression was conflicted. Valentina tugged at his sleeve and said, "Luciano, I'm scared…"

He made his decision instantly. "Cecilia stays."

It was an expected answer, but my eyes still stung. The sadness quickly passed, however, as I quickly pressed the emergency speed-dial for the police.

Seeing my reddened eyes, Luciano's heart skipped a beat.

"Amore, I'll come get you tomorrow," he promised softly.

Then he turned to Matteo, his gaze sharp. "You'd better not do anything to her, or I won't hesitate to make your entire family disappear from Carston."

With that, he scooped Valentina up in his arms and left. Leaning against his shoulder, she smiled at me and mouthed, "How pitiful… You lost again."

I scrambled to run, but Matteo kicked me hard in the leg, grabbed me by the hair, and dragged me toward a basement.