My words drove Joey into a rage, his face flushing a deep red.

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist, his grip like a vise. "What did you say? My money's dirty?"

His fingers dug into my skin, and I winced in pain. "Adriana, don't push your luck!"

Vivian fanned the flames. "Joey, she's just putting on an act! She's obviously here with her tail between her legs, but she has to put on this holier-than-thou act!"

Joey stared into my eyes, and a self-satisfied smirk slowly spread across his face. "I get it."

He released my wrist and took a step back. "You're still mad at me, aren't you?"

"It's been three years, Adriana. You're still throwing a tantrum over that? It was nothing."

Angelo tugged on Vivian's skirt. "Mama Vivian, why is she mad at Daddy?"

Vivian crouched down, stroking Angelo's head gently. "Because she's jealous, sweetie. Jealous that Daddy has a better woman now."

"Jealous that you have a prettier new mommy."

Understanding dawned on Angelo's face. He pointed at me. "Oh, so she's jealous! No wonder she's acting so pathetic!"

Joey's ego swelled. He straightened his suit collar, adopting a magnanimous air. "Fine. Seeing as you're Angelo's birth mother, I'll give you a chance."

"In three days, the family is hosting a grand reception to welcome the Don. I can get you in as Angelo's nanny, so you can see how the other half lives."

"Joey is a goddamn saint!"

"Adriana, that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! The entire New York high society will be there!"

"You'll never see a party of that caliber in your life!"

Joey looked down his nose at me. "Well? Isn't that generous enough for you?"

I stared at him coldly and said, one syllable at a time, "No. Thank. You."

The air crackled with tension. Everyone was stunned, as if they couldn't believe I would refuse such a "gracious" offer.

Joey's face turned thunderous. "What did you say?"

"I said, no thank you," I repeated. "We're divorced, Joey. A clean break is best. It prevents complications." I thought of my intensely jealous husband. Dante's possessiveness scared even me.

Being rejected again and again had finally pushed Joey over the edge. He pointed a finger at my nose and snarled, "Adriana! You ungrateful bitch!"

"I've been more than generous! What more could you possibly want?"

"Fine! Just fine!" He turned and wrapped his arm around Vivian's waist, his voice loud enough for the whole street to hear. "If that's how you want it, don't blame me for forgetting we had a history!"

"At the reception in three days, I'm going to walk in with Vivian and Angelo on my arm. I'll show the whole world who the real woman in my life is!"

Vivian leaned into Joey's embrace, her eyes locked on me in a triumphant challenge. "Adriana, when I'm Joey's wife, Angelo will be the prince of this family. And you? You'll be nothing but an outsider, looking in."

Angelo clapped his hands. "Yay! I'm going to wear my most handsome little suit! So everyone will know Vivian is my mommy!"

Watching their little family drama unfold, I felt nothing but profound disgust. But it was for the best. I only hoped they'd still be this arrogant in three days.

Three days later, the reception took place as scheduled.

The Moretti family's private club was a glittering palace of gold and crystal, filled with the elite of New York's underworld.

I wore light makeup and a black silk gown that Dante had chosen for me personally.

I wore no jewelry, and my hair was swept up in a simple, elegant knot.

The moment I stepped into the hall, I saw them.

Vivian was in a gown covered in rhinestones, a gaudy necklace around her neck, as if desperate for attention.

Angelo, stuffed into a tiny tuxedo, clutched her hand, playing the perfect little prince.

When Joey saw me, a flicker of confusion crossed his face.

He was probably wondering how the hell I got an invitation to an event of this caliber. He leaned over and whispered something to Vivian, who covered her mouth and giggled.

Angelo pointed at me and announced to the people around them, "See? That lady is my old mommy! She's my nanny now!"

Curious and judgmental glances shot my way from all directions.

"So, you couldn't stay away after all," Joey said, striding up to me with that familiar arrogance. "But if you're trying to win me back, at least show some class. An outfit like that is just embarrassing."

I ignored his baffling narcissism and walked past him toward my seat.

Joey, infuriated, grabbed my arm. "Adriana, I'm talking to you! Our seats are down there, where are you going?"

I shook his hand off. "Those are your seats, not mine."

I walked straight toward the back of the hall.

As I approached the head table, the seats reserved exclusively for the Don. The color drained from Joey's face.

"She's lost her mind," he muttered under his breath. "She's completely insane!"

Vivian saw where I was headed and let out a piercing shriek. "Joey! Look at that bitch! How dare she walk toward the Don's table?"

"Get her back here! She's going to get us all killed!"

Vivian's shriek ripped through the elegant hum of the hall.

Every guest turned to look in our direction, and a wave of whispers rippled through the room.

"Who is that woman? How dare she approach the Don's table?"

"Did she sneak in to cause trouble? Is she trying to humiliate all of us in front of the Don?"

"Security! How the hell did this bitch get in here?"

Under the weight of a hundred pairs of eyes, the color drained from Joey's face.

He immediately waved his hands at the people near him, desperate to distance himself. "I don't know her. Why would I know someone like that?"

Seeing Joey disown me so publicly, Vivian's eyes flashed with manic glee. She lunged at me.

"You bitch! Get the hell out of here before you get yourself killed!"

I watched her with an amused, cold smile. "Are you sure you want me to leave?"

My attitude infuriated her, and her eyes turned venomous. "Stop putting on airs. Drop the disgusting act."

She lunged, her fingers clawing for my dress.

I sidestepped her, but a foot shot out from behind, catching my ankle. I went down hard.

Vivian seized the opportunity.

She planted her stiletto heel on my arm, digging it into my skin. "I'll teach you to be so high and mighty! I'll teach you to ruin my night!"

She grabbed the shoulder strap of my gown and tore it, trying to humiliate me in front of everyone.

The fabric ripped. The dress Dante had personally had measured and made for me. A dress she couldn't afford with her life.

"Everyone, look! This woman is a fraud!"

The guests swarmed around us, some even pulling out their phones to take pictures.

The stiletto ground into my arm, threatening to snap the bone. Blood bloomed on the torn flesh where her heel dug in.

Angelo was jumping up and down in the crowd. "Hit her! Hit her! She's a bad woman!"

"Security! Drag this crazy bitch out of here and throw her in the East River!" Vivian shrieked hysterically.

The club's security guards, hearing the commotion, hurried over.

"Ma'am, you need to come with us," one of them said, his tone firm as he reached for my arm.

I struggled to stand, my voice choked. "Stop. I'm Dante's..."

Before I could get the words out, Vivian's hand cracked across my face. And then again.

"Shut up! You dare mention the Don's name? You're not worthy!"

My cheeks burned, and fresh blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

Joey crouched down beside me, his voice a low, urgent whisper. "Adriana, stop this. You're going to be finished."

He looked at me, his eyes cold. "If you beg me, right now, I'll get you out of this. For Angelo's sake, I'll save your pathetic life."

I struggled to lift my head, to look at the man I had once loved so deeply.

There wasn't a trace of genuine concern in his eyes, only arrogance and condescension.

"Joey," I rasped, the words tearing from my throat. "You're all finished. You, your wife, your entire pathetic crew."

Coming back to New York, I hadn't planned on settling scores with them. It wasn't worth my time.

But now, I swore I would make every single one of them pay.

Joey's brow furrowed, and he was about to retort when he realized the entire hall had fallen silent.

Every person in the room had turned respectfully toward the main entrance.

He scrambled to pull me up, his voice a panicked hiss in my ear. "The Don is here. Shut your goddamn mouth, or so help me..."

A tall figure appeared in the doorway, flanked by a phalanx of bodyguards.

It was Dante.

He stood there, a titan in a perfectly tailored black suit, his face carved from ice.

His consigliere, Marco, was at his side, followed closely by several capos.

Beside his towering figure, a small hand was clasped in his—a little boy dressed in an exquisite miniature suit, looking like an angel with his perfect features.

The moment Joey saw him, he tried to yank me to my feet, but Dante's gaze had already locked onto our corner of the room.

He saw me, kneeling pathetically on the floor. He saw my torn dress. He saw the red handprint on my cheek.

His expression shifted instantly. The impassive mask cracked, replaced by a terrifying stillness.

The little boy beside Dante saw me on the ground and immediately broke free from his father's grasp.

His tiny legs carried him across the room as fast as they could go.

He threw himself down beside me, his voice breaking with tears as he called out in his clear, childish tone: "Mama!"

At the sound of the word, Angelo rushed over, pointing a trembling finger at Matteo. "What are you talking about? She's my mom!"

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

Joey froze, his voice cracking as he stared at the boy. "Did he just say... Mama?"