The next second, Orion shot up from his chair, grabbed my waist, and yanked me against him.

“Good girl,” he said, his eyes empty of their earlier warmth. “Take it back. Make a new wish.”

His fingers tightened. I could feel the heat of his palm, the threat hidden beneath.

This was Orion Corvo. The King of Chicago.

The gentleman was a mask. Underneath, it was all control. All possession.

“Make a new wish,” he growled, forcing me to look at him. “Say you’ll never leave me.”

I knew he wouldn’t let me go easily. Arguing now would only make things worse for me.

I pushed down the storm of emotions inside me and forced a smile.

“I was just kidding. How could I ever leave you?”

His grip loosened, but he didn’t let go.

“That’s better.” He placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “You’re mine, Evangeline. Always.”

I nodded, playing the part of the obedient girl.

The next day, I went to his office. Orion was buried in paperwork, stacks of contracts waiting for his signature.

“These need your signature too.” I slipped the termination contract into the stack and handed it to him.

He didn't even look up, just started signing, his black fountain pen leaving a powerful scrawl on each page.

When he signed the last one, I discreetly pulled my contract from the bottom.

From now on, I had no legal ties to the Corvo family.

I was no longer his art appraiser.

For five years, I had used my talent for art and my fluency in eight languages to travel the world with him.

From ancient castles in Florence to private auctions in Tokyo. From the black markets of Paris to lavish exhibitions in Dubai.

Every treasure passed through my hands. Every multi-million-dollar deal had my mark on it.

But now, it was all over.

“Are you free tonight?” Orion put down his pen and finally looked at me.

“What did you have in mind?”

“I want to take you to a concert.” He stood and walked toward me. “The principal cellist of the Chicago Symphony. He’s playing just for you.”

I froze. He remembered the cello was my favorite.

“Just the two of us?”

“Of course.” He kissed the back of my hand. “My girl deserves the best.”

That evening, we arrived at a private concert hall.

The entire venue was lit just for us. On stage, the world-class cellist was playing a soulful rendition of “The Swan.”

The music was beautiful. And it broke my heart.

After the performance, we stepped outside. The night air was cool, and Orion draped his suit jacket over my shoulders.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance.

Sienna Rossi.

A cascade of fiery red curls, a black evening gown that clung to her slim waist, a diamond necklace glittering at her throat.

I had seen her in my past life, too.

Back then, she was Orion’s ex-fiancée. They had called it off quickly and never spoken again.

But now…

“Orion, what a coincidence.” Sienna’s voice was sweet as honey. “How was the show?”

“Not bad,” Orion replied, his tone flat.

Sienna’s gaze shifted to me, looking me up and down.

“You must be the little De Luca princess. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Her smile was perfect, but I saw the challenge in her eyes.

“Actually, I helped arrange this concert,” Sienna continued. “The cellist and I are old friends.”

I glanced at Orion. His expression didn’t change.

“Thank you,” I said politely.

“Don’t mention it.” Sienna’s smile widened. “After all, Orion and I… we go way back.”

The implication was clear. My stomach tightened.

“I’m just going to the restroom,” I said, needing an escape.

As I walked away, I heard Sienna’s voice behind me.

“I’ve heard all about you two. But really, once we’re married… do you think she’ll be okay with sharing?”

My heart hammered against my ribs.

Orion’s voice was casual, arrogant. “Her? She’s obsessed with me. She’d do anything to stay by my side.”

I stopped dead in my tracks.

I bit my lip so hard I could taste blood, my nails digging into my palms.

For five years, I thought I was his only one.

I gave up my education in Europe, gave up the debutante life my family planned for me, all to follow him into his world of blood and danger.

And now I knew the truth. I was just another piece in his collection.

My hands trembling, I pulled out my burner phone and dialed a number.

“It’s me.”

“Miss?” The voice on the other end was surprised.

“I need to be out of the country in ten days,” I said, my voice so cold it scared even me. “Get me to Switzerland. And make sure the Corvos never find me.”

“Understood.”

I hung up and took a deep, shaky breath.

My own countdown had begun.

This time, it would be a real rebirth.

I walked back to the entrance, my face a blank mask.

They were acting like nothing had happened.

I played along, linking my arm with Orion’s. “Time to go home?”

Home. The penthouse he used to sleep with me. I guess that’s what it was.

Sienna was still there, wearing that smug smile. “Perfect timing. There’s a game tonight, and Orion said you’re invited. I was worried a little princess like you couldn't handle it.”

Orion wrapped his arm around my waist, gave me a quick, possessive kiss, and led me to the car.

We arrived at his underground den, a place reserved for his inner circle.

In the dim light, men were crowded around several poker tables.

Stacks of chips worth a small fortune sat in front of each player.

“Tonight’s buy-in is ten million,” Orion whispered in my ear. “Want to play?”

I nodded.

For five years, I wasn’t just his art expert. I was his right hand.

A photographic memory, a mind for psychological games, a knack for numbers—I thrived in places like this.

We sat down. Our opponents were a few older men in expensive suits, all key players from other families.

“The beauty is playing?” one of the bald men asked, eyeing me.

“Of course.” Orion pushed a stack of chips in front of me. “My woman never disappoints.”

The first hand was dealt.

I calmly watched everyone, their tells, their bets, calculating the odds.

The bald man always touched his nose when he was bluffing.

The skinny guy to my left sat up straighter when he had a good hand.

The fat guy across from me would start breathing faster.

I won the first hand. Then the second. Then the third.

Orion sat behind me, his hand resting on my shoulder, his eyes filled with pride and possession.

“See?” he said to the others. “That’s my woman. An angel with brains and beauty.”

I felt nothing.

My woman.

To him, I was just another beautiful thing he owned.

As I leaned forward to collect my chips, my gaze dropped under the table. I froze.

Sienna’s foot.

She was sitting next to Orion. I hadn't even noticed.

She was wearing black, strappy heels, and her foot was tracing circles on the inside of Orion’s thigh. Right through the expensive fabric of his suit.

I could see the bulge growing under the table.

And Orion? He held his cards without a tremor, his expression unchanged.

My heart pounded, blood rushing to my head.

“Evangeline?” Orion noticed I’d gone stiff.

“I’m fine,” I forced myself to sit up straight. “Let’s keep playing.”

But my hands were shaking.

I started making mistakes. My advantage slipped away. My chips dwindled.

“What’s wrong?” Orion whispered. “Don’t you feel well?”

“I’m fine.”

For the final hand, Sienna suddenly spoke up. “I want in.”

She sat across from me, a smirk on her red lips.

“Of course,” the other men welcomed her.

The pot was fifty million dollars.

Sienna was a surprisingly good player. She was aggressive, pushing everyone into a corner.

In the end, she won.

“Congratulations, Miss Rossi,” the men applauded.

“Thank you.” Sienna stood up and walked over to Orion. “But it’s not the money I want.”

She paused, her eyes locking with mine in a clear challenge.

“I want… the new shipping route to South America.”

My heart stopped.

I had spent countless sleepless nights designing that route. It bypassed every customs checkpoint. It was worth hundreds of millions.

“Orion, you promised me,” Sienna cooed. “If I won, I’d get what I wanted.”

Orion lazily flicked the ash from his cigarette and glanced at me.

“If you like it, it’s yours.”

Those six words hit me like a bolt of lightning.

I shot to my feet, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“Evangeline?” Everyone turned to look at me.

I didn’t answer. I just turned and ran from the smoke-filled room.

I heard Orion’s footsteps behind me.

“Evangeline, wait!”

He caught me in the hallway, pinning me against the cold wall.

“Jealous?” he asked, a hint of pleasure in his voice. “My girl, you’re the only one for me. I’ll make it up to you when we get home.”

The only one?

Then why was he marrying someone else without even telling me?

The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them.

It was already past midnight. Nine days left until I was gone.

After he dropped me off at the penthouse, he said he had some family business to handle and left.

I didn’t know if he was going to see Sienna. If he was going to press her against a wall and answer the invitation she’d given him under the poker table.

A sharp pain shot through my chest, but I said nothing.

Just as he was about to leave, a bodyguard rushed over with a velvet box.

“Boss, it’s here.”

Orion took the box, opened it, and nodded in satisfaction.

I glanced over, my heart skipping a beat.

It was a massive diamond. The Regent Diamond, rumored to have once been part of the British Crown Jewels.

I had dreamed of that diamond. I had told him about it countless times.

Was this his way of making it up to me?

A flicker of hope ignited in me. I instinctively reached for it.

But in the next second, Orion snapped the box shut, a flash of annoyance in his eyes.

The message was clear. The diamond, like his future, had nothing to do with me.

My hand, suspended in mid-air, fell back to my side. I rubbed my fingers together, not knowing what to say.

Orion seemed to realize he’d been harsh. He gave me a soft smile. “You like it? I’ll get you something better. This one’s for something else.”

I forced a polite smile.

Something else. He walked out with the diamond of my dreams, not even looking back.

The click of the closing door was deafening in the silence. My smile vanished.

He was going to give the diamond I’d always wanted to another woman. In the middle of the night.

Did he think I was too stupid to care? Or did he just not care if my heart broke?

Standing in the empty apartment, I remembered his last words in my past life:

“I love you… I’ve always loved you…”

So this is what love was worth.

This is how foolish I could be.

I walked to the safe hidden in the bedroom.

I took out every piece of jewelry, every work of art Orion had given me over the last five years. I photographed them all and sent them to the biggest black market auction house in Europe.

The tagline: “The collection of Don Corvo’s ex-lover. Highest bidder wins.”

Pearls, sapphires, antique scrolls—a mess of priceless things.

I called the auction house director on an encrypted line. “I’m selling everything Orion ever gave me. You in?”

He was shocked. “Everything? This is all top-tier stuff. Did you two have a falling out? He’s not gonna be happy about you selling his gifts.”

My eyes went dark. “He won’t even notice.”

He was too busy with Sienna to notice me.

Orion didn't come home that night.

The next day, the auction preview went live and sent a shockwave through the underworld. Orion stormed back, his face a thundercloud.

Looking at his dark expression, I just smiled, showing no guilt. “They’re out of style. I don’t like them anymore.”

I even walked up to him, took his jacket like I always did, and kissed his cheek. “You’ve been up all night. Want some calming soup? I’ll make it for you.”

My gentle concern seemed to soothe him. His expression softened.

“Leo is coming to Chicago later. He said he has a surprise for you. I’ll take you to see him.”

Leo. My brother. The youngest district attorney in New York history, but ruthless enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Orion.

He pulled a pink diamond necklace from his pocket, moved my hair aside, and fastened it around my neck.

“You’re a De Luca princess. If your brother sees you without any decent jewelry, he’ll think I’m mistreating you.”

But all I could think about was the diamond from last night. I had to laugh at myself.

Wasn’t he mistreating me?

Twenty minutes later, we were at one of Orion’s restaurants.

Leo was already in a private room. When he saw me, a flicker of worry crossed his face.

“Eva, you look thin. Mom and Dad have been worried. We supported you coming to Chicago, but isn’t it time you came home and settled down? They’ve already picked out some marriage candidates…”

At the word “marriage,” Orion, who had been lazily smoking a cigar, suddenly stiffened and stubbed it out.

He swirled his wine. Under the table, his foot found my calf, tracing lazy circles. A clear, possessive claim.

But his words were casual. He feigned curiosity. “Eva, I’ve taken care of you for five years, and I still don’t know what kind of man you like. Tell me.”

I’d always been the good, obedient girl.

It was only after being reborn that I dared to defy my family, follow Orion, and have a secret five-year affair with him.

Before, a question like this in front of my brother would have made me blush and stammer.

But this time, I subtly knocked his foot away under the table and answered calmly, “I like a gentleman. Someone kind, loyal… someone outside of this world of blood and conflict.”

In other words, the exact opposite of Orion.

“You two chat. I’m going to the restroom.”

The smile vanished from Orion’s face. His eyes went dark.

I caught his expression out of the corner of my eye but didn’t care.

Eight days left. I’d be gone soon enough.

But as I stepped out of the women’s restroom, a hand shot out, grabbed my waist, and dragged me into the empty men’s room next door.

Click. The stall door locked.

A large hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my gasp.

In the cramped, dim space, his sharp gaze burned right through me.

I struggled, frowning.

How could he drag me in here? What if my brother…

Seeing my anger, a dangerous smile played on his lips. He leaned in, his voice a low growl. “Gentle? Loyal?” he growled, his voice a low threat. “Since when do you like weak men?”

Before I could answer, his tall frame pressed against me. He grabbed my chin and crashed his lips onto mine.

I raised my hands to push him away, but then I heard Leo’s voice from outside—

“Orion, do you think my sister is seeing someone? You better keep a close eye on her. And keep your filthy men away from her.”