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.”

Orion’s kiss was rough and punishing. I winced in pain and bit down. Hard.

“Ngh—”

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. I’d split his lip.

He hissed in pain but held me tighter, one hand still covering my mouth while he pressed a finger to his own lips, signaling for silence.

He forced his voice to sound steady as he answered Leo. “Don’t worry. My men wouldn’t dare.”

Leo scoffed. “The De Luca family’s daughter will never marry into the mob. Make sure your men get that through their heads. You watch her, and you watch yourself.”

“Leo, relax,” Orion’s voice was unreadable. “I’ll protect her.”

“Protect her?” Leo laughed coldly. “The best protection is keeping her out of your world.”

The footsteps faded.

Once Leo was gone, Orion finally let me go. He gently wiped the moisture from the corner of my mouth, and the blood from his own.

“You bit me. Feel better now?”

I looked down, didn’t answer, and pushed open the door.

I had just sat down when Orion followed me back to the table.

Leo’s eyes narrowed as he saw Orion’s swollen lip. He glanced at my own slightly reddened mouth, and his expression turned cold and complicated.

“What happened to your mouth?” Leo finally asked, his tone flat but carrying the weight of a prosecutor’s interrogation.

Orion’s eyes flicked to me. He let out a low, suggestive laugh. “Nothing. Just got bit by a little wildcat with claws.”

I stared down at my water glass and said nothing.

Leo didn't seem to notice the undercurrent between us. He just snorted and repeated his warning.

“My sister has helped you for a few years. It’s time for her to go home. Her future husband must have a clean record.”

Orion’s expression flickered for a second, then he put on a careless smile.

“Of course. She’s a princess.”

Leo stood up to leave.

“It’s getting late. I have to get back to New York.” He came to my side and pulled a manila envelope from his suit. “Eva, here are a few good candidates.”

I took the envelope. Inside were several detailed profiles.

The men in the photos were all handsome. A Wall Street investment banker, a surgeon from Harvard Medical School, a young federal judge.

“All elites with clean family backgrounds,” Leo said. “Mom and Dad approve.”

I could feel Orion’s eyes on me, sharp as knives.

“Thanks, brother.” I stood up. In front of both men, I ripped the profiles to shreds, one by one.

The pieces of paper fluttered down like snowflakes.

Then I threw them all in the trash.

“Eva?” Leo stared at me, shocked.

“I don’t want to get married right now,” I said flatly.

Leo frowned but didn’t push.

“Alright. When you’re ready, we’ll talk.” He patted my shoulder, then looked at Orion. “Take care of her.”

After Leo left, it was just me and Orion in the room.

He walked over, the possessiveness in his eyes almost overflowing.

“Why did you rip them up?” he asked softly, but I heard the danger in his voice.

“Because I didn’t want to look at them.”

“Really?” He leaned closer, his warm breath on my ear. “Or is it because you can’t bear to leave me?”

I didn’t answer.

His voice dropped to a low, seductive whisper. “I want to see you in a wedding dress. Just for me.”

“I may not be able to marry you, but I’ll buy you every wedding dress in the world. You can wear them all for me. In private.”

I ignored his husky voice, pushed him away, and walked out.

I knew. In this lifetime, I would never wear a wedding dress for Orion Corvo.

The next day, with seven days left, my doorbell rang. It was Sienna.

She wore a white suit, the shipping route plans in her hand.

“Here to take over,” she said with a brilliant smile. “Orion says this route is mine now.”

I let her in and poured two cups of tea.

“Thank you for all your hard work.” Sienna flipped through the documents. “This route is genius. It bypasses everything.”

“You’re welcome,” I said calmly.

“By the way,” Sienna put down her cup, “I’m having a little party at my estate tonight to celebrate our new partnership. Want to come?”

“No.”

“What a shame.” She feigned disappointment. “But Orion will be there. We’re going to have so much fun.”

Her words were loaded, but I pretended not to understand.

Whatever she meant, it didn't matter. Orion and I were ending.

No matter how much it hurt, no matter how hard it was to let go, I would cut him out of my future, piece by piece.

After she left, I soaked in a hot bath, letting my mind go blank. Slowly, I started to feel clear-headed again.

I was just about to fall asleep when my phone started ringing, again and again.

I had to get out, wrap myself in a robe, and answer. A frantic voice came through the line.

“Miss De Luca, the boss is at the club, he’s had too much to drink. Can you come pick him up?”

Before I could answer, they hung up.

Picking up a drunk Orion had become my job over the past five years.

If they were calling me, it meant he was drinking himself to death.

I threw on some clothes and was at the underground club in twenty minutes.

I reached the heavy oak door. It was cracked open just enough.

A wave of unease washed over me. With a trembling hand, I pushed it open.

The next second, I was struck by lightning.

On the sofa, Sienna was straddling Orion, wearing nothing but his white silk shirt. Only two buttons were fastened.

His hands were clamped on her waist, their bodies tangled together.

I could hear them. Sienna’s breathy moans. Orion’s low groans.