My hand gripped the doorknob, my knuckles white.

My heart felt like it had been crushed in a fist. The pain was so sharp I couldn't breathe.

I stumbled back, almost hitting the wall.

Run.

That was my only thought.

I burst out of the club, got in my car, and floored it.

Chicago’s skyline blurred past, but I saw nothing. The only thing in my mind was that scene.

Back at the penthouse, I collapsed onto the carpet.

Every memory in this golden cage was now a weapon.

That Italian leather sofa where we watched countless movies.

That Steinway piano he played Chopin’s Nocturnes on for me.

That floor-length mirror where he held me and told me I was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Now, those memories were like shards of glass, cutting me to pieces.

I curled into a ball, hugging my knees.

The clock struck midnight. I took a few deep breaths, fighting back the stabbing pain in my chest, and shakily got to my feet.

“It’s a new day, Evangeline. Six days left. Then you can leave.”

Then the pain would stop.

I kept repeating the number, using it as an anchor to keep from drowning.

At 4 a.m., the sound of the lock turning startled me awake.

Orion was back.

He reeked of stale liquor and another woman’s perfume. He stumbled through the darkness toward the bedroom.

The moment his body came near me, I instinctively clutched the covers and scrambled away.

He wasn’t angry. He just opened his hazy gray eyes, smiled, and ruffled my hair. He was barely conscious. “Just wanted to kiss you, but I woke you up.”

He climbed into bed, rolled over, and pulled me—and the entire duvet—into his arms.

“Evangeline, I love you, I love you so much…”

“We have to be… together… forever and ever…”

He mumbled into my ear, his words thick with a drunken tenderness I no longer wanted.

My body went rigid.

He was whispering words of love, but every single one felt so filthy it made me want to throw up.

He still smelled of Sienna, and now he was telling me he loved me?

What did he take me for?

Why did he think I would stay by his side after he married her?

I waited until he was fast asleep, then I slipped out of his arms. I tried to sleep on the sofa but couldn't. Instead, I started reading through art files for Switzerland, anything to distract myself.

The next morning, Orion was up early.

He changed into a dark blue, custom-made suit, his hair perfectly styled.

“Evangeline, I know I upset you the last couple of days. There’s a party tonight.” He walked over to me. “Come with me? Let me make it up to you.”

Without waiting for an answer, he pulled me out the door.

The banquet hall was filled with the core members of his family, all powerful figures in the mafia world.

Sienna was there, of course, in a stunning blood-red evening gown.

“Well, well, Don. We’ve all heard how you spoil your little De Luca girl. She’s even prettier in person.”

Hearing this, Orion put an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer. “Damn right,” Orion said, pulling me closer. “She’s mine. So keep your fucking mouths shut.”

The room erupted in laughter. Dozens of teasing glances were thrown my way.

Someone handed us two glasses of wine, goading us to drink together.

But their eyes kept darting to Sienna.

I may have been a good girl, but I grew up in New York’s world of power. I knew exactly what was happening. They were watching a show.

Sienna just smiled, resting her chin on her hand. She met my gaze without flinching, her eyes full of provocation.

“Alright,” Orion said, his voice light as he raised his glass. “Evangeline is the De Luca family’s princess. She’ll always be my… little sister.”

A jolt went through me. Sienna looked up, her smile widening. “Since she’s your sister, you’ll have to give her a big wedding gift. When are you planning on getting married, Evangeline?”

I looked up at Orion, my smile a blade. “Maybe that depends on if the man I’m waiting for ever asks.”

The smile on Orion’s face faltered. He tried to laugh it off. “Okay, okay. Anyway, I don’t believe in marriage. I only love one person, for life. And the person I love must always be by my side.”

He was staring straight at me when he said it, like he was making a sacred promise.

As the teasing died down, I saw Sienna lean closer to Orion out of the corner of my eye. Her fingers slipped inside the open collar of his shirt.

I saw her fingertips trace paths across his chest, right over the spot where the initial of my name, “E,” was tattooed. Leaving faint, suggestive scratches.

He got that tattoo for me on my 20th birthday.

He said he wanted to carve me onto his heart, so he would never forget.

Orion, is this what you meant by loving only one?

My champagne flute shattered on the floor. I didn’t even feel it slip.

Everyone stared at me.

“It’s nothing. I’m just going to get some air.”

I forced a smile and left the room.

I could hear the whispers behind me.

“Looks like Miss De Luca isn’t in a good mood.”

“Well, the Don is getting married. Of course his ‘little sister’ is upset.”

“Haha, women. They know their place, but they still get jealous.”

Sienna’s laughter was the loudest. “It’s fine. Girls get emotional.”

I leaned against a cold wall in the hallway outside, taking deep breaths.

Just then, I heard hushed voices from inside the room.

“Marco, you think the boss is really getting married?”

“Of course, he is.” That was Marco’s voice. “Why do you think he kept that De Luca girl around?”

My heart stopped.

“Isn’t it because he loves her?”

“Love?” Marco scoffed. “The Don was just playing with her. He kept her around for five years to show Miss Rossi how ‘loyal’ he could be.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it. A man who stays faithful to one woman for five years? That’s some deep shit. That’s what Miss Sienna was looking for.”

My legs started to feel weak.

“So… the boss planned to marry Sienna all along?”

“Naturally. The alliance between our families was his plan from the start. The De Luca girl? She was just the bait.”

I bit my lip so hard I could taste blood. My nails dug into my palms.

Five years.

For five years, I was just a pawn in his game.

I trembled as I turned to leave, but I accidentally bumped into a glass door.

In the reflection, I saw what was happening inside the banquet hall.

Sienna was sitting on Orion’s lap, her slender fingers tracing his jawline. “You’re terrible,” she purred, tracing his jaw. “And you know I’m generous enough not to mind your little collection of women.”

“Orion,” she tugged on his tie, forcing him to look up, her voice a hot, challenging whisper. “Be honest. Me or her? Who makes you crazier in bed?”

I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

He let out a hoarse laugh, his hand sliding down to her thigh. “You, of course, my little wildcat.”

“She’s too good. No challenge at all.”

“But you…” His hand moved higher up her leg. “You always leave me wanting more.”

I couldn’t listen anymore. Just as they were about to kiss, I slammed the door open.

I marched over to him, my eyes burning, and slapped him across the face. “Orion Corvo,” I spat out each word. “You are a bastard.”

Dead silence.

Orion’s head was turned to the side, frozen.

I didn’t spare him another glance. I just ran.

The cold wind cut into me like a knife, but I felt no pain. A sob was caught in my throat, choking me.

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

I thought those nights of tangled sheets and whispered secrets meant something to him, too.

But I was just a boring toy.

Back at the penthouse, a silent emptiness greeted me.

Looking around this golden cage we had shared for five years, I couldn't hold back the rage and despair anymore.

The liquor cabinet where we’d shared a glass of whiskey. The shelves holding the rare art he’d bought for me. The record player with my favorite Moonlight Sonata, the song we’d danced to on countless nights.

I smashed it all.

Sitting in the wreckage, I fell apart.

Orion’s voice echoed in my head, a cruel mantra.

“Evangeline, I’ll always love you.”

“Evangeline, we’ll be together forever.”

“Evangeline, you have to stay by my side forever…”

“Evangeline…”

“Evangeline…”

The promises were all a lie. Every beautiful memory turned into a blade, slicing away the last bit of love I had for him.

The broken glass cut my skin. I didn't feel a thing.

A bitter hatred bloomed in my heart.

I was going to make a bet.

I was going to bet that when I left, Orion would hurt just as much as I did.

Just then, a tired, hoarse voice came from behind me. “You’ve hit me, you’ve smashed everything. Feel better now? Evangeline, let’s talk.”

I turned. Orion was leaning against the doorframe, pinching the bridge of his nose in exhaustion.

He walked toward me, stepping over the debris.

In his eyes, I saw my reflection—a mess. Red-eyed, hair a disaster. I was no longer the princess of the De Luca family. No longer the elegant Miss Evangeline of the art world.

I shoved away his hand as he tried to embrace me. For the first time, I was cold and distant. “Orion Corvo, we’re over.”

His face changed.

He didn’t answer right away, just stared at me, his eyes dark and terrifying.

After a long moment, he let out a low, humorless laugh. “Don’t be so dramatic. There’s no ‘over’ for us.”

“You knew who I was when you got into my bed,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “What’s changed?”

Tears streamed down my face. My heart was being ripped in two.

“Yes, you’ve always been this person. It was my mistake. I was a fool to think you were different…”

The memory of my last life, of him dying for me, was too strong.

It made me forget that after being reborn, I had changed.

And so had Orion.

Maybe I was wrong from the start, from the moment I decided to follow him at eighteen.

My broken sobs must have gotten to him. He sighed and tried to soften his tone. “Sienna and I are just a business arrangement.”

“No one can ever take your place in my heart. We can go back to how things were, can’t we?”

“Get out.”

My voice was quiet, my expression numb, but it was enough to finally anger him.

He scowled, gave me one last look, and left without turning back.

The door slammed shut. I collapsed onto the sofa.

I forced myself not to think about the five wasted years.

I pulled myself together, cleaned up, and went to bed.

He’s not the man who took a bullet for you, I told myself. He’s not the man who died for you.

I repeated it until my eyes were dry and I couldn’t cry anymore.

I finally fell into a heavy sleep.

But even in my dreams, I couldn’t escape the ghost of Orion, his love and his cruelty tangled together.

The next morning, I woke up with swollen eyes but managed to make myself look presentable.

I needed to go to the bank to get my passport and emergency funds.

But when the bank manager opened my safety deposit box, I froze.

It was empty.

“How is this possible?” I whispered, my voice shaking.

“I’m sorry, Miss De Luca.” The manager checked his records. “Someone withdrew everything last night with a letter of authorization.”

“Authorization?”

“Yes. Mr. Corvo said it was on your instruction.”

My blood ran cold.

I stormed out of the bank and went straight to Orion’s office.

I threw the door open. “Where are my things?”

Inside, Sienna was sitting on Orion’s lap, her face flushed as if she’d just been kissed.

My breath caught in my throat. “What is she doing here?”

“She’s going to be my wife,” Orion said, his voice flat. “That means she can go wherever she pleases.”

“And,” Orion picked up a set of blueprints from his desk, “I’m having your old study redecorated.”

My heart hammered against my ribs.

That study was my life’s work for the past five years. It held all my intelligence files, every smuggling route I designed.

And that antique Italian desk—it was the first gift Orion ever gave me.

“To Sienna’s taste,” he added, his voice casual. “She likes pink and white. Says it’s more feminine.”

Sienna slid off his lap, smoothing her skirt. “Thank you, darling. I never liked that dreary, dark decor anyway.”

She looked at me, her eyes glinting with triumph. “I hope you don’t mind. After all, it’s going to be my studio now.”

My nails dug into my palms, nearly breaking the skin.

I knew I would be replaced. I just didn’t think it would be this fast.

I stood there, frozen, my hands clenched into fists, a bitter smile on my lips.

It didn’t matter.

None of it mattered anymore.

I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

A passport can be replaced. A love that’s been tainted… can be thrown away.

“Do whatever you want.”

I turned and walked out.

Before heading back to the penthouse, I used my family’s channels to get an expedited replacement for my passport.

For the next few days, Orion didn't come back.

It was our first cold war.

The next time I saw him was at a massive charity gala.

Tomorrow was the day I would leave.

The gala was packed with the elite of Chicago and beyond.

I wore a simple, elegant black Valentino gown.

The moment I walked in, I saw Orion and Sienna.

She was in a fire-engine red, backless dress, clinging to his arm, her smile radiant.

It was the first time we’d seen each other since our fight. I said nothing. I wanted no more drama.

After the dinner, the ball began. Sienna immediately stood and offered her hand to Orion. “Orion, may I have the honor of the first dance?”

I saw Orion look at me. I knew why. On important occasions like this, we had always danced together.

But I was leaving tomorrow. I wasn’t going to get involved in whatever he had with Sienna.

I just sat there quietly, saying nothing.

Orion’s face darkened. He looked angry. He put his arm around Sienna and led her to the dance floor. “Of course. I’ll dance with you for as long as you want.”

As I forced myself not to watch them, a smooth voice spoke from behind me.

I turned to see a handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes.

“Miss Evangeline, I’m William Harrison, a reporter for the New York Times.” He offered his hand. “It’s an honor.”

“Hello.” I shook his hand politely.

“May I have this dance?”

I hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Of course.”

This time, I didn’t refuse another man’s invitation.

William was a wonderful dancer. As we moved across the floor, his witty conversation made me forget my troubles for a moment.

“You have a beautiful smile,” he whispered in my ear.

Just then, a powerful hand clamped down on my wrist.

“Excuse me.”

Orion stood before us, his face a dark storm cloud.

“Mr. Corvo—” William started to say, but Orion’s glare silenced him.

“We need to talk.”

He dragged me off the dance floor without another word, pulling me through the crowd to a deserted balcony.

The moonlight washed over us as he slammed me into his arms.

He gritted his teeth, his voice a vicious whisper in my ear. “Dancing with another man right in front of me? You’ve gotten bold.”

His grip on my waist was crushing, as if he wanted to merge my body with his.

“So what?” I broke free from his hold. “My private life is none of your business.”

“None of my business?” He sneered. “Evangeline, you are my—”

“I’m not!” I cut him off. “You’re getting married! I’m not anything of yours!”

He froze, then stalked toward me.

“Is that so? Let’s put that to the test.”

The next second, he pinned me against the balcony railing and kissed me, his mouth savage and demanding.

His kiss was full of possession and rage, as if he wanted to devour me whole.

All my recent pain and heartbreak boiled over. I shoved him away, my voice cold. “I told you, there’s nothing between us anymore.”

I turned and walked back to my dance partner, ignoring the burning gaze on my back.

The first dance ended.

A spotlight hit the stage, and Orion walked up with Sienna.

He stood in the center of the dance floor, his eyes locked on me.

“Tonight, I have some good news to share.”

“Next week, I will be marrying Miss Sienna Rossi. This is not just the union of two people, but an alliance between two great families.”

Sienna beamed, the massive pink diamond on her finger flashing under the lights.

The hall erupted in cheers and applause.

I watched calmly, even clapping along.

But my heart ached with a pain so sharp I could barely breathe.

No. He’s getting married next week, and I’m leaving tomorrow. This is a good thing.

I downed a glass of champagne and turned to leave.

As I passed the hotel garden’s fountain, Sienna blocked my path. “Miss De Luca. You’ve been with Orion for five years. It must hurt to see him marry me.”

I laughed, a cold, sharp sound. “You two deserve each other. One a gold-digger, the other a liar. A perfect match.”

“You can talk all you want. You’re just jealous Orion is marrying me,” she said with a raised eyebrow.

As she spoke, she took a few steps back, closer to the fountain’s edge. The moonlight reflecting on the water was eerie.

“I’ve always been curious,” Sienna said suddenly. “What are you and Orion like in bed?”

My face flushed.

“Did he ever tell you how boring you are?”

“You—”

“Because that’s what he told me.” Her smile turned wild. “He said you’re like a wooden doll. No challenge at all.”

My breathing grew ragged.

“And me? He can’t get enough of me.” She licked her lips. “Let’s see if you’re really as unfazed as you claim.”

Before I could react, Sienna screamed, stumbling backward. She grabbed my hand, pulling me with her. As she hit the water, her hand flew to her stomach. “The baby! Orion, save our baby!”

The next thing I knew, I was being dragged into the freezing water.

Water flooded my nose and mouth. I struggled, finally breaking the surface.

I saw Orion dive in. I instinctively reached for him, screaming for help. “Orion! I can’t swim! Help me…”

But I watched, horrified, as he swam right past me and pulled Sienna out of the water.

I started to sink again. Orion was already on the edge, holding Sienna.

For a split second, our eyes met across the water. His were cold. Empty. Like he was looking at a stranger already dead.

Then he turned his back on me and strode away.