We’d been in love for five years, and I was on the verge of telling Nico Rinaldi everything—that I was the heir to the Griffin family.

But in the private room of a club, I overheard him speaking with his cronies in Sicilian—a language I happen to speak fluently.

"Nico, when are you and Miss Bianca getting engaged?"

Nico Rinaldi’s eyes swam with what I mistook for adoration. He used the pad of his thumb to wipe a smear of red wine from the corner of my mouth, his tone deceptively casual.

"The Capones had a date chosen. It's ten days from now."

They shot me leering glances, their curiosity undisguised.

"So, what happens to Genevieve after the engagement?"

"Just keep her in the manor outside the city. I can't bear for her to be tainted by the filth of the family business."

The group erupted in lewd laughter.

"This Genevieve must be a real siren in the sack to have our Nico so twisted around her little finger."

Nico Rinaldi kissed my forehead but did nothing to stop their crude teasing.

I lowered my gaze, my nails digging deep into my palm.

They didn't know that not only did I understand their entire conversation, but I was also the Principessa who ran the Griffin family's entire European territory.

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1

Nico took me to a private Rinaldi family dinner.

There, I ran into an old-school European mafia Capo I’d done business with in Monaco.

"Miss Griffin, as the Griffin family's 'Black Swan of Europe,' what brings you to a gathering like this?"

In Europe, I was known for my iron fist and enigmatic nature. During our collaboration, this Capo had invited me to his private parties several times, invitations I had consistently declined.

Before I could answer, a group of Nico's new underlings swarmed us, their words dripping with sarcasm.

"Her? Miss Griffin?"

"Some nobody who probably can't tell a vintage Barolo from piss dares to impersonate mafia royalty?"

"Haha, that's rich! If she's a Griffin, then I'm the Don!"

"Everyone knows the Griffin heir has spent years in Europe and never shows up to dinners of this caliber."

The Capo sized me up for a few moments. Hearing the chorus of ridicule, he quickly backpedaled with an apology.

"My apologies, perhaps I was mistaken!"

Their deliberate humiliation stung. I turned on my heel and strode out of the banquet hall.

To my surprise, Nico, who hadn't uttered a word in my defense, followed me out.

"Genevieve, is this too much for you?"

"If you don't like it, I won't bring you here again."

Nico was the Rinaldi family's bastard son, only recently acknowledged when they found themselves desperate for an heir.

"Did I embarrass you?"

Nico forced a smile, ruffling my hair in a condescending show of pity.

"How could you? In my eyes, you're the purest soul I've ever known. No one compares to you."

"I just hate seeing you treated unfairly. When you're unhappy, I blame myself."

I stared at him, the man before me suddenly a complete stranger. It was his sincerity that drew me to him, and I never imagined his acting was so flawless.

"Our statuses are worlds apart. If we're really going to be together, this sort of thing is unavoidable."

"Nico, will you still take me away?"

He looked away, flustered.

"Genevieve, I've just been acknowledged by the family. My hands are tied. We'll have to wait a little longer."

"But I promise you, you're the only one in my heart. That will never change."

We had been in love for five years, our passion never waning. But whenever the topic of leaving came up, he would always find an excuse. At first, he needed to save enough money to leave the organization. Then, after being accepted by the Rinaldi family, he said he needed to establish his footing first.

My heart ached for his struggles, so I had already contacted my father's Consigliere. As long as Nico was willing to leave with me, the Griffin family's businesses in Europe could be my dowry.

I am the sole heir to the Griffin family. The Griffins became the most powerful mafia in North America because I had secured our foothold by establishing new grey-market industries across Europe. I never lacked for power; all I craved was a loyal heart.

Three days ago, I saw a design sketch for an engagement ring in his study, engraved with the Capone family crest. There were also countless discarded drafts on his computer, clearly designed by his own hand.

At the time, I foolishly thought it was a surprise he was preparing for me. I had even instructed my subordinates to ready a private jet to the South of France. I was just waiting for him to propose, and then I would reveal my identity and we would elope.

I never imagined that what awaited me wasn't a proposal, but the news of his engagement to the Capone family's heiress, Bianca Capone.

It turned out he never intended to spend his life with me. He wanted me as his mistress, a secret kept in the shadows. He wanted to have my devotion while seizing the power that came with the Capone name.

Fine. If he preferred the Capone’s table scraps to the empire I was offering, I wouldn't stand in his way.

Suddenly, I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he learned who I really was.

"Alright, just put up with it for my sake."

"After the banquet, I'll take you to see the sunset over the Hudson River, how about that?"

Before he could finish, a woman in a haute couture gown strode over. Before I could see her face clearly, Nico took a step forward, positioning himself between me and the newcomer.

"Nico, your father wants you inside. He says there are important family matters to discuss."

"What is it? I have to leave soon for something else."

The woman didn't press the issue.

"It's about the engagement..."

Nico coughed dryly, cutting her off, then turned to me with a troubled look.

"Genevieve, my Papa probably needs me for some business. Why don't I have the driver take you home first?"

"As soon as I'm done here, I'll come back and take you to see the sunset!"

Without waiting for my reply, he turned and left with the woman. Watching them walk away, side by side, it hit me: the crests pinned to their chests were identical.

Suddenly, the woman glanced back over her shoulder and raised her wine glass to me in a triumphant toast.

Of course. Since Nico had already decided to discard me, why would he risk upsetting his precious Bianca for my sake?

If Nico had only stood firm, insisted it had to be me, I would have revealed my identity and swept every obstacle from his path. But with every action, he pushed me further and further away.

Back at the apartment we shared, Nico's assistant was waiting at the door.

"Mr. Rinaldi personally designed these invitations and needs to see a proof tonight!"

I remembered how he had locked himself in his study these past few days. Every time I asked, he said he was handling family business. The invitations he had so carefully designed were not for me, but for another woman.

And to think I had worried about him, waiting in the living room every evening just to give him a hug when he was tired. I even stayed up all night with him when he worked, just so he wouldn't be alone.

How could a heart change so fast? Two years ago, during a turf war, I’d come down with a nasty case of pneumonia. My fever wouldn't break. Ignoring the doctors, he’d put on a full protective suit and refused to leave the hallway outside my ICU room. The Nico from back then would have risked his life for me. So why could this Nico bear to make me his dirty little secret?

Just as the assistant left, my subordinate called me from Milan on a secure line.

"Miss, Mr. Nico Rinaldi just called headquarters. He specifically wants to purchase the limited-edition vintage Ferrari you had your eye on three years ago."

"He said that no matter the cost, he's determined to have it. He wants to make his new bride the most envied woman in the city."

I'd had that car on reserve for three years. For three years, I had endlessly discussed modification plans with the designer, even incorporating my late mother's design preferences.

My eyes stung, but my voice held steady.

"Since business has come to our door, there's no reason to refuse."

"If he wants it, fine. Sell it to him for double the black market price!"

Using that money to buy out the five years between us wasn't a bad deal.

Less than half an hour later, a text message from the bank arrived on my phone. Ever since I got together with Nico, he always said he wanted to prepare an "escape fund" for us, so we could leave the organization at any time. For this, he opened a bank account in my name and made regular deposits. At first, it was a hundred here and there, then thousands, and later tens of thousands. After he was taken back by the Rinaldi family, he even deposited the entire five million they gave him in one lump sum into that account.

Now, in a single transaction, he had drained the account that had taken five years to build.

"Genevieve, the family business has a bit of a cash flow problem. I'm borrowing this for now, I'll put it back later."

He had taken our money to buy Bianca a sports car.

I gathered all the trinkets and memories he’d given me over the years, ready to purge them in the cold waters of the Hudson.

Nico didn't come back all night. We never saw the promised sunset over the Hudson. The next morning, he rushed back, carrying my favorite Italian breakfast.

"I was tied up with a turf dispute last night, worked late. I was afraid I'd disturb you if I came back, so I just crashed at the office."

"I know I've been neglecting my darling Genevieve, so I got up extra early this morning to buy you your favorite croissants."

His face was a mask of guilt and panic. In the past, hearing him say this would have filled my heart with pain. Now, I didn't even lift my eyelids, continuing to flip through the art catalog in my hands.

When his charm offensive failed, he sidled up to me, trying a different tack.

"Today is the anniversary of the day we met. Why are you still looking at an art catalog?"

"You don't have to work so hard. Even if you quit your job at the gallery, I can support you."

He had suggested I quit my job more than once. Before, I was touched by his concern. Now, I understood his true motive. He wanted to clip my wings, to make me a docile canary in a gilded cage, entirely dependent on him.

"It was my fault for not being with you last night. I've cleared my entire schedule to spend the day with you."

I didn't expose his clumsy lie. I didn't respond, nor did I refuse.

Seeing that I remained silent, he suppressed his impatience.

"Genevieve, what's wrong?"

"Did you hear some rumor that's bothering you?"

I finally reacted.

"What, are you afraid of what I might have heard?"

Nico's flustered gaze darted around, unable to find a place to rest.

"Moving our little nest egg last night was just to deal with a cash flow issue."

"Genevieve, I love you. I've been working hard for our future."

"Alright, last night was my fault. Let me take you to the pier where we first met to clear your head."

After my mother passed away, I was still little and would always cry for my Mamma. My father would take me to the pier, telling me that if I spoke to the sea, my mother could hear me. So over the years, whenever I was in a bad mood, I would go to the pier. Nico knew this habit of mine.

But halfway there, his phone buzzed. After a brief call with a friend, he turned to me.

"Change of plans. There's an underground auction. Let's go see if anything catches your eye. My treat."

As soon as we stepped into the auction house, the air was thick with perfume. Bianca Capone materialized before us. Nico instinctively dropped my hand, shooting his friend a venomous glare. A setup.

Bianca swept forward, staking her claim by looping her arm through Nico's.

"Nico, who is this?"

"Genevieve Griffin."

Then he looked at me, a hint of awkwardness in his expression.

"This is Bianca Capone. Her father is a Capo in the Capone family."

"She grew up in this circle. You can ask her for some advice on the rules of survival in the mafia world."

With that one simple introduction, he made the difference in our importance crystal clear.

Bianca and I sat on either side of Nico. At first, Nico's body was still angled toward me, occasionally pouring me a glass of water and telling me about the auction items. But as Bianca held court, her confidence drawing him in, his attention drifted away from me.

It wasn't until I choked on my water that he snapped back to reality and gently patted my back.

From behind, I heard the malicious whispers of his underlings.

"A commoner has no place here. Look at her, choking on water."

"Probably just a stunt to get his attention. Pathetic."

"Nico is a Rinaldi now. Between Bianca and Genevieve, it's a no-brainer!"

Nico's lips were pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing to stop them. For the rest of the auction, he subtly shifted his chair closer to Bianca's side.

Just then, the auctioneer brought out a painting.

Bianca immediately sat up straight, her excitement palpable.

"I heard this is an original Monet, lost during the war. It's the only one in the world."

"Nico, the heir of the Griffin family is returning soon to formally take over the family business. I heard she loves collecting Impressionist paintings. How about we buy this as a welcome gift for Miss Griffin?"

"That way, she'll be sure to look favorably on my father, and maybe the Rinaldi family can get a piece of the action too."

I glanced at the painting on the stage.

"It's a fake."