After returning to the ward, I could still feel my hand humming from the recoil of the gun. Even after punishing Fabio, his words stayed lodged in my heart like a thorn.

Now, everyone seemed to think that Matteo should marry Isabella.

Back when he was just a local Capo, a deal went south. He was taken hostage and had three of his ribs shattered. I was the one who begged Papa to step in and save his life.

That day, he lay in his hospital bed and gripped my hand tightly. "Bianca, I thought I'd never see you again. Fate was on my side."

He thanked fate, never knowing it was me who had saved his life.

Now that he had made it to the top, the woman on his side was replaced.

I leaned against the window and smoked one cigar after another. That night, Matteo never came to me again.

When he finally called, it wasn't to explain, but to coldly interrogate. "Did you pull a gun on Fabio today?"

"Yes."

There was a pause before his voice turned colder. "Since when did you learn how to handle a gun?

"I just took power, Bianca. Do you have any idea how that one shot could shatter my men's trust in me?"

I exhaled a cloud of smoke and expressionlessly replied, "He insulted me first, so I punished him according to the rules. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Bianca!" he snapped, clearly starting to bubble in rage. "I don't care what the reason was, only the result. There were a dozen better ways to handle it.

"At least if it were Isabella, she'd never have done the same thing."

After he said those words, we both fell silent. Just as he was about to speak again, I hung up.

In that moment, the cigar I held suddenly tasted bitter and pointless. I put it out and went straight to the desk to process my discharge.

Every inch of this city that carried Matteo's scent now made me feel sick.

It was 2:00 am by the time the procedures were complete. I stood on a deserted street and let the biting cold wind whip around me.

Just then, a car pulled up in front of me before the window rolled down to reveal a handsome man.

I instantly recognized him as Enzo Castelli, Don of the Castelli Famiglia.

"Well, if it isn't Matteo's little trophy wife," he drawled. "Why are you standing on the streets looking like a stray puppy?"

I ignored him and, step by step, limped forward. He didn't press and sped off like a gust of wind.

I checked into a hotel and settled for the night. But the next morning, my door was smashed open.

Matteo stood there, his face a contorted mask of fury.

He lividly hurled a stack of photos at my feet. "All I did was give you a piece of my mind, Bianca, and you escaped from the hospital to go behind our backs with our rivals!"

I stood frozen before picking up the photos on the floor. They showed Enzo talking to me with his window wound down.

"No… It's not what it looks like."

"Ms. Valenti," Isabella said. Her expression was dark as she shot me a cold look. "During my recent investigation, I discovered that the Castellis planted a spy in our Famiglia, but I could never identify who it was.

"You're the only person who's ever been seen with him."

"What nonsense!" I shouted. "How could I ever betray the Famiglia?"

"Why not?" Matteo said coldly. "Your jealousy has gone too far, Bianca."

Isabella immediately chimed in, "Ms. Valenti, I know you've recently felt like I've taken Don Rossini's affection away from you.

"I'm sorry if that caused misunderstandings, but the Famiglia is built on everyone's hard work. This shouldn't be how you take revenge."

Her calm, measured tone only seemed to highlight my hysteria.

I looked at Matteo, the man I had loved for so many years, and had no desire to explain anything at all.

I took a slow breath and forced down my emotions. "So, Matteo, are you here to punish me?

"Or are you here to get a divorce and kick me out of the Famiglia?"

"Divorce?" Matteo frowned deeply. "We're talking about you betraying the Famiglia right now. Don't change the subject, and tell me how much you have revealed to the Castellis."

I let out a self-mocking laugh. "I haven't told them a single thing."

He impatiently rubbed the bridge of his nose and said, "My patience has its limits, Bianca."

Isabella soothingly patted his back. "Don Rossini, the Donna probably doesn't know many inside details anyway, so she couldn't have leaked anything important.

"If she refuses to confess, I'll find a way to extract the truth from the Castellis myself. Trust me."

Matteo's expression eased slightly, but the way he looked at me was still cold.

He called Fabio over. "Lock her up. No one lets her out without my permission."

As Fabio strode toward me with a smug look, my first reaction wasn't anger. Instead, it was relief.

This was the final nail in the coffin that killed any lingering feelings I had for Matteo.

"Don't bother. I'll go myself."

Matteo stiffened slightly, but said nothing. He watched in silence as the guards escorted me to the car.

After my phone and earrings were confiscated, he looked over my belongings and asked, "Where's your wedding ring?"

"I left it at the hospital."

With that, I stepped into the cell and shut the iron door myself.

He stared at me for a deep, long beat before turning around and walking away.

…

That night, Isabella came to my cell, looking all proud and unbearably smug.

"Look at you, the once-admired Donna. Now, you're as pathetic as a stray dog.

"I was wondering how to get rid of you for good, but thankfully, the damned Matteo did me the perfect favor."

At the mention of his name, her face twisted. "I covered my tracks so well, yet he still suspected me.

"But it doesn't matter now. You're the scapegoat, so even if I never deliver another piece of intel, Don Rossini will never blame me…"

She laughed wildly until I grabbed her and slammed her to the ground in one swift move.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "How do you know how to fight?"

I gave a cold laugh. "I know a lot more than that."

Then, I slapped her hard across the face.

She howled in pain and shrieked, "Bitch! How dare you lay a hand on me!"

"Damn right I did."

All the anger I had been suppressing finally erupted.

"This slap is for breaking the rules and seducing the Don!

"This slap is for betraying the Famiglia, spreading lies, and creating rumors!"

Holding her down with one hand, I tore the keys from her belt with the other and unlocked the cell door. Then, I took out my phone and called Papa.

"Papa, I'm in the basement of Tenuta Ombra. Bring plenty of men and guns…"

I looked at the guards rushing toward me and let out a cold laugh. "Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to beat them all."

Matteo arrived just in time to hear my last words.

His eyes fell on Isabella's swollen face, and his gaze immediately turned cold. "Bianca, do you realize the consequences of what you've done?"

"Consequences?"

I let out a short laugh. "When my Padre gets here, you'll understand the consequences of locking me up."

At the mention of Papa, Matteo looked at me like he'd just heard the funniest joke of the century. "Your Padre? Are you talking about the dairy merchant?

"Bianca, I think you've lived in luxury for so long that you can't even tell what real power looks like anymore."

I looked at their arrogant expressions and quietly announced, "My Padre is Vincenzo Valenti, Don of the Valenti Mafia Famiglia."

The moment the words left my mouth, laughter broke out around me.

Fabio couldn't help but chime in, "Vincenzo Valenti? Just because you share the last name doesn't mean you can claim him as your Padre!

"Do you even know how he is? He's a man even Don Rossini has a hard time meeting."

When he noticed Matteo's stiff expression, he quickly added, "But once Don Rossini swallows up the Castellis, even Don Valenti would have to show him some respect."

Only then did Matteo's expression ease slightly.

Isabella turned to Fabio and snapped, "Don't get off track. If Don Valenti heard that, how would Don Rossini ever get to work with him again?"

I laughed. "Don't worry. As long as I'm around, he'll never work with Matteo."

That only sent the crowd into louder laughter.

Matteo's frown deepened. The way he looked at me was the same way one would look at a madwoman.

That was when he lost all interest in the conversation and simply said in a cold voice, "I don't have time for your nonsense, Bianca. Apologize to Isabella right now, and maybe I'll spare you out for our old times' sake."

When I didn't respond, Isabella pouted and wrapped her arms around Matteo's.

"Don't push her, Don Rossini. Given her noble status, she can slap me or even take my life if she wants…"

"She wouldn't dare! I gave her her so-called noble status! With a single word from me, she'd be lower than a stray on the streets," Matteo snapped. His expression was dark and thunderous.

Though I'd expected it, his words still hit me like a blow. That was the harshest thing he'd ever said to me in three years.

"And besides, her betrayal of the Famiglia is enough reason for me to kill her a thousand times over."

He waved and summoned a few guards over. "Pin her down."

I immediately straightened up and warned, "Matteo, if you dare lay a finger on me today, my Padre will wipe out your entire Famiglia."

"Sure, I'll wait," he said, word by word as if to challenge me. "I'm quite curious to see how your dairy merchant father manages to topple a Mafia Famiglia.

"Since you refuse to apologize, I'll deal with this my way."

He glanced behind him before several guards lunged forward and slammed me down onto my knees.

With a thud, my injured knees hit the hard concrete. For a second, I could feel my bone splinter all over again.

"Matteo Rossini!" I choked.

Lifting my head, I bore into his gaze with bloodshot eyes. "You… will… regret… this…"

Matteo froze. For a fleeting second, a flicker of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

That was when Fabio came stumbling into the cellar. "Don Rossini! Something's gone wrong!

"A fleet of strangers just stormed Tenuta Ombra and took down the guards at the gates. Right now, they're heading straight for you!"