Everyone in New York knew that Don Lorenzo Capone loved his wife dearly.

At the height of our love, he shielded me from a bullet that went straight through his chest.

The hospital issued eleven critical condition notices.

I cried myself hoarse at the door of the emergency room.

"Lorenzo, don't you dare die on me, or I'll instantly find a pretty boy to marry and have children with!"

He survived the ordeal, and the first thing he did when he opened his eyes was to marry me.

After the marriage, he ruled over New York's largest underground empire with an iron fist, but never allowed any woman to get close to him.

On our third wedding anniversary, I went to his private dock to give him a surprise.

There, I saw him holding a pair of twins, teaching them how to shoot. The man who could kill without batting an eye was looking at the children with eyes full of affection.

The children's mother was Elena Tribbiani, the daughter of an arms dealer who was his equal.

"Lorenzo, what if Vivian finds out?"

Lorenzo dismissed it casually. "A fragile porcelain doll like her is only fit to be displayed in a glass case. Only a she-wolf like you is worthy of bearing my family's cubs."

It turned out, what I thought was true love was merely a carefully-woven lie.

I did not confront him. Instead, I sent a text message to an FBI special agent.

"Agent Smith, I have a list of the arms deal you’re investigating."

I put away my phone, and that painful scene came right back into my view.

Lorenzo, who had sworn to stay half a meter away from other women at all times to give me a sense of security, now had his arm wrapped around Elena's waist.

His fingers tightened, creating a flush of desire on his nails.

I shook like a leaf, trying to keep it together as I asked, "Lorenzo, what are you doing?"

Hearing my voice, Lorenzo's body stiffened, but he didn't panic like I expected.

Instead, he subconsciously took a step to his right, shielding Elena and the two kids behind him.

I squeezed the cake box in my hand so hard it crumpled.

Cream overflowed, getting all over my freshly done nails, sticky and gross.

Lorenzo approached with a frown, his tone laced with impatience.

"Vivian, what are you doing here?"

In his eyes, I was merely some delicate ornament that needed to be kept safe and sound, away from all the dirt.

Even when he was caught red-handed, he still acted like he did nothing wrong.

I looked at the woman behind him.

Elena, decked out in camo gear, looked at me defiantly while toying with a Browning gun.

The little girl in her arm bore an uncanny resemblance to Lorenzo.

"So this is why you insist on not having kids? You told me it's because you don't want to see me in pain!" I pointed at the two children, my voice sharp to the point of sounding unfamiliar.

Lorenzo's expression darkened; he did not like it when I disobeyed him.

"Vivian, you’re too delicate. If you get pregnant, the pain might kill you. Elena is different. She’s trained, so she can handle it."

What a load of self-serving crap.

Elena sauntered over. Her finger that had just pulled the trigger contemptuously brushed against my cheek, her nails scraping painfully.

"Lorenzo's right, Vivian. You can’t even handle the recoil of a gun, how can you give birth to the Don’s heir? Go home and tend to your flowers. This is a man’s battlefield; it's no place for you."

She grinned like a Cheshire cat, not even trying to hide the scorn in her eyes.

I looked at Lorenzo, hoping he would say something, anything.

Hoping he would stick up for me.

But all he did was wave over the bodyguard and instruct him coldly, "Take the missus home and keep an eye on her. Don’t let her run off and act crazy again. She's scaring Leo and Mia."

My heart sank.

It turned out that between me and those illegitimate kids, I was the one who needed to be kept away, like I'm some outsider.

The bodyguard shoved me into a car.

Through the window, I saw Lorenzo leaning down to kiss Elena on the forehead, his expression all tender and sweet. I used to think that expression was exclusively mine.

Back in the fancy mansion, I looked around at all the Hermès bags and jewelry.

I used to think this was love, but now it just seemed like a luxurious birdcage, designed specifically to confine me, a pretty little canary who was good for nothing but looking nice.

Lorenzo came home late that night, his clothes heavy with the scent of gunpowder mixed with Elena's favorite strong perfume.

Before, I would have run him a bath and asked if he was tired, but today, I sat in the dark living room. In front of me were the divorce papers I drafted.

The lights came on. When Lorenzo saw me, he frowned again.

"Why aren’t you asleep? What are you doing here, sitting in the dark?"

He casually tossed his coat on the couch and tugged at his tie, looking exhausted.

I did not answer him. Instead, I slid the divorce papers over to him and said, "Lorenzo, let’s get a divorce."

The air went still.

Lorenzo stopped unbuttoning his shirt.

He picked up the papers, glanced at the title, and laughed like it was a joke.

"Divorce? Vivian, did you get sick from the cold wind down at the docks today? Where will you go if you leave me? Back to your broke family? Or begging on the streets?"

He stomped over, grabbed my chin, and made me look at him.

In those deep-set eyes, there was not an ounce of love, only anger at being challenged.

"Have you paid the prison for your dad's dialysis bill this month? If not for the strings I pulled, he might not even make it through tomorrow."

My pupils constricted.

My dad was the last family I had.

Two years into our marriage, my family went bust, and my dad went to jail for financial crimes. His health had been going downhill fast.

Lorenzo saved his life by getting him special treatment in prison.

I always thought Lorenzo did it because he loved me.

But now I realized it was a collar that he slipped around my neck.

Whenever I misbehaved, he could tighten it to choke me.

"You're a scumbag, Lorenzo!"

I shook all over, tears welling up in my eyes.

Seeing me scared, Lorenzo let go, content.

He was back in control.

He completely changed his attitude. He gently stroked the red mark on my chin, and when he spoke, his tone was indulging in a way that sent chills down my spine.

"Be a good girl, Vivian. As long as you behave, you'll always be the Don's one and only wife. Elena's just a business partner. She can open up the South American routes for me. Can you do that? No. You two have different roles. She is to be used, and you are to be spoiled."

What a sickening excuse.

He made cheating and having illegitimate children sound so rational.

He pulled out a velvet box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a sparkling ruby necklace.

"There's a family dinner tomorrow evening. Dress nicely. I will announce to everyone that Elena is officially joining the family’s inner circle. As the hostess, you must show your generosity."

He fastened the necklace around my neck. The necklace felt cold against my skin, like a snake.

"Don't disappoint me, Vivian."

He kissed my forehead and went into the bathroom.

I could hear the water running.

I clutched the necklace so tight my knuckles were white.

For my dad's sake, I had to endure it.

But I would not endure it forever.

Late that night, Lorenzo mumbled "Elena" in his sleep.

It made my stomach churn. Fighting the urge to throw up, I quietly got out of bed.

I went into the study and rummaged through an inconspicuous corner until I found a dusty notebook.

Lorenzo thought I was just bringing him tea and coffee in the study for the past three years.

Little did he know, I had an extraordinary memory.

I remembered every account he reviewed, every under-the-table deal he discussed.

I remembered it all and wrote it down in this book.

This would be my gift to the FBI!

The dinner was held in the family’s most luxurious mansion, attended by gang leaders from all over New York.

I wore the fishtail gown Lorenzo picked out. The gown was heavy and cumbersome, making it hard to even walk.

He did it on purpose.

Wearing a gown like that meant I had no choice but to be a showpiece that could not even move around freely.

Elena, on the other hand, was dressed in a sleek dark red leather outfit, looking like a burning flame.

Holding a wine glass, she weaved through the big shots, engaging in laughter and conversation.

Everyone respected her, praising her as Lorenzo’s right-hand woman.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

Lorenzo stood on the steps, full of vigor.

"Today, besides celebrating Elena joining the family, I also want to introduce you to two children."

The room fell silent.

Lorenzo picked up the little boy, pride written all over his face.

"This is my firstborn, Leo."

Boom!

Something erupted in my head.

Leo.

That was my twin brother's name.

When my family went bankrupt, my brother died in a car accident on the way home.

Lorenzo had sworn at my brother's grave.

He said that our first child would be named Leo, in memory of my brother.

But now, he had given that name to his illegitimate son with that woman.

I could not breathe. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a fist.

The boy named Leo was an unruly child.

He dashed through the banquet hall with a toy gun, screaming and shooting at the guests' legs.

No one dared to tell him off. They could only smile.

Suddenly, he rushed in front of me.

Bang!

The little boy swung the toy gun and smashed it into an old wooden music box.

The music box was the only thing my late mother left me.

It shattered instantly, bits and pieces flying everywhere.

"So noisy!"

He made a face and raised his foot as if to stomp on the pieces.

"Enough!"

I could not hold back anymore and yelled at him. Then, I crouched down to pick up my mother’s keepsake.

"Waah—"

The little boy fell dramatically on the thick carpet and started bawling his eyes out.

He held his forehead like he was seriously hurt.

"What are you doing!"

Elena screamed and charged over like a madwoman, shoving me out of the way.

As I was wearing heels, I lost my balance and tumbled heavily to the floor.

My palm landed on the sharp gears of the music box, and blood flowed.

But no one cared that I was bleeding.

Lorenzo rushed over and picked up the boy who was still pretending to cry, his expression darkening horrifically.

"Vivian, have you lost your mind? He’s just a child! Do you have to do this to him?"

I held up my bleeding hand, tears streaming down my face.

"He broke my music box... it was my mother's..."

"Who cares about an old music box? It's worthless."

Lorenzo cut me off, his gaze icy and cutting.

"You'd knock over the family's heir for some dead woman's junk? Vivian, it seems I’ve spoiled you rotten. You've forgotten your place."

The guests started whispering and pointing.

They were all watching the jealous Don's wife make a fool of herself.

Elena cradled her child with slightly teary eyes, playing the victim.

"Vivian, I know you don’t like me, but my child is innocent. If you're mad, take it out on me. Don’t hit Leo."

Her words got Lorenzo even more riled up.

To establish Elena's authority in front of everyone and to solidify that illegitimate boy's position, Lorenzo did something that I would never forget for the rest of my life.

He pulled out the gold-plated Desert Eagle from his waist and slammed it on the table with a loud bang.

The place went silent.

He pointed at me, his voice devoid of any warmth.

"Get on your knees and apologize to Elena and Leo."