In just seven years, the Bellini family had replaced the Rossis as the most powerful family of all.

Another annual gathering of the mafia families came around. I had no intention of returning to Northern Italy, but Rafael arrived early with our son, Antonio, and insisted I come.

"Watching our rivals squirm will cheer you up, my love," he said with a light smile during our video call. Then his voice softened. "Fine. The real reason is that I miss you. I haven't held you in two days, and I can't focus on anything."

"And don't worry," he said calmly. "I've arranged for the most reliable family to pick you up."

Alright then.

In the arrivals hall, I spotted them immediately: a line of bodyguards in tailored suits standing at attention. The display was excessive.

Rafael always loved theatrics.

However, when the man at the front removed his sunglasses, everyone froze.

Giovanni?

He looked me up and down with open contempt. His first words made me laugh in spite of myself.

"How do you even have the nerve to come back?"

Lina and the family's consigliere burst into laughter when they saw me.

"Don, isn't this the woman who spent seven years groveling at your feet?"

"Look at what she's wearing: cheap and outdated. Even my grandmother wouldn't touch that."

"Seems like life hasn't been kind to you. What? Did you sell blood to afford that outfit? Hahaha!"

I almost argued, but thought better of it.

Apparently, the Rossi family really had fallen that far. Even brands that once catered exclusively to mafia families no longer did business with them.

The clothes I was wearing happened to be this season's newest line: subtle, understated, and exceptionally comfortable.

Lina let out a haughty snort.

"Get lost, traitor. Don't block the way. We're here to receive a distinguished guest."

Traitor?

I turned to Giovanni.

His underboss immediately jumped in.

"You disappeared without explanation on your wedding day. Not only did the Don not blame you, but he also mobilized every resource he had to search for you, afraid that something had happened!

"And where did your trail end? In the Bellinis' territory!

"You betrayed the family!

"The Don has already erased your name. Why are you back?"

"Enough," Giovanni snapped, silencing his men, though his gaze remained fixed on me. He spoke as if he were being kind.

"Traitors don't get to come home. But looking at how far you've fallen… The associates are short on people to move bodies. You can start there.

"What's with that look? You came back because you were driven out of the north, didn't you? I'm offering you a chance to atone. Don't be ungrateful."

It looked like he was still the same.

He truly believed that because I had loved him for seven years, I would forever come crawling back with my tail wagging.

What he did not know was that his family's downfall had begun with me.

I had more to say, but Rafael and our son were already waiting, and I wanted nothing more than to leave these parasites behind.

I was also eager to tell him that, just before this trip, I had found out I was pregnant with our second child.

"Aren't you here to pick someone up?" I said calmly, gesturing at the bodyguards. "We can leave now."

They froze, then burst into even louder laughter.

Lina raised her designer handbag and nearly jabbed it into my face.

"Elena, did something break in your head while you were in the north? You think all this is for you?"

"Open your eyes! It's for Victoria Bellini!" she declared loudly. "Only the Bellini family's Donna is worthy of being personally received!"

Victoria.

That was the name I had given myself after leaving Giovanni.

They began whispering among themselves, reverence masking bitterness.

"Don Bellini is ruthless. When he cleans house, there's no mercy, but he's gentle with his wife."

"We sent a principessa to make peace. He said his wife would get jealous and cut three of our smuggling routes instead."

"This alliance dinner is our last chance to save the family."

"Everyone knows that if you want to please Don Bellini, you must first please his wife. Too bad he guards her so tightly. No one's ever seen her face…"

I could not help laughing softly.

That clingy man at home had this kind of reputation.

Seeing the smile on my face, Giovanni's expression darkened.

"What are you laughing at? Envious of the Bellinis' Donna?"

Lina sneered immediately.

"Of course she is. After defecting to the north, she must know better than anyone how obsessed Don Bellini is with his wife. Must hurt, right?"

Then, she said mockingly, "Hey, Elena, you've been in Northern Italy for so long. Have you ever seen the legendary ring?"

"What ring?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"You don't even know that? How did you survive up there?"

Lina never missed a chance to flaunt herself. She lifted her chin smugly.

"Listen carefully. To win his Donna's favor, Don Bellini personally forged her a ring. He even carved the family crest himself.

"They say that ring represents him giving half his power to his wife."

"Oh?" I smiled faintly and took a velvet box from my bag.

"You mean this one?"

I opened it.

Inside lay a heavy gold ring, engraved with the Bellini family's lion crest.

"It's too heavy," I said casually. "I don't like wearing it every day."

The air went dead silent.

Every pair of eyes locked onto the ring, disbelief rippling through the crowd.

To them, it was impossible.

The Bellini family's Donna was rumored to be a reclusive noblewoman from an ancient mafia lineage: mysterious and untouchable.

How could she be me? The woman they remembered as Giovanni's timid, desperate shadow?

"If there's no problem, let's go," I said, closing the box.

"Fake! It has to be fake!"

Lina shrieked and lunged forward, snatching the box from my hands. She inspected it for two seconds and then burst into laughter.

"See? The Bellini crest is a lion! Why does yours have a laurel wreath on its head?"

"You dare forge a Bellini family token?!"

"Throw it away!" Giovanni barked instinctively.

"Give it back!"

I shoved him aside and reached for it.

That ring symbolized the Bellini family's honor. No one had the right to defile it.

In the chaos, someone tripped me. Lina seized the moment and slapped me hard across the face.

My cheek swelled instantly. I staggered before barely regaining my footing.

The taste of blood rose in my throat. I raised my hand to strike back…

"Don't you dare!" Giovanni roared.

He twisted my wrist violently, wrenching my arm behind my back.

"Argh!" I cried out in pain. "Are you insane? Let go of me!"

"You're the one who's insane!" he snarled, pinning me down, his voice grinding through clenched teeth. "Lina is a top-tier jewelry appraiser. She wouldn't make a mistake! Do you want to get us all killed? I'm saving your life!"

"You're saving me?"

I actually laughed, my voice trembling from the pain.

"You're about to twist my hand off!"

Instead of letting go, he pressed harder, snarling in fury.

"What? Should I let you walk out wearing that fake ring and get beaten to death in the street by the Bellinis?

"You did this on purpose, didn't you?

"Deliberately wearing a counterfeit and running into us…just to make people misunderstand, to sabotage our cooperation with the Bellini family!"

Behind him, the consigliere and underboss suddenly looked enlightened and furious.

"Shit! This traitor is a mole sent from Northern Italy!"

"We gave up three entire weapons depots just to make the family originally assigned to receive the Donna step aside!"

"All so the Donna would be pleased. So she'd put in a good word with Don Bellini and spare our family!"

"If the Donna sees someone impersonating her with fake jewelry, we're all finished!"

Lina raised her hand, about to toss the ring into the trash.

My vision went black with rage. Gathering every ounce of strength, I stomped down hard on Giovanni's foot.

"Ugh!"

He grunted and finally released me.

I staggered upright and touched my swollen cheek. My fingertips came away red.

Her nails had actually torn my skin.

I lifted my eyes, cold hatred cutting straight toward Giovanni and Lina.

Lina noticed immediately. She pointed at me and screamed, "Elena, you ungrateful bitch! The Don was kind enough to arrange a way out for you, and this is how you repay him? This is how you repay the entire family?"

Then, she cried theatrically, "I know you hate me!

"You hate that the Don favors me! But if you're resentful, come at me! Why use such filthy tricks to take revenge on the family? Are you trying to get everyone killed?"

It was the same old routine.

For seven years, she had perfected the art of twisting our personal conflicts into accusations of my disloyalty, my hidden malice toward the family.

At first, Giovanni used to argue back.

Then, little by little, he believed her.

Eventually, he joined her.

It seemed he did that now, too, more than ever.

The hesitation in Giovanni's eyes vanished, replaced by heavy disappointment and open disgust.

"Traitor."

This time, he did not bother with a long lecture.

He pulled a card from inside his suit and tossed it at me.

"Take it.

"For the sake of the seven years you stayed with me, we'll end it here.

"There's 300,000 dollars inside. Take the money and get out of Northern Italy immediately.

"Once I finalize the deal with Don Bellini, this amount won't even count as pocket change.

"But for trash like you…it's enough to live on for half a lifetime.

"Consider it payment to sever whatever ridiculous sentiment we once had."

That condescending charity disgusted me more than any insult.

Yet, I smiled.

I knew one thing with absolute certainty.

He would never close that deal.

This so-called cooperation was nothing more than false hope that Rafael had tossed them before crushing the entire family.

"Heh."

I lifted my foot and kicked the card back to Giovanni's feet, then snatched the ring from Lina's stunned hand.

"Keep the money," I said coolly. "Buy yourself a decent urn.

"My husband despises those who try to please me with this kind of cheap trash."

Ignoring Giovanni's livid expression, I turned and walked away.

I had already wasted enough time here.

Giovanni grabbed my arm.

"Stop! What did you just say? You're married?"

I shook him off.

"What else? Do you think I was saving myself for you?

"Stay away from me. I don't want my husband seeing this and getting the wrong idea."

"Who is he?" Giovanni asked darkly. "Which suicidal bastard dared to marry you?"

Lina immediately looped her arm through his, sweeping me with contempt.

"Don't listen to her nonsense. A traitor with no background, no connections. What kind of man could she possibly land? Probably some poor nobody who survives by selling counterfeits."

Giovanni seemed convinced. His expression eased slightly.

"Elena. I'll give you one last chance.

"Come back and bow to Lina. Admit you were in the wrong.

"And I'll forgive your disrespect.

"Otherwise…

"You know the consequences."

I let out a soft scoff and calmly dialed Rafael's driver, giving him the banquet hall address.

Giovanni's face changed instantly. He snatched my phone away.

"What are you doing, calling people for the banquet? You couldn't possibly have an invitation!"

Lina's eyes flicked, calculating.

"She's not giving up. She wants to sneak in and ruin our deal with the Bellinis. We can't let her leave!"

That struck exactly where it hurt.

Giovanni stared at me, then turned sharply to his underboss.

"You stay here and wait for Lady Victoria."

Then, without another word, he grabbed me violently. Ignoring my struggle and furious protests, he dragged me straight toward the car.

"Let go of me! Giovanni, you bastard!"

I struggled violently, kicking and clawing.

Lina rushed over. The two of them forced me into the back seat together. Duct tape was slapped hard over my mouth as my wrists and ankles were bound tightly.

"Mmm!"

I glared at Giovanni, hatred blazing in my eyes.

Lina took her time admiring my humiliation. Then, her gaze dropped to my finger.

"Tsk. Even if it's just a high-grade imitation, that's real gold." She laughed and ripped the ring straight off my finger.

"It's mine now. I'll melt it down later and make myself a new necklace, perfect to match my diamond bracelet."

She deliberately lifted her wrist and shook it.

"Elena, does this bracelet look familiar? I made it from the decorations I tore off your veil."

I stared at her, my eyes burning red. The image of my veil being defiled filled me with murderous fury.

Catching my expression in the rearview mirror, Lina clutched her chest in exaggerated fear.

"Oh, dear! Don Rossi, I'm terrified! Is Elena still angry about what happened seven years ago?"

Giovanni started the car. His voice was cold and flat.

"What right does she have to be angry? Even if I was late that day, it wasn't an excuse for her to run from the wedding."

Late?

When was he not late?

Yet, when had I ever made a scene because of it?

The car sped forward. As the estate hosting the summit drew closer, I felt myself grow strangely calm.

Once I saw Rafael, everything would be resolved.

The car stopped at the gates of the manor.

Giovanni dragged me out roughly, tearing the tape from my mouth.

"Behave. Try anything stupid, and I'll toss you into the water to feed the fish."

He hauled me into the banquet hall.

It was still early. There were not many guests yet.

He dragged me to the Rossi family's section. The moment he let go, I turned to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He grabbed my arm immediately.

"To my seat."

"Your seat?"

I raised my hand and pointed to the very center of the hall: the Bellini family's place.

Giovanni's face darkened instantly.

"Have you gotten addicted to playing pretend?"

A representative from a nearby family noticed the commotion and looked over, curiosity written all over his face.

"And who might this be?"

Lina immediately pointed at me and shouted, "A fraud trying to impersonate the Bellini family's Donna and seduce our Don!"

In an instant, every gaze in the room locked onto me.

"Today is the first time Don Bellini is bringing his Donna into public. What is she trying to do?"

"Is she trying to humiliate the entire Southern Mafia in front of the Bellinis?"

"Don Rossi! Is this woman yours?"

Giovanni fell silent for a few seconds. Then, he shook his head slowly.

"No."

With that single denial, Lina grew bolder.

"You heard him! The Rossi family doesn't acknowledge you, traitor! Get out!"

She grabbed a glass of red wine and splashed it over me, then shoved me hard.

"Argh!"

I lost my balance and hit the floor. A sharp, twisting pain exploded in my lower abdomen.

"Everyone, take a good look!" Lina shouted, holding up the ring. "This woman betrayed the Rossi family. Today, I'm cleansing our house!"

She threw the ring to the floor and stomped down on it viciously.

"No! Stop!"

I screamed in despair, lunging forward to protect it.

She snarled and deliberately crushed my outstretched hand beneath her heel.

"Argh!"

The sickening pain of bones breaking tore a scream from my throat. I watched helplessly as the golden ring, symbol of the Bellini family's honor, was twisted completely out of shape.

Lina let out a satisfied breath and waved at the bodyguards.

"Throw her out."

They moved immediately.

"I am Don Bellini's…" I shouted hoarsely, struggling.

Lina kicked my already agonizing abdomen hard.

"What are you? His mistress? His side piece?" she sneered. "And you think you're worthy?"

She picked up the crushed gold fragment and slapped it against my swollen, bleeding cheek.

"Take your trash and get lost."

Humiliation and pain made my entire body tremble.

I had to make her pay.

"Enough."

Giovanni walked over and crouched in front of me, holding out the card again. His expression was conflicted.

"Stop this. Apologize to Lina. Take the money and leave."

"I don't apologize to the dead."

"You!" Giovanni flew into a rage and barked at the guards, "Throw her out!"

"Don Rossi! Don Bellini has arrived with the young master!"

The servant's panicked voice cut through the hall.

Every guest immediately straightened, turning toward the entrance.

Giovanni shoved me under a long table draped with a tablecloth.

"Let go of me! I want to see my husband and my child!" I struggled desperately.

The doors opened slowly.

A tall, cold, commanding figure stepped inside, holding a little boy's hand. All eyes in the hall turned toward them.

The boy suddenly seemed to hear something. He lifted the tablecloth with a small hand and stared straight into my battered, disheveled face.

"Mamma!"