Alina’s POV

When I walked into the dining room for breakfast the next morning, Nerissa was feeding Jason bread, the two of them looking like a couple who had just fallen in love.

I suppose now that I’d seen the truth, they didn’t even bother to hide it anymore.

“There’s a family gathering with my family and yours. You’re coming,” Jason said, barely sparing me a glance before turning back to Nerissa and kissing her.

My eyes burned.

“I’m not in the mood,” I said, forcing the words out.

His hand, resting on Nerissa’s cheek, stilled for a second.

“Your father asked for you specifically,” he replied coolly. “I assume you don’t want to upset him.”

My fingers curled into a fist. “…Alright.”

“Good.”

He stood. Nerissa followed. As they walked out, Jason paused at the door. “Wear something decent. Have you looked at yourself lately?”

Nerissa giggled softly. “Where would sis even get a dress or jewelry now? Her mother’s casino is gone.”

The words landed like a slap.

The casino had been handed to Jason when we married. And now that he’d sold it, there was nothing left for me.

Jason’s tone shifted, light again. “Who cares. Speaking of dresses, want to go shopping today? That boutique on Fifth Avenue?”

I felt my nails dig into my palm, sharp and grounding—but not enough to dull the sting of his words.

“Ow, stop spoiling me,” Nerissa pouted, rising onto her toes to kiss him again.

I sat down after they left, just staring at the bread in front of me without touching it.

I had prepared for this. I had already decided to leave.

But it still hurt. God, it still hurt.

In all the years I’d known Jason, he had never looked at me the way he did now—like I was someone beneath him, something that disgusted him.

“Mrs. Vale, would you like a glass of milk?” a maid asked gently.

Her voice pulled me back.

I forced a small smile and shook my head.

…

I spent half the day clearing out my wardrobe.

I couldn’t make it obvious for Jason to notice anything, so I left most of it untouched. I only packed a few simple things I had bought myself.

By the time I finished, it was almost six.

Voices drifted up from downstairs. When I stepped out, I saw Nerissa twirling in a beautiful dress, the fabric flaring around her as she spun in front of Jason. He watched her with a smile—one I used to think only belonged to me.

“You love it that much?” he murmured, pulling her into his arms. “More than me?”

Nerissa laughed softly, looping her arms around his neck. “Why don’t you take me to bed and I’ll show you how much I love you?”

Jason glanced up—and our eyes met.

Then he smiled, like it meant nothing, and scooped her into his arms. “Not so fast, babe. We have a dinner party first. After that… I’m all yours.”

A moment later, the car roared to life outside and sped off.

Which meant I had to go to that dinner alone.

I changed into something simple. I hesitated, then left my hair down and kept my makeup light before heading out.

I hadn’t driven myself in a long time. Jason always had a driver assigned to me.

But today, there was no car. No driver. No one.

I paused for only a second before walking out to the main road and flagging down a taxi.

…

My father had always valued punctuality.

So when the taxi got stuck, I told the driver to stop and decided to walk.

I thought, how hard could it be? But I’d forgotten how far it was.

By the time the gates of the Dacosta mansion came into view, it was already seven.

I pushed the door open.

The chatter inside stopped instantly.

In the living room, my father stood with a glass in his hand. Jason was beside him, his hand resting on Nerissa’s waist.

No one found anything strange about how close Jason and Nerissa were— not even my own father.

“Alina,” my father said, his brows pulling together, “even for a family dinner, you should know how to prepare and arrive on time. Jason and Nerissa have been here for a while.”

I barely had time to open my mouth.

“Maybe because Alina doesn’t go out much these days,” Nerissa said lightly. “She probably forgot how long it takes to come home.”

I hadn’t expected Jason and Nerissa to be so boldly intimate—just like they were when they humiliated me in my own home, and now they were doing it again in front of my father and the rest of the family.

The nausea rose so fast I had to press my lips together. “Excuse me.”

I turned and walked straight to the guest bathroom.

By the time the wave passed, my hands were cold against the sink.

I opened the door quietly.

Two maids were standing just around the corner, whispering.

“Is that him? The Don of Vale?”

“Yes! He’s so handsome, right?”

“And Miss Nerissa is his Donna? They look so good together.”

“Shh!” one of them hissed. “You’re new. Mr. Vale’s Donna is Miss Alina. Not Miss Nerissa.”

“But…” the other lowered her voice, “why does Miss Nerissa look more like it? And they come here together all the time. I’ve never seen Miss Alina come home with him.”

My steps faltered. No wonder no one in that room looked surprised.

“I heard,” the first maid continued in a whisper, “that Mr. Vale takes Miss Nerissa everywhere because… Miss Alina shamed him once. She cheated on him—with his own brother. The night before their wedding.”

A sharp ringing filled my ears.

“Oh… then why did he still marry her?” the other maid asked softly. “Shouldn’t he have called it off?”

“I think because Mr. Vale valued promise? He’s a good man.” She lowered her voice. “Still… I think Miss Nerissa suits him better, don’t you? She’s loyal, beautiful, smart. Miss Alina…She’s always so quiet. Cold. I’ve never even dared to speak to her.”

Their voices faded as they walked away.

I stood there, frozen.

So this was the story everyone believed. That I had cheated. That I deserved everything happening to me now.

Jason—the man who humiliated me—had somehow become the generous one, the man who married the woman who betrayed him.

And Nerissa…The one who saved him.

I bit down hard, the taste of blood sharp on my tongue.

My back hit the wall, and slowly, my body slid down until I was sitting on the cold floor.

I didn’t know how to name what I was feeling. Only that I needed to leave. As soon as possible.

But the man I had called yesterday said I had to wait three days.

Three. Just three, Alina. You can endure this. After that, you can walk away. You can leave all of this behind.

I whispered the words to myself like a promise.

After a few minutes, I pushed myself to my feet and headed toward the dining room.

Alina’s POV

After dinner, my father called me into his study.

He didn’t even wait for me to sit down before he exploded. “Why can’t you be more like Nerissa? Sweet, sensible—easy to get along with.”

His words came fast, sharp.

“You’re already married, and I still have to clean up after you? I even have to help you keep your own husband happy? I thought after what happened at your party, you would’ve learned something. But no—you still show up and make everyone uncomfortable.”

I sat down quietly, saying nothing.

He kept going. “Jason told me you want a divorce. What were you thinking? Hasn’t he treated you well all these years? Hasn’t he helped this family?”

I let his words settle, then spoke. “So even if I know he’s sleeping with Nerissa, I’m supposed to pretend I don’t and stay with him?” My voice was steady. “Is that what you want for me, Papa?”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face—but not shock or guilt.

Father knew all too well about Jason and Nerissa, but he had done nothing. If anything, he was just as complicit—if not worse.

My chest tightened.

Father looked away for a moment, then said, almost impatiently, “If it weren’t for that incident before your wedding… You should be grateful he’s still willing to stay. Nerissa makes him happy—so let her. You still have everything else. You’re still his Donna. That’s what matters.”

The chair scraped loudly as I stood.

“These days, I don’t even recognize you anymore,” I said, my voice trembling. “If Mom were here, she would never allow this in the Dacosta family.”

Father shot to his feet. “She’s not here anymore, is she? She’s dead. And now you listen to me. Jason and his family have influence in New York’s mafia circle—we need them.”

A bitter laugh slipped out. “So that’s why you handed him Mom’s casino? Just to please him?”

My father’s face flushed deeper. “Like I said—if you knew how to keep your husband happy, I wouldn’t have had to! Why did you have to sleep with another man like a whore? Why do I always have to clean up after you?”

The room spun.

I could endure the others misunderstanding me—even Jason. But hearing it from him… from my own father… It felt like something inside me was burning.

Before he reached the door, my voice came out low, barely steady. “You knew that casino was the only thing Mom left me. You knew what it meant to me, Papa… you shouldn’t have…”

“You will go back home,” he cut me off sharply. “You will behave. You will do whatever Jason says—because you owe him that much.”

The word owe echoed in my ears as he stormed out.

Jason had said the same thing.

I owed him—so I had to accept the humiliation.

I owed my father, the Dacosta name—so I had to sit quietly while they stripped me of everything, including my dignity.

But did I really owe them anything?

That picture was fake. I had never slept with Dominic.

But obviously, no one cared. They were too busy turning me into the villain, too eager to believe I was the one who had ruined everything.

The nausea surged again.

I barely made it to the bathroom before I threw up, my body shaking with it.

When I finally looked up, all I saw was my reflection—pale, hollow, barely recognizable.

A thought flickered in the back of my mind.

But in that moment, I didn’t know if I should feel relieved… or terrified.

…

I walked back home.

Nerissa was right—I had stayed inside for so long, I’d forgotten how far New York streets could stretch.

It took me nearly an hour and a half to reach the neighborhood.

On the way, I stopped at a drugstore and bought a pregnancy test. I tucked it deep into my purse, then continued toward the Vale mansion.

Before I even reached the door, I heard voices.

When I got closer, I saw a team of men carrying furniture inside.

Nerissa sat on the sofa like she owned the place. She glanced at me, then smiled—a slow, mocking curve of her lips.

“Jason said I’m moving in tonight,” she said lightly. “So you should probably take the guest room. And I’ve already had your things moved out.”

Ever since I found out about them, I hadn’t stepped into the master bedroom anyway. Whether she moved in or not… it didn’t matter.

…

Sleep didn’t come easy.

Noise bled through the walls—soft at first, then unmistakable.

The guest room was close enough to the master bedroom for me to hear everything.

Every time Nerissa’s voice rose, something twisted violently in my stomach, like I might throw up again.

Jason knew exactly what he was doing. He knew me, knew where to press, how to hurt.

In just two days, he had turned me into a stranger in my own home.

Good for you, Jason. I hope you really love her. Because if all of this is just to hurt me… then you’re more pathetic than you think I am.

The noise didn’t stop until dawn.

I didn’t even try to sleep after that. Instead, I got up and went to the bathroom, taking the pregnancy test with me.

I stared at the box for a long moment, hesitation tightening in my chest.

Then I opened it.

The sooner I knew… the better.

I sat on the stool, waiting, my fingers gripping the edge of the sink. My mind drifted back to the early days of our marriage.

I remembered how I’d told Jason I wanted a child—and how he turned me down, saying we were still too young. Every time, he reminded me to take the pills after we had sex.

Now, thinking back on it, the truth felt painfully obvious.

If Jason really believed I had betrayed him, he would never have wanted my child.

The signs had always been there. I had just refused to see them.

The timer went off.

My hand trembled as I reached for the test.

Positive.

I was pregnant.

I drew in a slow breath, but my heart only raced faster.

For a brief second, the thought crossed my mind—should I tell Jason?

After all, he was the father.

But just as quickly, his voice echoed in my head. “How do I know the child is mine? You’re a cheating whore, remember?"

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook it away.

My hand moved to my stomach, pressing gently against it. “Baby…” my voice softened, almost breaking. “How about we run away together?”

I swallowed, holding onto the thought like it was the only thing keeping me steady. “Mommy will find us a place. Somewhere safe. It’ll just be you and me.”

Alina’s POV

Jason came by the next day, saying they were hosting a final party at the casino tonight. I hadn’t planned to go, but then Jason mentioned my mother have left something in her office.

He and Nerissa went ahead together. I took a taxi and went alone.

The casino felt different the moment I stepped inside.

It was no longer open for business. The lights were dimmer, the air quieter—like it already belonged to someone else.

I was about to head toward my mother’s office when a waiter approached me.

“The Don asked me to take you to the auction.”

“I don’t need that,” I said calmly. “I just came to collect my mother’s things. I’m her daughter.”

The waiter hesitated, then lowered his voice. “Miss… the Don specifically asked for you. He won’t be pleased if I return alone.”

In the end, I followed him.

I would just find another chance to go to my mother’s office later.

The waiter led me to the top floor—the ballroom.

Nerissa was already there, clinging to Jason like she always did, whispering something into his ear.

When I walked in, a few heads turned. Some people looked at me strangely. Others watched with open curiosity, as if waiting to see what I would do.

“Please sit here,” the waiter said as he guided me all the way to the back. “The front row is reserved for Miss Nerissa and the Don only.”

I sat down at the cold seat.

The auction began.

One item after another—paintings that used to hang in the casino, vases, decorations. Pieces of a place that had once meant everything to me.

Jason was selling it all, piece by piece.

“Now,” the host announced, his voice echoing across the room, “for our final item of the evening.”

The lights dimmed.

Then, suddenly, a spotlight snapped on— Right on me.

Every head turned.

A few men laughed under their breath, their eyes crawling over me in a way that made my skin crawl.

“Miss, would you please stand?” the host said smoothly. “Our final item tonight is Miss Alina Dacosta. The bidding will start at—”

He paused, frowning at his card. “Excuse me… is this correct? One dollar?”

The next second, the large screen behind him lit up— That photo, the one of me and Dominic.

The room erupted into whispers.

“Isn’t that Mrs. Vale?”

“The Don really put her up like this?”

“I heard she cheated on him before their wedding—with his own brother. Disgusting.”

“See that woman beside the Don now? That’s the real Donna. As for that whore… the Don probably just kept her because he was a responsible man.”

Their voices pressed in from every side.

I stared at the photo, my hands curling into fists.

Even if it wasn’t my body, I still felt stripped bare, put on display for everyone—forced to endure their disgusting stares.

A man suddenly leaned in too close. “How about I check if you really look that good under your clothes before I place a bid?”

I shoved him back. But he didn’t stop.

“Playing innocent now?” he sneered. “After all that?”

My gaze snapped toward Jason.

Do something. Anything. Just… not this.

But he didn’t even look at me. He leaned back against the sofa, Nerissa in his arms, letting her feed him a sip of wine like none of this mattered.

A hollow laugh tore out of me. “You are really an ass, aren’t you, Jason Vale?” My voice shook. “My mother treated you like family… and this is what you do? Let them shame me in her casino?”

I turned and ran, not stopping until I reached my mother’s office.

My hand hovered over the handle. “I’m sorry, Mom…” I whispered. “For everything that’s happened…”

I pushed the door open. Everything was just as I remembered. Only now, it was all covered in dust. No one had touched this place in years.

I walked inside slowly, my fingers brushing over the desk, the shelves… trying to decide what I could take with me.

In the end, all I found was a pen she used to keep.

I held it tightly and slipped it into my purse.

“Alina… what do you think your mother would say if she knew how far you’ve truly fallen today?” Nerissa’s voice cut through the silence.

I turned.

She stood in the doorway, the light behind her casting her face in shadow.

“She wouldn’t say anything,” I answered quietly. “Because she trusted me.”

Nerissa let out a soft laugh as she walked in.

“No,” she said lightly. “She’d be heartbroken. A shameless whore… and her daughter just the same.”

Slap.

My hand struck Nerissa hard.

Her head snapped to the side. “You dare hit me?”

“Guards!” she called, and two burly men appeared at the door. “Hold her.”

I couldn’t fight them. They seized my arms, locking them tight at my sides.

Nerissa walked over slowly—then slapped me hard across the face. “You dare to hit me? Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror?”

Another slap followed. “Alina, have I ever told you what a failure you are? My mother won over yours… and now I’ve won over you.”

My eyes locked onto hers. “My mother is dead. She didn’t lose—”

“Oh,” Nerissa smiled, almost pitying, “you still don’t know.”

Her voice softened, but her words cut deeper. “I’m Papa’s biological daughter. Not just some stepdaughter.”

For a moment, I couldn’t even breathe.

“And your mother knew,” she went on. “A long time ago. I think that’s what broke her. I remember she came to our house once… just sat there, looking at me and my mom, then left.”

She let out a quiet laugh. “Imagine how that felt. The proud Donna realizing she was never the one Papa truly loved.”

“You’re proud of that?” I said coldly. “That your mother was a mistress?”

Her smile vanished.

“The one who isn’t loved is the extra.” Her eyes flicked over me slowly. “And you, Alina… you’re the extra in your own marriage too.”

She leaned in slightly. “Jason stopped loving you a long time ago.”

A small smile curved her lips. “I was the one who helped him heal, made him believe in love again.”

“He’s all yours,” I said, meeting Nerissa’s gaze. “Jason. Papa. Take them both. I have no interest in fighting over worthless men.”

“No interest,” she scoffed, “or you know you don’t stand a chance?”

She turned and left. The two men shoved me to the floor.

My ankle hit hard. Pain shot up my leg, sharp enough to make my breath catch.

Just then, my phone rang. “The car’s ready. Black one. Turn left when you exit through the back door.”

Everything replayed in my mind—Jason, Nerissa, my father, the humiliation.

This place. These people.

Mom had once told me to be a patient predator. When you’re hurt, you retreat. You heal. And then you strike when they least expect it.

I clenched my jaw and pushed myself up.

I would come back.

And when I did… I would make them regret everything they’d done to me.