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.