After that day, I drowned myself in work so thoroughly that I barely set foot inside the De Luca estate. My absence dragged on long enough for Adrian to finally sense that something was off.

Then one afternoon, my phone lit up with a call from my mother-in-law—

a woman who had always viewed me as gutter trash, an orphan far below their Syndicate rank.

“Bella,” she snapped immediately, skipping greetings as usual. “Adrian told me you picked a fight with him. And from what I heard, you’re the one who ruined our schedule at the Royal Syndicate Banquet. Yes, you grew up without refinement or proper upbringing, but the least you can do is avoid dragging my family’s name through the mud.”

She didn’t pause before continuing sharply,

“You’ll soon be giving birth to the future Don of this family, so stop acting irrationally. People are already whispering that you and Adrian are falling apart. I have arranged a dinner tonight with Adrian’s closest associates. You will arrive with him. On time. And you better not embarrass us.”

She hung up like a general dismissing an underling.

I stared at the blank screen.

If I was leaving for the Syndicate’s capital branch soon, I wanted to look these people in the eye one last time—the ones who betrayed me, humiliated me, and treated me worse than a stray brought in from the street.

I took a taxi to the family residence.

Inside the dining hall, Adrian’s mother sat at the head of the long table, radiating the cold authority of a matriarch who believed she controlled everyone in the room.

The moment I entered, the low chatter died. Adrian’s friends exchanged disdainful looks.

“Aunt, why even invite her?” one of them muttered loudly. “She’ll just ruin the atmosphere again.”

“The witch shows up uninvited to break up the happy couple,” another added with a smirk, ensuring I heard every word.

“Bella, sit here,” Adrian’s mother ordered, pointing to the seat beside her.

I ignored her completely and sat at the far end.

Theodore, Adrian’s closest friend, immediately smirked—he had been waiting for a chance to strike.

“Bella, what was your surname again? Oh, right. My mistake. You don’t have one. Hard to remember something that never existed.”

I lifted my gaze, face expressionless, voice colder than steel.

“And remind me—who exactly are you supposed to be?”

My stare made him recoil as if slapped. The room fell silent.

A few minutes later, Adrian walked in with Veronica by his side.

He startled when he saw me sitting there early. His posture stiffened, and he subtly stepped away from her, pretending nothing was wrong.

I noticed Veronica had removed the diamond pendant—the one Adrian pretended he bought for me.

Adrian’s mother beckoned me to the kitchen. I followed without a word.

When I returned, Adrian hurried over to me, pasting on the kind of fake smile used to placate the Syndicate elders. He brushed my hair aside and—making sure everyone was watching—fastened a diamond pendant around my neck with exaggerated gentleness.

“This must be your first diamond,” he murmured loudly. “Next time, I’ll get you sapphires. I know they’re your favorite.”

He continued smoothly, still lying,

“I must’ve dropped the pendant back at the estate. The moment I realized it was missing, I rushed everywhere looking for it.”

The pendant felt suffocating.

I removed it silently and placed it on the table.

Adrian’s expression darkened instantly.

“Bella, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I knew it,” one woman whispered loudly. “She’s so ungrateful she can’t even accept a simple gift.”

Adrian’s mother glared at me. “Why did you take it off?”

“It was too tight,” I said flatly, ignoring the snickers and murmurs.

None of them knew—or cared enough to remember—that diamonds in our Syndicate tradition were symbols of disgrace.

They were given to exiled members stripped of their rank before being cast out.

I wasn’t exiled.

I was simply preparing to walk away.

From the kitchen doorway, I heard my mother-in-law’s sweetened voice as she laughed with Veronica, who clung to her arm like a perfect goddaughter.

“Auntie, you shouldn’t be working alone,” Veronica cooed. “If I had been here, I’d never have let you handle everything yourself.”

“This girl!” the matriarch chuckled. “Of course things would’ve been different if it were you.”

Then her voice sharpened.

“Oh—Veronica, let Bella help the staff with the dishes. You mustn’t get your hands dirty. Bella grew up doing manual labor. Scrubbing floors and washing plates is normal for her. Don’t you dare ruin those pretty hands of yours.”

My nails dug into my palm.

Adrian said nothing—worse, he looked approving—as if ordering his wife to scrub dishes in front of guests was perfectly reasonable.

When they returned to the dining hall, Veronica slipped neatly between Adrian and his mother, claiming her place as if she belonged there.

“Auntie, I’ve missed you these past years. Not a day went by that I didn’t miss Adrian,” she said theatrically.

Not one person flinched.

Not one questioned why a woman engaged to another man was openly professing her longing for Adrian in front of his wife.

“If things hadn’t gone wrong,” Adrian’s mother said lightly, “you’d already be my daughter-in-law.”

She glanced at me, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes, before pulling Veronica closer.

Adrian stayed silent—still angry I had rejected the pendant.

Then the matriarch turned to me with fake innocence.

“Oh dear, I must be rambling. Bella, this is Veronica—my goddaughter. I heard you’ve been making trouble at home because of her, but really, Veronica is like a sister to Adrian. You mustn’t be jealous. These two have always been close.”

“Auntie’s right,” Colin chimed in smugly. If anyone pushed the idea of a perfect match between Adrian and Veronica, it was him. He was also the one who started calling me the ‘homewrecker.’

“Bella, you keep guarding Adrian like he’s going to run away. Do you really think any of us would sabotage him? Veronica and Adrian are practically inseparable. If he wanted to dump you, he would’ve done it already.”

He leaned back confidently.

“Besides, Adrian already promised Veronica that our syndicates would unite and expand our territories. You should learn to cooperate. It’s the least you can do as the Don’s wife.”

My breath caught.

Unifying our Onyx Serpent Syndicate with another clan?

A massive political move.

And as the Don’s wife, I was kept in the dark.

Colin realized too late that he had said the quiet part out loud.

Silence swept through the room, tension crackling as uneasy glances flickered among them.

“Do you even grasp the gravity of what you’ve just said? If that rival syndicate gets caught in any criminal scandal, our Family will be dragged into the fallout—”

“Bella,” Veronica cut in with a sharp smile, “I know you dislike me, but don’t drag our Family’s name through the dirt just to win an argument.”

I turned to Adrian, searching for even the slightest support, but he was already glaring at me, jaw clenched.

“Veronica has a point,” he said coldly. “You barely finished school, Bella. You’ve never been trained in the intricacies of Syndicate alliances or the obligations of the Family. How could you possibly understand whether this partnership benefits us?”

And he didn’t stop.

“It’s better if I manage all Family responsibilities. Veronica handled the duties of a Donna for three years when my mother was ill—it’s natural that she’d understand these things better than you. I can’t bend the rules for you when you came into this household with nothing—no lineage, no reputation, no education. Just some stray orphan I married.”

Humiliation burned through me. The entire table fell silent, but no one intervened. They only watched.

The rest of dinner tasted like nothing. I pushed food around my plate while Adrian kept shooting me irritated side-glances. His mother, meanwhile, was busy laughing at everything Veronica said, pretending the earlier insult had never happened.

When I reached for an oyster—one I had brought from home because the Family’s nurse insisted it would help with my pregnancy—Adrian’s mother snapped at me.

“Bella! I understand no one taught you proper manners growing up, but are you really this foolish? Who eats rich seafood while five months pregnant? Do you have no concern for the child? Sometimes I wonder how much longer Adrian must carry the burden of protecting you.”

“Protecting me?” I said quietly, voice like ice. “Is that what you call protection? Letting you tear me down in front of everyone?”

Silence crashed over the room. Even Adrian’s mother stiffened. Adrian stared at me, startled.

“This oyster,” I said, lifting the dish a little, “is the one the nurse prepared specifically for me. I brought it because you rushed me out during lunch and ordered me to bring food for everyone here. But clearly, my presence only causes trouble. Coming here tonight was a mistake.”

“Bella—” Adrian reached for me as I stood, but I stepped away and headed for the exit.

He followed me into the corridor.

“Bella, don’t make this bigger than it is. My mother didn’t mean it the way it sounded. Come back inside.”

“To be very honest with you, Adrian,” I said, turning to face him, “my parents are alive. Very much alive. And if I had listened to them, I never would’ve walked into this house. Into this Family. Into a marriage where I have never once been wanted.”

Adrian grabbed my shoulders, forcing a gentle smile like I was a child throwing a meaningless tantrum.

“Bella, don’t say things you’ll regret. Let it go for tonight. You need to behave like a proper Mafia wife—loyal and composed.”

Before I could respond, the back door burst open and Colin stepped out, breathless.

“Adrian! Veronica can’t breathe—she needs you now.”

Adrian froze only for a moment before worry overtook his expression.

“Bella, come back inside. It’s going to pour. I need to check on Veronica—just wait for me.”

I stared at him as if he were a stranger. He held my hand briefly, searching for the right words, then released me and rushed back inside.

A moment later, my phone vibrated.

From Mother-in-law:

You may return now. I misjudged earlier. Let’s not ruin the dinner.

I stared through blurred vision. It was painfully clear—this household had never once opened its doors to me. Everything revolved around hierarchy, bloodlines, and usefulness.

Three years ago, I had been abducted by a rogue Mafia faction. My father and brothers had searched the entire region, but my identity had to be hidden for my safety. In the end, it was Adrian—then the Jade Crest Mafia’s rising heir—who led the rescue that freed me and several others. My mother offered him compensation, but I insisted I wanted to marry him.

My brothers protested. You’re our only daughter. You’ve never known brutality. A man like Adrian will crush you.

I was so naïve—so stupid—to think love could erase hierarchy.

Tonight, that same man called me worthless because I had no pedigree of my own.

The rain began pouring as I stepped into the courtyard. I ignored his mother calling after me. Shame choked me. I couldn’t bear to face my family—what would I even say? Would they still want me back after I chose this life over theirs?

Suddenly, warmth enveloped me. Adrian pulled me into his arms, both of us drenched.

“Bella, you’re freezing. Why didn’t you stay inside?” he murmured, guiding me under a small awning. “I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have left you like that. But couldn’t you just follow instructions? Veronica is very sick.”

He cupped my cheek.

“She only came tonight because I asked her to. I couldn’t abandon her when she collapsed. And even then, she kept telling me to go after you. You should learn from her kindness.”

He sighed.

“My mother has been calling you nonstop. She wants you to come back. Why do you always resist everything?”

Seeing how pale I was, he led me to a nearby convenience store so I could change into dry clothes.

“Are you alright, Bella? I’ll call a driver to take you home.”

I shook my head. “Are you not coming with me?”

“I have something to take care of—”

“Let me guess,” I said quietly. “You’re driving Veronica home.”

His eyes widened.

He dropped his voice defensively. “I’ll be home after. You know Veronica is a single mother. She’s sick and has no one else. If something happened to her—”

“No need to explain,” I cut in softly. “I understand perfectly. She needs you… and I can manage alone.”

“Not this nonsense again! Stop throwing around baseless accusations!” Adrian snapped, frustration finally slipping through the polished tone expected of a Mafia Don.

“Then explain it,” I shot back. “You and Theodore both drove here tonight, yet you insist on personally escorting Veronica home. Why is it always you? Why never any of your men? Why never anyone else?”

A flicker of annoyance crossed his face before he forced himself to breathe slowly—Don composure returning.

“Bella… are we really doing this again? Jealousy over Veronica?” His voice sharpened, the air between us tightening. “How many times must I repeat myself? She’s practically family—like a younger sister in the syndicate.”

He squared his shoulders, slipping back into that calm, calculated tone he used in Family negotiations.

“She’s in this city without allies, separated from her husband, raising her little boy alone. Do you expect me, her Don, to ignore her struggles? She’s been by my side since we were children in the organization. I won’t abandon her during a crisis.”

“If she’s so helpless,” I countered, taking a step away from his grasp, “why is she pushing so desperately for a merger between her Family and ours? Doesn’t she care what kind of chaos that alliance could cause—for you, for our territories, for your position as Don? Or does she simply not care what you risk?”

Adrian’s brows drew together as he tried to rein me in.

“Bella, don’t involve yourself in matters of the Families. Stay home. Focus on the things you’re actually good at.” His voice sharpened. “Our territory will double once our Families unite. That is a massive advantage.”

He moved closer, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead, patronizing and dismissive.

“Stop letting paranoia eat at you. You’re going to be a mother soon—jealousy will only make things harder. How will you raise our child like this?”

I almost laughed at the cruelty of it. He talked about raising a child… not knowing that our baby was already gone. Lost because of his recklessness.

“But it was you,” I whispered, “who told your men that because I grew up without parents, I wouldn’t know how to raise a child. And that Veronica should guide me.”

A shock ran through him—like someone had doused him in ice.

“You… you were listening?” he stammered. “Bella, I—I was drunk that night. I didn’t mean any of it. You’re exaggerating.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but his phone suddenly rang. Victoria’s name—Veronica’s real name, the one only the syndicate used—flashed across the screen.

He froze.

I tipped my chin. “Go ahead. Answer.”

He picked up.

Immediately, a child’s bright voice chirped through the speaker.

“Daddy! I miss you! When are you coming to play with me and Mommy? When are you coming home?”

Adrian’s face drained of color. He looked at me, horrified, praying I hadn’t heard—but I had heard everything.

He cleared his throat sharply. “Mark… call me uncle, okay?”

“Why? Mommy said I can call you Dad.”

Adrian choked, scrambling for control.

“Your mother is here with me. We’ll be home soon.”

He hung up fast, guilt written all over him.

“Bella—” he began, reaching for me.

I met his eyes, every bone in my body tired. “Do whatever you want, Adrian. I’m done talking.”

I turned to walk away, but he immediately pulled me into his arms from behind, tightening his grip as if force alone could keep me from slipping through his fingers.

“You need to adapt, Bella,” he murmured near my ear. “I can’t indulge your every emotion anymore. But from today onward, I’ll be better. For you. For our Family. For our child.”

He pressed a soft kiss to my cheek—like a bandage on a fatal wound.

Before I reached home, my phone buzzed.

From Theodore:

Sis-in-law, Veronica’s not doing well, so the Don won’t be coming home tomorrow.

My stomach twisted. Adrian had been planning a grand banquet to welcome Veronica’s Family for weeks—yet now, because I openly objected to the merger, he clearly didn’t want me anywhere near it.

Hands shaking, I opened social media.

Veronica had posted:

“Shopping for tomorrow’s banquet. Picking matching suits for my two men.”

Attached was a photo.

Adrian holding her son.

Her leaning into him like they were a family.

Pain tore through me.

Before I could even breathe, the driver shouted:

“Madam—duck your head!”

I looked up just as a massive truck swerved toward us. The driver jerked the wheel, but it was too late—

Metal shrieked.

The world spun.

The car flipped.

My body smashed against the ceiling. Everything blurred.

“Mom… Dad… big brother…”

Memories splintered through me like glass.

Warm liquid dripped down my arm.

Blood. Mine.

With trembling fingers, I dialed my father—one last attempt, one last goodbye.

He answered immediately.

“Bella? What’s this? You only remember your father now—”

“D… Dad…” My breath hitched. “I—I’m sorry… sorry for disappointing you… Tell Mom I… I love you…”

The phone slipped from my hand.

My mind drifted into a cold, quiet darkness.

Not once did I think of the people who destroyed me.

Not once did I think of Adrian.

Only my family.

Through the fading noise, I heard my father’s voice—shaken, terrified, breaking open.

“Bella! Bella! Damn it—where are you, my daughter?!”

And then the world went black.