I got a taxi to the auction house after leaving the hospital. I used the money to buy a plot for Joey right next to our parents' graves.

When I got home, Caesar was not back yet.

I received an update from him for one. He messaged saying that Rosetta's leg hurt so much that she needed someone to take care of her. He had to stay the night at the hospital.

It had been a long time since I last received any messages from him, so it was a surprise when I saw it.

We had been together for five years, yet my 20-inch luggage still had plenty of room after I packed.

The next day, I woke to the sound of knocking at the door. It was Caesar's bodyguard. He raised an eyebrow when he saw my luggage. He asked, "Miss Eva, is this…"

"It's for a vacation." I sounded tired as I replied.

He did not ask any further questions.

"Don Lupino sent me to pick you up."

I did not want to go, but his bodyguard was adamant. He brought me to an Italian boutique branch of a designer I usually frequented. There were numerous unique wedding gown designs in the store.

Caesar came up to me with a smile.

"I got them to pick you up specially. I know this is your favorite bridal boutique."

He held my hand while taking me into the dressing room.

Caesar held this year's latest limited-edition gown in his hand. He helped me put it on and pulled up the zipper behind my back intimately.

I was momentarily in a daze when I saw how tender and careful he was through the mirror.

When Caesar claimed he was plotting against Rosetta by putting on an act, he told me he had to trick himself first if he wanted to trick the enemy. Since then, he had never been intimate with me.

"Where's the necklace?"

Caesar's question pulled me out of my reverie.

"I…" Before I could answer, he interrupted me.

He said with a smile, "Did you leave it in the jewelry box again because it's too precious to wear?

"Oh, this gown is perfect!

"Eva, it was made for you. It looks so good on you!

"It'll only be a few days before you finally become the most perfect, happiest Dona!

"Our wedding is all set. We'll be having it at Black Mass Villa, your favorite place. It will be the most elegant and romantic Italian wedding.

"We'll get Joey to be our little flower boy. He'll be your guardian angel. How does that sound?"

Caesar was gentle and considerate, but it felt like a knife slicing every inch of my skin.

My fingers dug deep into my palms.

All I could see was Joey tearing up before he died while speaking softly to me.

"Why isn't Caesar here yet?"

It reminded me of how Caesar used to dote on him, as if he were Caesar's own brother. He always showed concern over Joey's condition.

Caesar once put a lot of effort into sourcing the perfect kidney match for Joey. When Joey could not sleep due to intense pain, he would stay by Joey's side the entire night.

Marrying Caesar had been my dream. It was what I thought about day and night.

However, that was no longer what I wanted.

"Caesar, about the wedding…"

"Shh!"

He put his finger to my lip and smiled.

"Our plan is about to come to an end. It's Rosetta's birthday party in two days. I will announce in front of the family that she will be kicked out of the company.

"All the cars and jewelry under her name will be returned to us.

"She has been leading a luxurious life, detached from reality for the past few years. She won't accept any luxury cars or jewelry worth less than a million. Be prepared for a good show, and watch for yourself how the family will take care of her once I take back her assets and power. She won't dare to step on your toes ever again!"

Suddenly, the door to the dressing room was pushed open violently in the middle of Caesar’s speech.

Caesar was about to berate his bodyguard for intruding.

That was when he saw Rosetta standing there. His forehead was instantly covered in a cold sweat.

She was leaning against the door, her eyes red. They started to tear up at just the right moment when she confronted Caesar.

"Caesar, I thought you got someone else to help me try out my gown for my party because you were worried about my aching leg.

"If Miss Eva hadn't told me to drop by for a good show, I wouldn't have any idea that you had been plotting against me from the very start. I was wrong to have had feelings for you.

"You don't need to wait until the day after tomorrow. I'll return everything that you’ve ever given me right now."

As tears fell from Rosetta's eyes, she took off her bracelet, tore the ruby necklace worth millions off her neck, and flung them both at Caesar.

She threw her car keys in my face. They scratched my face, and blood dripped from my cheek.

Caesar seemed to forget that I was there. He stared at Rosetta and did not wince or dodge from the jewelry thrown at him.

My heart sank when I saw the look on his face.

That was the way he used to look at me during those years when he was still in love with me.

I just rejected the offer from the Carlonis back then so I could return to Italy and help him until he became the Don.

To ensure his position as Don was secure, I was wounded in numerous bloody fights and sent to the emergency room plenty of times.

In that short moment, I could see Caesar hugging me again. He looked at me with a pained expression as he spoke to me adoringly.

"I'll never let you get hurt again."

That loving look in his eyes was no longer for me. It was now reserved only for Rosetta.

"Let's part ways now, Caesar. I wish you and Miss Eva all the best."

Rosetta went straight for the door after saying this with tears in her eyes.

Just as she stepped out, she suddenly clutched her chest and fell backward.

Caesar quickly ran up to her and grabbed her before she fell. He quickly took out some pills he had on him.

"Rosetta! You can't get agitated because of your weak heart. Take the pills!"

"I don't need your concern. Just let me die!"

Rosetta's lips were turning blue. She turned to walk away weakly, still acting stubborn.

Caesar ran after her.

I quickly grabbed Caesar's arm to explain. "I had no idea you were bringing me here to try on wedding gowns. How could I have informed her about this in advance? You've got the wrong…"

Before I could finish, Caesar flung my hand off violently.

He glared at me with disappointment and hate.

"Why are you so impatient, Eva? Why would you do this when there are only two days left? You're such a disappointment."

His cold voice continued, "I'll make sure you go to Hell if anything happens to her."

I was stunned and felt a chill in my heart.

This was the love I earned for accompanying him through showers of bullets. He did not hesitate when it came to killing me for another woman.

I stopped and did not go after him.

The employee behind the counter quickly came over to me. "Miss, let me take care of the wound on your face first."

I rejected her offer.

With her help, I took off the wedding gown.

It was not mine to keep anyway, so there was no point in feeling pity over it.

My phone suddenly vibrated. It was a video clip Rosetta sent to me.

Caesar's gentle, loving voice could be heard from the clip, "I can never bear to hurt you."

I wanted to watch it properly, but the video was suddenly deleted.

After I left the bridal boutique, I returned to the company to collect my remaining personal items.

As I walked past the pantry, I heard voices gossiping inside.

"Did you know the woman trying to scam Don Lupino's money was discovered by the Consigliere and got kicked out by the family?”

"She used to be the apple of his eye, but I guess she ended up losing to true love."

The sarcastic words kept coming at me. I used to feel extremely hurt by them, but all I felt now was numbness. Those words no longer bothered me.

After Rosetta became the Consigliere, she set me up multiple times and even stopped me from obtaining a million-dollar deal. The worst thing she did was destroy the contract I had earned from a drug deal by risking my life.

The family was known to be fickle-minded and money-centered. They could not wait to twist a knife in my wound.

I used to be confident that I could easily return to my original position in the family.

However, it looked like I was the joke after all.

The brown-nosers quickly called security to watch me while I packed away my personal belongings.

When I walked out of the company, I saw Rosetta's new post on her Instagram.

It was a picture of her lying sweetly next to Caesar on a luxury yacht. She was wearing the ruby necklace worth millions that she had just thrown at Caesar around her neck.

I was emotionally wrecked by the time I returned home. It was already late at night, and I was hungry, so I made myself a microwave dinner.

That was when I heard the door open.

I heard footsteps and a voice saying, "Why are you having dinner so late? Are you eating garbage again?"

Caesar had never liked the smell of microwavable food. It reminded him of his lowly beginnings before he rose to become the Don.

When I thought about it, those were the times when our feelings for each other were strong.

He came over and sat down. He accidentally knocked my handbag, which was perched on my luggage, and my passport fell out.

His expression turned grim when he saw the passport, but he suddenly smiled widely.

"What's wrong? Are you mad? Are you planning to vacation overseas?"

He flung my passport onto the table nonchalantly.

I could tell that he was in a good mood, which definitely had something to do with Rosetta's Instagram post.

He held my hand.

"I must have scared you. I was just trying to make things seem real! I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you.

"We've been plotting this for a long time. We can't just mess it up at the end.

"I've managed to convince Rosetta, but her guard will be up during this time. You and Joey need to be patient for another three months at most. I'll find an opportunity to humiliate her and get rid of her.

"I understand this is making you impatient. Why don't I…"

It went from three days to three months. This was just an excuse for him to continue being with Rosetta.

Why did he have to lie to me?

"It's fine."

Before he could finish, I cleared the table. I stood up and said to him, "Let's end our relationship."

The moment I said this, I could feel all the negative emotions within me disappear. I felt instantly relaxed.

Caesar's expression froze.

His cool tone was accompanied by a whiff of alcohol in his breath.

"All I did was try to cajole Rosetta, Eva, and you're ending our relationship over this? Don't you know that I'm doing this for you?"

"Stop being difficult, Eva."

I remained silent.

Caesar's patience finally ran thin. His tone sounded cold and sinister as he continued talking sense into me.

"Is this because I didn't transfer the money to you? Are you mad over that? Joey is fine, isn't he? It's not like he was waiting for the money to save his life. He's not going to die over this minor amount of money. What are you even losing your temper for?"

Joey, my little brother. The mention of him made me lose it. My eyes turned red.

I had not cried since the day Joey was buried.

"Yes, it's because of the money.

"Caesar, you're willing to spend your money freely on jewelry and luxury cars for Rosetta, but why is it so difficult for you to give Joey the money you promised him for his surgery?"

A mean look appeared on Caesar's face at my mention of money. He kicked hard at a chair.

"You disappoint me, Eva. You keep claiming you want to stop this plot, but all you really want is the money. I didn't believe it when Rosetta told me all you want is money, but it turns out you're no different than the despicable gold-digger she’s been talking about."

I did not explain. I was calm with my reply.

"You might have kicked me out of the company, but you can't deny that I’ve contributed to the expansion of the family all these years. I was the one who fought with my blood for all the arms dealing contracts worth tens of millions. You should compensate me with an equivalent salary.

"I don't want much. Ten million is enough."

The ten million was not only payment for my years of sacrifice, but it also marked the end of our ten-year relationship.

That money could be used to start a new life in the United States. I could also use the money to move my parents and Joey to where I would be.

Caesar gave me a chilling look.

"Eva, I've been tolerating a lot because of you. If you weren't my fiancée, you would never have become the Underboss of the family. Why are you acting so impatient? Once I marry you, the family will belong to you too. Why are you being so difficult?

"It's just ten million. I can give it to you. I'll give you everything I have if you want it."

He flung his phone at me, but I did not dodge it.

My facial wounds caused by Rosetta's keys earlier that day tore open. Blood flowed down my cheek.

Caesar looked worried as he quickly came over to me.

I picked up his phone and transferred ten million from him to myself.

After that, I said calmly, "Thank you."

Caesar's expression darkened. He sat on the sofa and lit a cigar.

Smoke billowed in the air and masked his expression.

Whenever he did this, it meant he was giving me the cold shoulder. I ignored him.

I went to the dining room and put back the chair he had kicked. Then, I cleaned the table and went into the kitchen.

Caesar thought I was in the kitchen to make him a hangover remedy, so he said to me moodily, "Don't make it too strong."