Catalina’s POV

My fingers shook as I took a slow sip of wine, my eyes never leaving Javier Alarcon, my husband. He stood among the city's power players, looking every bit the part in his tailored suit and sharp tie, his smile effortlessly charming. But it wasn't his smile that caught my attention—it was the way he looked at Sophia Graziano, the knowing glint in their eyes.

I should've known better. I ignored the gut feeling, the one that whispered betrayal, and convinced myself that my husband's loyalty was unshakable. As the don of the Alarcon Family, there was a code—lealtà loyalty—his word was his bond. But now, it felt like everything I’d ever known was a lie.

I clenched my jaw, fighting the tears that threatened to spill.

Everyone in this room knew I was his wife. Yet, Javier didn’t even bother to hide his relationship with Sophia. He didn’t care if I saw—his eyes were glued to her, leaving me invisible. I shut my eyes, remembering that morning when I saw them leaving the ob-gyn’s office—Sophia, two months pregnant with his child.

My heart shattered, but I didn’t flinch. As his queen, I had learned to mask the pain, to remain the perfect, emotionless wife—graceful, silent, and utterly disposable.

"Miss," Kiton Hanler’s voice cut through my thoughts as he handed me a file. He noticed the tremor in my hand, and the pity in his eyes made my blood boil.

"Thank you, Kit," I said, forcing a smile that felt more like a weapon than a gesture. Kiton nodded and left, his loyalty unwavering. He owed me everything—his life, his mother's life, all because of a debt I’d saved them from.

As he passed, he squeezed my hand. I didn’t miss the way Javier’s eyes narrowed, a silent warning to remember my place.

I stared back at him, the rage simmering under my skin, but my face remained unreadable.

We'd built this empire. And I’d burn it to the ground if it meant watching him suffer.

---

"I hope you’re enjoying the celebration I prepared," I said to everyone with my most cunning smile. Javier placed his arm around my waist, and I hid my disgust.

"Amore Mio My love, you've done great," he said affectionately, grazing his lips on my cheek, showing everyone that I was his. I noticed the jealousy in Sophia's eyes. "Indeed, Mr. Alarcon," she said, giving him her sweetest smile. Javier smiled back at her with intensity of his gaze. "Yes, Miss Graziano."

"I hope you’re enjoying this ball, Miss Graziano. I heard you're pregnant," I said, watching their faces pale. "Congratulations."

The elites looked at Sophia in shock. Javier gripped my waist, whispering dangerously, "What the hell are you talking about, Amore Mio?"

"Oh, am I wrong? Because you love drinking wine, Sophia, and lately you haven’t been drinking," I said, grabbing her wrist. "I am a doctor, in case anyone forgot, and I can tell, you have two pulses."

Gasps erupted around us. Javier quickly addressed the crowd, "My wife is drunk. Please, enjoy the party."

He dragged me away gripping my arm and warned, "I don't appreciate you accusing Miss Graziano. Think about what you’ve done and apologize to Miss Graziano tomorrow." And he ordered his men to take me home.

I looked at Javier. “Secrets can’t be kept forever, Javier but I am no fool.” Before entering the car, I made sure he knew.

He didn’t even glanced at me as he called someone on his phone as he walked back to the hotel.

****

The file contained evidence of my husband’s affair—pictures of him and Sophia. I spread them out on our mattress.

"Javier, you have no idea who you’re dealing with. You did not know how bad and crazy I am, you damn asshole!" I yelled, laughing bitterly through my tears. "You’ll pay for making me a fool, you and Sophia," I swore, my knees trembling as I sat on the cold floor, crying in pain.

"You’ll regret hurting me, and you’ll beg, but I won’t pity you. Without me, you’re nothing," I seethed with anger, laughing crazily.

I picked up the phone and called my lawyer. "I need you to prepare the divorce papers, and I want them as soon as possible."

Catalina’s POV

“Have you ever thought about what you’ve done?” Javier said, entering our master bedroom early in the morning. He didn't come home last night and didn't even message me about why he couldn't make it.

But I didn't care, anymore.

I thought before he was busy handling business in his territory, but I was wrong. He had been deceiving me all along.

I was drying my hands with a towel while sitting at the vanity table, watching his serious reflection in the round mirror. He loosened his tie and threw his coat on the edge of the bed. I had left my life in Los Angeles, my family, to follow Javier to Italy. He had promised to love only me and make me his queen, helping him rebuild his crumbling empire. I did everything to achieve our dream, even if it meant being disowned by my parents.

But if you love someone, you don’t cheat on them or hurt them. That’s what my mother told me, and my father loved her just the same. My eyes became glassy as he stopped by my side, and my stomach recoiled at the faint smell of jasmine on him.

Sophia’s signature perfume. I gripped the towel, refusing to answer him, continuing what I was doing.

“Amore Mio, are you that resistant? What you’ve done embarrassed Sophia,” he said with tenderness in his voice when mentioning Sophia's name, that pricked my heart. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “She’s the daughter of the president. You better apologize to her.”

“You came here to say that? I won’t because it’s the truth, Javier,” I said coldly, seeing the shock on his handsome face when I called him by his name, not mio marito—my husband.

He gripped my arm and pulled me up, causing me to drop the towel. “Even if it’s the truth, you should keep your mouth shut! You never say anything that could ruin anyone. What’s happening to you?”

It’s you who made me like this.

I grabbed his hand and turned away. “Don’t force me to do something I won’t, Javier. I am not a puppet or a fool. I am your wife, and I don’t kneel to anyone, not even you.”

“What the hell is your problem! Don’t you know that if the president learns of the accusation, it’ll be our problem? I don’t want to deal with the president himself. He’s a headache,” Javier snapped, gripping my arm to stop me and face him.

“Amore Mio, do what I tell you for the Alarcon Family, for the Cartel,” he demanded. “Even though you are my wife, if you disobey me, you won’t like what I can do to you,” he warned, his eyes showing he was serious.

He was ruthless and heartless to those who disobeyed him, and I knew him well.

“Fine, I'll do it, but you need to do something for me in return,” I said, seeing the satisfaction in his eyes.

“I’ll do it, and after you’re done, I need you to help with the new shipment coming in and make sure the police don’t interfere,” he said with affection in his voice, his hand rubbing my shoulders and cupping my face. “Sorry for being busy. Have you been to the doctor? Are you pregnant?”

When he said that, it felt like that was all that mattered to him—having his child, the heir to his cartel. Remembering the past seven years, I realized I had been blind. Javier didn’t truly love me. He was only pleased if I did something good, earning his affection and words. I was the one trying to make our relationship work, like I was the only one in love.

“No, I am not,” I lied, seeing the disappointment in his eyes. That disappointment made me hate myself for not having a child for six years, and it stressed me out. He used to push me to go to the doctor to see if I was pregnant. My chances of having a child were small, as the doctor said.

Yet, I wasn’t going to let my child live a life like this.

“I think it’s hopeless for us to have a child,” he said with a tone of defeat, as if it was my fault. I wanted to laugh. Because you have a child with your mistress! Now, I was just nothing.

“Yes, it’s hopeless between us,” I agreed with a serious, cold expression. “I need to get dressed and apologize to Sophia, and you’ll do what you’ve said.”

Catalina's POV

I had publicly apologized to Sophia with the media, and it was all over the news. Javier probably seen it.

The car pulled up in front of the ten-story J&C Incorporation building in the heart of the city. Javier and I built this company together, and the two imposing foot soldiers guarding the entrance, with their signature black suits and the Alarcon crest—a lion and raven facing each other—stood as a testament to our power.

The driver opened the door for me, and I stepped out, heading straight to the entrance. One of the men bowed and opened the door for me. The Queen was here. As I entered the lobby, eyes turned to me. I rarely visited since I worked behind the scenes.

They'd bowed at me, and I headed to the elevator. They had surely warned Javier that I was coming, always keeping me in the dark about what my cheating husband was up to.

When I reached his office floor, three men were stationed outside his door.

“Donna, the Don is busy right now,” said Leonardo Vacinci, the second in command.

“Open the door,” I demanded with authority.

“We can't,” Leonardo said firmly.

“As the Don's wife, I order you to open the door,” I said calmly but with a warning in my tone. “Don't make me do something you'll regret.”

“It’s the Don’s order,” Leonardo explained, fear creeping into his eyes as he saw my maniacal smile.

He knew how crazy I could be. I might look like a lamb to Javier, but his men had seen my other side.

“Leo, you’ll do what I say, or do you want me to do something sickening to your precious Ella?” I snickered, and his fist clenched. He wouldn’t let his three-year-old girl be harmed.

He closed his eyes for a second and ordered the men to open the door. Despite their protests, they complied.

I entered, my seven-inch heels clicking on the floor, and saw Javier in the most compromising position with Sophia. She was on top of him, kissing him, almost naked.

A scream escaped Sophia mouth when I pulled her hair hard, and Javier’s eyes widened.

“What the hell, Amore Mio,” guilt and panic evident in his amber eyes.

“Oops, my hand slipped,” I smiled mockingly. You never knew me, Javier. I’ll show you how the Queen crushes the king. I yanked Sophia’s hair harder, tears of pain filling her eyes as she tried to pry my hand off her hair.

"Stop it, you bitch!” Sophia shouted, while Javier hurried to button his shirt.

I laughed manically. “Oh, a bitch! Who's the bitch between us?" I yanked her hair, watching the pain flicker across her beautiful face. "You dare call me that? You’re the bitch here!"

“Let her go, Amore Mio. Let's talk and leave Sophia out of this,” he said, ordering his men to grab me.

But they didn’t move, and Javier’s face flushed. "I order you!”

Leonardo might have warned them not to follow Javier's orders, but if they did, they'd face the worst from me—something even the Don wouldn't do.

I released Sophia’s hair and wiped my hand with a handkerchief as though it was dirty. She rushed to Javier, but he was furious, pushing her away and towards me.

“Amore Mio, what you saw is for the cartel’s sake,” he said softly, making sure Sophia couldn’t hear.

"Sophia, leave,” he said coldly dismissng her as she adjusted her burgundy dress—the same design Javier had given to me two months ago.

Anger and pain rose inside me. "You better leave, because if you don’t, I’ll do something worse,” I warned lazily, and Sophia, her blue eyes full of fear, rushed out.

See who’s the lioness here. You better be afraid of me.

Once the door closed, Javier tried to touch me, but the thought of him touching another woman sickened me. I moved away as if he had a contagious disease. I saw the shock, hurt, and anger in his eyes.

“Do you understand why I’m doing this? I never explained to you, but I should have. Seducing Sophia will help us easily import and export shipments without the government meddling all the time,” he explained, trying hard.

I pulled a piece of paper from my shoulder bag and handed it to him. "Do what you promised. I've already done my part—apologizing publicly at your Mistress. It's all over the news. Now sign it." I made sure to emphasize the word 'Mistress.'

"Sophia is not my mistress. I’m using her, Amore Mio,” he insisted, as if I was mistaken.

He took the paper, and his eyes widened when he saw it was a divorce agreement.

“What’s this?“ he asked. "No, I am not agreeing to this!”