Everyone said I was Domenico Calvetti's most obedient woman.

On our first wedding anniversary, he flirted with a pair of twins at the gambling table. He had lipstick smeared all over his shirt.

I smiled and wiped it away with a silk handkerchief, but he swatted my hand aside. "Don't kill the mood."

In the third year, the star performer from the club he ran showed up at my door with a gun pressed to my temple, demanding to take my place. Without flinching, I disarmed her using the technique he taught me and disposed of the body myself.

Behind me, he held his new lover and laughed softly. "Lucia, you always know what to do."

In the fifth year, he blew up the library my father left behind just to make his new flame, Marilena Rossetti, smile. That library was my mother's favorite spot when she was alive, and it held the only photographs of our family of three.

The explosion made me the laughingstock of the city. People whispered, "Signora Calvetti can't even protect her own memories."

Everyone believed I could never leave the Calvetti family or Domenico, but they forgot how this all started.

Back then, he rescued me from my adoptive father and fell in love with me at first sight. He knelt and begged to marry me, swearing he would protect me from blood and pain for the rest of my life.

For ten years, I held onto those empty words.

At our tenth anniversary party, his hundredth mistress arrived. Alice Russo, fresh out of college, held a glass of red wine and poured it down my gown while Domenico watched.

"Signora Calvetti, this dress is so old. Given your position, you should be wearing something better."

Everyone at the party waited to see my humiliation. Instead, I lowered my eyes and dialed Domenico's father's number.

"Father, the ten-year agreement is over. I won't be Signora Calvetti anymore."

On the other end of the line, Salvatore Calvetti's voice was thick with exhaustion.

"These ten years have been hard on you. Everything's arranged. Someone will meet you at the back door in five days."

Listening to Salvatore's hoarse voice, a bitter ache rose in my chest.

The night I agreed to Domenico Calvetti's proposal, Salvatore called me in for a private conversation. He looked at the hope in my eyes and sighed. "Child, if you're planning to play around with him, I won't say a word.

"But if you're certain about marrying him, I have to ask if you've thought this through? The men in the Calvetti family have never known how to cherish anything. They only need a wife who's sensible and accommodating."

I agreed without hesitation. Domenico, who made all of Cecilo tremble, was my savior. I would repay that debt with ten years of devotion.

When I was 15, my adoptive father was a monster. One night, when he was drunk, he tried to force himself on me.

My adopted sister stopped him. He beat her half to death and locked us both in a cabin on the outskirts of town for five days and nights.

I watched as the wounds on my gentle, beautiful sister's body festered and rotted into putrid flesh.

That animal of a man kicked her corpse and said, "Dead already? Can't even handle a little fun."

Those were the most agonizing days of my life. Then, Domenico appeared. He happened to pass by that cabin on the outskirts.

He knocked my adoptive father down and pulled me out. He even confessed his feelings for me.

I fell for my savior almost immediately. I fell hopelessly in love with him, and we dated for three years. What I felt for him was both gratitude and genuine affection.

However, people kept warning me. "The men in the Calvetti family only play around. No one in this world can make them stay loyal to just one woman."

Back then, I was young. I thought that as long as I stayed by Domenico's side, I could eventually warm his heart.

Salvatore's eyes held helplessness and pity that day, but no relief. Only later did I understand. He pitied my naivety, and he was helpless about my ignorance.

I hung up the phone. Behind me came a woman's coy laughter.

"Domenico, look at Lucia. She seems unhappy."

I turned around. Alice Russo raised her hand toward me triumphantly, a diamond ring glittering on her ring finger.

For a moment, the sight of it stung my eyes.

I knew that design all too well. When Domenico and I got married, I designed the wedding ring myself. I spent three months on it, engraving our initials inside.

Now, the same design sat on a mistress' finger. She looked radiant and captivating in the latest haute couture gown while I looked sallow and thin, my dress still stained with the wine she had poured on me.

Alice's gaze landed precisely on the ring on my left ring finger. It was the platinum ring Domenico had made for me when we got married, engraved with the words, 'Until death do us part', on the inside. It was the only genuine thing he had ever given me.

She shook his arm playfully. "Darling, her ring is so beautiful. Can I wear it to the gallery opening tomorrow?"

Domenico did not even glance at me, but his tone was commanding. "Lucia, take it off. Alice needs it for the gallery opening tomorrow. Let her borrow it for now. I'll get you something better later."

I froze. It felt like a sledgehammer had slammed into my chest, leaving me breathless from the pain.

That was not just any ring. It was the only witness to our ten years of marriage. It was my only comfort through countless lonely nights.

I took a deep breath and tried to explain, "Domenico, this is the one you gave me—"

"It's just a ring!" he cut me off impatiently and slammed his wine glass down on the table.

"You want a ring so badly? I'll have someone make you a dozen tomorrow!"

A dozen? Did he think everything could be measured with money?

In the past, when his lovers wanted my jewelry or my accessories, I would give them away without hesitation. However, not this. I had treasured this ring for ten years, keeping it safe. I would not even take it off to bathe.

At this moment, I no longer hesitated. I removed the ring myself, walked over to Alice, and placed it on her finger.

The moment our skin touched, Alice deliberately pinched me hard, her eyes full of provocation.

Seeing that I did not cry or fight back, Domenico quietly exhaled in relief. He assumed I was still the pushover he could manipulate however he pleased.

"There's an auction tomorrow. You should come too."

His voice came from behind me, laced with condescension. "Buy whatever you want. No limit. Consider it compensation for the ring."

I wanted to refuse, but he did not give me a chance to speak. He ended the party and led Alice into our bedroom.

That room where we had spent countless intimate nights together had become the place where he entertained other women.

The bedroom door was slightly ajar. Inside came Alice's sultry moans and Domenico's low, heavy breathing.

I did not stop walking. I headed straight into the wine cellar.

Ten years of marriage, and I had fallen this far. I drowned my sorrows in alcohol. At midnight, the cellar door swung open.

Alice walked toward me wearing my silk robe. The collar hung open, exposing the suggestive bite marks on her neck.

"You know what Domenico told me, Lucia? He's dying to throw you in the ocean and watch you drown. He says looking at your lifeless face makes him sick and that you're worthless trash in his eyes. You're not even good enough to lick my boots."

I looked at her coldly, my eyes flat and unmoved. "This is the Calvetti family's estate. This is mafia territory, not some playground for college girls. Don't get too cocky or you'll burn yourself."

My words seemed to infuriate her.

Alice raised her hand to slap me across the face. "You bitch, how dare you lecture me!"

Before her palm could land, I caught her wrist in a tight grip.

Ten years with Domenico meant I had seen plenty of bloodshed. I had killed more people than she had probably ever met.

The next second, I slammed her entire body against the dust-covered wall with enough force to make her scream in pain. "I've killed more people than you've ever met. Who the hell do you think you are?"

Alice's body went rigid, and her pupils were filled with terror. She probably thought I was just a compliant pushover.

A few seconds later, she snapped out of it and began shrieking hysterically, "Help! Someone help me! She's trying to kill me!"

While screaming, she deliberately tore at her robe, exposing her shoulders and chest. Then, she hurled herself at the wine rack beside her.

The sound of shattering wine bottles pierced the air. Glass shards and wine splattered everywhere.

She fell perfectly beside the broken glass. A cut on her temple began bleeding. It looked like I had brutally assaulted her.

The cellar door was kicked open. Domenico stormed in, fury radiating off him. In his hand was a Desert Eagle.

It was the weapon he had given me for self-defense all those years ago when he saved me from my adoptive father. Now, it was aimed directly at my forehead.

His eyes immediately found Alice lying on the floor. Murderous intent ignited in his gaze.

For a moment, I could almost feel the cold sensation of a bullet piercing through my body.

"Lucia, are you asking to die?" He spoke through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with violence. "Who gave you the nerve to touch her!"

I stared at the black muzzle of the gun. My mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Did I have to explain myself? What would be the point? He would not believe me.

I started laughing until tears streamed down my face. "You did. You gave me the nerve. Domenico, have you forgotten?"

I looked straight into his eyes and slowly said, "You said no one but you could ever hurt me. You promised this gun would never be aimed at me."

My gaze seemed to sting him. The hand holding the gun trembled slightly.

He lowered the weapon but stepped forward and raised his hand. He slapped me hard across the face.

The sharp crack echoed through the room. My cheek swelled immediately, blood seeping from the corner of my mouth. The pain was searing.

"Three days in the basement!" His voice was cold as ice. "You're not allowed out without my permission! No food, no water!"

He threw those words at me before carefully lifting Alice from the floor. His movements were so gentle, as if he were handling a priceless treasure.

I still remembered how he had held me just like that after I accepted his proposal. Back then, he said he would give me the world.

Now, everything had changed.

I spent three full days in the cold, damp basement without food or water.

During that time, I kept reliving the past ten years. I thought about the moment my father's library was blown to pieces. I thought about how bravely Domenico had saved me from my adoptive father. I thought about how easily he had given away the ring on my finger to someone else.

It turned out that all his vows were nothing more than idle amusement.

On the fourth morning, the basement door finally opened.

Two bodyguards hauled me off the floor like a sack of trash. My legs had gone numb long ago. I could only hang between them as they carried me.

Domenico stood at the doorway, looking down at me from above. There was no sympathy in his eyes, only impatience. "Alice is shaken up and upset. You'll go to the auction tonight and serve her drinks. Make her happy. Consider it compensation."

I nodded numbly. The person Salvatore arranged should arrive soon. I just had to endure a little longer and it would all be over.

The underground black market auction that night was packed with all kinds of people.

I wore a server's uniform, weaving between lecherous men and serving them drinks.

Alice nestled in Domenico's arms, dressed in an elaborate gown while wearing my ring, basking in everyone's flattery.

Halfway through the auction, the auctioneer introduced the next item with exaggerated flair.

"Our next piece is a self-defense weapon from Signorina Tarantino. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and it has tremendous collector's value!"

The moment the dagger was brought out, my breathing stopped. It was the only thing my mother had left me.

Ten years ago, the Calvetti family faced an unprecedented crisis. Their cash flow dried up, and they were on the verge of being swallowed up by other families.

I secretly pawned this dagger I always carried with me and used the money to help Domenico weather the storm. It was my way of repaying him for saving my life.

I remembered how he had held me, swearing in my ear that he would buy it back for me one day and keep it safe.

Now, here it was, displayed in front of everyone as just another item up for auction.

Almost instinctively, I started to raise the bidding paddle. However, a large hand clamped down on my wrist. It was Domenico.

He did not even look at me. He just tilted his chin toward Alice in his arms, his tone indulgent. "Do you like it? I'll buy it for you so that you can use it to protect yourself."

Alice gasped in delight and pressed her chest tightly against Domenico's arm. "Really? Oh darling, thank you! I've always wanted something like this!"

Domenico clearly enjoyed this. He reached out and ruffled her hair.

The bidding started. Alice raised the price without hesitation. In the end, she won the dagger at three times its market value.

When the dagger was handed to her, she played with it in her hands, seemingly quite pleased.

The next second, she picked up an apple from the table and started peeling it clumsily with the blade. Her movements were awkward and deliberate.

"Ugh, this knife isn't sharp at all. It can barely even cut fruit."

She pouted and tossed the dagger carelessly onto the table with a loud clang.

My blood seemed to freeze. That was my mother's heirloom.

Now, it was being used by some worthless mistress to peel fruit, and she was complaining it was not sharp enough.

My chest felt like someone had carved into it with a blade. The pain nearly suffocated me.

Just then, the large screen at the auction suddenly lit up. A grainy surveillance video began to play.

In the footage, a woman whose figure closely resembled mine was meeting with a man. That man was the Underboss of the Calvettis' rival family.

The image was unclear and the audio had been processed, but the content clearly accused me of selling family secrets and leaking the Calvetti family's transport routes.

Domenico's body went rigid. The temperature around him seemed to plummet. He whipped his head around and stared at me, his eyes burning with murderous intent.

"Lucia! You betrayed me?"

The woman's profile in the video made her look similar to me, but her movements were stiff. It was obviously edited together afterward. However, looking at his furious face, I knew any explanation would be useless.

He would not believe me. In his mind, I was just a wife in name only.

Domenico grabbed me and yanked me up. His grip was so tight it felt like he would tear my arm off. He dragged me all the way to the center of the auction stage.

Then he made a shocking announcement. "This woman has betrayed the Calvetti family. She has betrayed me! Today, I'm putting her body up for auction!"

I struggled and grabbed onto his pant leg, trying to bring him back to reason. "Domenico, even the audio in that video is synthesized. Can't you hear it? Someone's framing me! You can't do this to me!"

"Framing you?" Domenico laughed like he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He shook his hand and flung me away without hesitation.

The back of my head slammed hard into the steps of the auction stage. Blood ran down from my forehead and blurred my vision.

Before I could catch my breath, a leather shoe stomped down hard on the hand I was trying to use to push myself up. The sound of bones shattering was unmistakable.

My whole body convulsed from the pain. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

"This is what you get for betraying me." Domenico's voice was cold as ice, devoid of any warmth.

He snapped his fingers. On the large screen behind him, naked photos of me appeared one after another.