Just then, Leo's phone rang.

It was the company's finance director.

Leo answered with shaking hands. The moment he put it on speaker, a panicked voice burst through.

"Mr. Lovera, something's wrong. Swiss Bank just called, saying they've frozen the company accounts! We're supposed to pay ten million dollars today to the Colombian arms dealers. If that money doesn't clear, they're going to dump us in the ocean."

Leo's hand jerked, and the phone nearly slipped from his grip.

He lunged at me, trying to snatch my phone. "Anna, you witch! Unfreeze the money right now. Are you trying to kill me?"

I stepped aside and kicked his knee in one smooth motion.

He hit the floor with a dull thud, landing on his knees.

"Kill you?" I looked down at him. "We're not even close to that yet."

I stared at him from above, my voice calm. "Over the past few years, you've been selling the Family's weapons on the side. You used that money to buy Sophia jewelry, luxury cars, and even a seaside villa. Every single transaction is being investigated. You misappropriated company funds on a grand scale. How many years in prison do you think that'll buy you?"

Leo knelt there, all his arrogance gone.

"A-Anna, listen to me. This is all a misunderstanding. There's nothing between Sophia and me. She seduced me. I swear."

When Sophia heard him, she rushed out barefoot.

"Leo! Just yesterday you said you were going to divorce this old hag and marry me. Now you're backing out?" Sophia shrieked. "I'm carrying your child!"

Leo did not even look at her before shoving her aside. "Get lost. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this mess!"

Sophia fell to the floor and broke into loud sobs. "Fine. I'm calling the police. I'll report all of you!"

I watched the scene unfold, completely unmoved.

"Go ahead." I walked over and sat on the couch. "While the police are here, they can also check the receipts in that Hermès bag of yours. Let's see whose card you used to pay for it."

Sophia's crying stopped instantly.

Just then, a rapid knocking came from the gates of the estate. Then, a sharp, shrill voice followed.

"Open the door! Where is everyone? Leo! Your mother is here and you're not coming out to greet me?"

Leo looked like he'd spotted salvation. He scrambled to the door, nearly tripping in his haste.

"Mom! You actually came! I can't take this life anymore!"

The door opened, revealing an older woman draped in a gaudy fur coat.

It was Leo's mother, Rosa Moretti.

She stepped inside and let her eyes sweep the room, finally settling on me.

"If Leo hadn't pulled you off the streets back then, you wouldn't be alive today!"

I said nothing. Meeting Leo that day had been an accident.

A bomb had been planted along my usual route. After barely escaping it, a group of young thugs mistook me for a beggar and beat me up mercilessly.

Leo happened to be the only passerby I could grab.

I begged him, as an ordinary woman named Anna, to take me home and marry me.

I had lived under that identity for five years. Five years during which I managed his company and let him live in my estate.

That was more than enough to repay the tiny favor of saving my life.

Leo leaned in close to whisper something in Rosa's ear.

She spat on the floor, scratched at her hair that hadn't been washed in days, and dandruff snowed onto my expensive Persian rug.

"Since my son lives here, this estate belongs to us!"

She strutted over and plopped herself down right next to me.

I shifted away in disgust.

Seeing me retreat only riled Rosa up more. "Have you lost your mind?"

Rosa slammed her palm on the table. "Anna. Now that I'm here, this house answers to me. Starting today, you're moving into the basement. The master bedroom goes to Sophia so she can rest during her pregnancy. And from now on, all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and everything else is your job. If you don't do it right, you get out."

Leo stood to the side, his back straightening again.

"You hear that?"

I looked at the circus in front of me and almost laughed.

"Rosa," I said flatly, calling her by name. "This is my home. Spit on my floor one more time, and I'll make you lick it clean."

The room went dead silent.

Rosa froze for a few seconds, then grabbed the crystal ashtray off the table and hurled it at me. "You little witch. I'll kill you!"

I tilted my head and dodged. The ashtray smashed into the wall, shattering into pieces.

Rosa charged at me and slapped me twice across the face.

"You ungrateful bitch. How dare you talk back to me? I'll teach you a lesson today on behalf of your dead parents!

Sophia clapped her hands from the side, delighted. "That's right, Mom. Hit her. Women like her only learn when they're beaten!"

I was forced to the floor, and I struggled with everything I had. However, I was pinned down so tightly I could barely breathe.

Leo crouched in front of me, grabbed my hair, and forced my head up.

"Anna, don't blame me for being heartless. Sign a share transfer agreement right now. Every share under your name goes to me. Then, sign a property gift deed and transfer this estate to my mother. If you sign, I'll let you go and give you some money to disappear. If you don't..."

His voice dropped.

"You'll rot in the basement for the rest of your life."

I spat out a mouthful of blood and glared at him. "In your dreams."

Leo seemed to remember something. He turned and lifted a necklace from the mantel.

It was my mother's keepsake.

"You always loved this necklace, didn't you? If you don't sign, I'll destroy it."

"No!" I screamed, my voice raw and hoarse.

"Leo, why are you wasting time talking to her?" Sophia urged from the side. "Just throw it into the fireplace already."

Leo tossed the necklace toward the hearth. He lit a sheet of newspaper and moved to throw it in after.

"Leo! Rosa! Sophia!" I roared each name, my throat filled with the taste of blood.

"If you burn it, I swear I'll tear your limbs apart and feed you to the sharks!"

Leo's hand jerked. The newspaper slipped from the edge of the mantel. Flames licked up instantly, catching the necklace.

I used the moment to break free and lunged for the hearth.

I grabbed the necklace with my bare hand.

The fire scorched the back of my hand, but I felt nothing.

I crushed the necklace against my chest and smothered the flames with my body.

Luckily, only a small part of it was blackened.

I collapsed to the floor, curled around what I was protecting. My hair was a mess, my clothes torn, the back of my hand burned black.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

Leo had been about to kick me, but the look in my eyes made him freeze in place.

It was pure, murderous hatred.

"Leo," I said, my voice hoarse but steady. "You just tried to burn my necklace."

Leo stepped back, then pointed a finger at me and yelled, "So what? It's just a dead woman's necklace. If you care so much, sign the papers and get out with that worthless thing!"

A furious shout thundered from the entrance.

"Try touching her again. I dare you!"

The front doors were kicked open.

Seven or eight men in black suits poured in, taking control of the room in seconds.

Then, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit stepped inside.

It was my father, Fritz Orlen, the Don of the Orlen Family.

My father saw me, disheveled and clutching the necklace, and his face darkened. He strode forward, draping his coat over my shoulders.

"Who dared lay a hand on my daughter?"