Chapter 3

Ian's voice rang out from the entrance. He entered in a custom-made suit with a huge bouquet of roses on one hand and a gift box in the other.

When he saw me standing in the middle of the living room, he handed me the gift and flowers. "Vivian, who were you talking to on the phone? Are you leaving?"

I hung up and calmed down as I replied, "You misheard me. I was talking to the landlady."

Ian did not press further. He softened his tone and said, "Don't get mad. I know you've suffered."

I did not respond, merely looking at him icily.

He placed the bouquet down, then took a step forward and tried to touch my shoulder, but I dodged.

He paused for a while but did not get mad.

He explained, "I married Jeanine not because I had a change of heart, but because of the Santoro family's support. My position in my family isn't secure. Only through this union can I stabilize my position as the Don of the family and control everything."

Ian spoke as if I would immediately understand where he was coming from and forgive him.

He tried to reach out to hold my hand.

He promised, "Jeanine is just the family's arrangement. I will give you the best life. Jewelry, money, power. Anything you want, I'll give it to you. We're still the same as before. I only have you in my heart, and no one can take your place."

He had kept me like I was some pet that was too embarrassing to show others. He wanted me to continue to be his secret lover.

For five years, we had no material luxuries. In fact, most of the time, I was waiting for him to come back to my rented place.

What I wanted was an acknowledgment. An acknowledgment that I was his only lover. An acknowledgment of his promise to give me a home.

However, even until that point, he thought that he could keep me just with material gifts and empty promises.

My heart ached so much that I could not breathe.

Ian took my silence as a tacit agreement. He raised his hand and combed my hair with his fingers.

"Just stay here. I'll come and see you often. Don't try to cause any trouble or try to run away. I won't let you leave me."

He took my phone away and said, "I'll keep this for you. It's better to not let public comments affect you."

Then, he ordered the housekeepers to lock the door.

I was imprisoned.

For the next few days, the housekeepers kept a constant eye on me. They were respectful, but they never let me out of their sight.

On the third day, Jeanine came over. She sat on the couch as if she was the owner of the house.

"Vivian Walker, I've been searching for you for a long time."

"I don't know you," I replied.

Jeanine snickered condescendingly, "Is that so? Mistresses like you should always know a thing or two about the legitimate wife."

She sized me up as if I was some piece of trash.

Then, she showed me her phone. "Have a look at what your lover has been doing for the past few days."

The trending headlines were jarring to the eyes.

[Woman Breaks Into Auction, Suspected Gambino Family Mistress]

[Unknown Woman Ruins Rich Marriage As Mistress]

[Vivian Walker Exposed]

The footage of the auction had been maliciously edited, only showing me standing at the scene, flustered and confused, framed as a deliberately provocative intruder.

Photos from my part-time jobs, my family's old address, even information about deceased relatives… Everything had been dug up and exposed. The comment sections were filled with obscene insults and curses.

I grabbed my phone, typing frantically, trying to tell the world about five years of love, his lies, and our past.

However, every time I hit the 'send' button, the page immediately flagged my account as abnormal. It displayed a content violation, and my account was banned.

Jeanine looked at me in agony and smiled, saying, "Your presence at the auction has dragged the Santoro and Gambino families down. Their stocks have been plummeting, and the elders and shareholders have been pressuring Ian.

"Don't you see? This is his choice. Only by putting blame on you, the union between the two families will be stronger.

"Stop clinging to delusions. The heir to the Gambino family can only be the child in me. I'm the only one who is Ian Gambino's legitimate wife.

"I'll send a car to take you to the docks in two days. Ian won't find out about it. Think about it. Do you want to give up whatever is remaining of your cheap dignity to stay here, or leave? At least, your pride is intact if you leave."