Chapter 1

Shortly after I hung up the video call, Rhett arrived. Lina trailed behind him.

"How are you feeling today?" Rhett asked, his voice full of concern.

Lina set a bouquet down by my bed. To my disbelief, it was the bridal bouquet from their wedding!

"Vera, I've been worried sick about you! It's all Rhett's fault. If he can't even keep you safe, I'll never forgive him."

Lina gave Rhett a playful punch on the arm.

"It really was my fault this time. I'll be more careful at business meetings from now on."

The day before, Rhett and I had attended a banquet.

The host, the Matteo Family, was a business rival of the Raines Family.

Though the two Families hadn't openly clashed, I had kept my guard up.

When a waiter brought Rhett a glass of champagne, I took a sip first to test it for poison.

The champagne was poisoned. I coughed up blood and passed out on the spot.

I later heard the banquet had descended into chaos. The Matteo Family swore they hadn't poisoned anyone.

But Rhett was the first to draw his gun. He shot the Matteo Family's underboss dead.

A firefight erupted, and the Raines Family slaughtered the Matteos.

Once I was out of danger, Rhett held me close.

"Vera, I'll never let anyone hurt you again."

Yet that very morning, he had married Lina. Then he had the nerve to bring me their wedding bouquet.

As soon as they noticed me looking at their intertwined hands, Rhett let go of Lina.

Lina froze for a moment, then forced a smile.

"You two got married, didn't you?" I was tired of watching them put on a show.

Rhett was the man I loved, but I wasn't the type to cling to a relationship once it was over.

If he had truly fallen for Lina and told me the truth, I would have given them my blessing.

Lina was my best friend, after all.

She was one of our maids' daughters. We had grown up together, and she was like family to me.

But instead of telling me, they chose to hide it.

Rhett kept his composure and gave a weary sigh.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Yeah, Vera, what are you even talking about?"

Lina tugged nervously at Rhett's sleeve, trying to act calm.

They were really going to keep lying to my face.

"You've been sneaking around behind my back all this time. Was that fun for you two?"

I pulled up their wedding video on my phone.

Both Rhett and Lina went pale.

"Who sent you that?" Rhett demanded. His first instinct was to question me.

I didn't answer. I just watched their faces.

The tension was unbearable. Lina was the first to break the silence.

She buried her face in her hands and sobbed. "I'm sorry, Vera. But Rhett and I are truly in love.

"You love Rhett too, so you understand how I feel, right?"

Rhett pulled Lina into his arms and gently wiped away her tears.

"Vera, you scared her.

"We were going to tell you after you were discharged. Lina was worried the news would set back your recovery."

I let out a bitter scoff. "I was your fiancée. Why was she the one you married?"

"It was my idea."

My father pushed the door open, his expression stern.

"Becoming Don means putting your life on the line. Lina is too gentle and fragile for that. She never would've survived. But you could."

I stared at my father in shock.

So that had been his plan all along. He had arranged my engagement to Rhett so I could help him become Don and take down his rivals.

Once I had done all the hard work, he let Lina marry Rhett and take the place I had risked my life for.

"You knew all along. Or rather, you helped plan the whole thing, didn't you?"

I looked at Rhett and fought to keep my tears from falling.

Rhett said nothing, his jaw tight. His silence said everything.

Lina held the bridal bouquet out to me.

"Vera, I still hope you'll give us your blessing.

"This is the bridal bouquet from the wedding. I brought it just for you. Remember our promise? Whoever got married first would pass the bouquet to the other."

Lina's face was the picture of concern, but she kept pushing the bouquet toward me.

I'd had enough. I knocked the bouquet out of her hands. Lina stumbled and fell to the floor.

Rhett rushed to help her up. Then he turned on me, his face filled with anger.

"Vera! I don't care how angry you are. You had no right to push her! She's pregnant. She's fragile!"