BLOOD & RHYTHM

“Will you help me?” I begged my childhood friend, Matteo Russo.

“Right now, you’re the only person who can stand against Elijah. If you help me, I can fake my death and leave.”

Matteo is the Don of the largest mafia family in Sinticily. To him, staging a fake death through an accident would be effortless.

However, instead of answering, he asked, “Hazel, are you really willing to give up everything? Five years of marriage, and your son, who has always adored you. Once you fake your death, you’ll lose it all.”

I lowered my head and looked at the family photo in my hands.

In the picture, Elijah Mason held our son in one arm while pulling me close with the other. He wasn’t looking at the camera when it was captured. Instead, he lowered his gaze and looked at me with quiet tenderness.

Everyone who has seen that photo says he loves me deeply.

On our wedding day, he gave out 9,999 cash vouchers across the entire city of Neapolis, just so everyone could celebrate our marriage.

When Kai Mason was born, I nearly died in childbirth. Elijah stayed by my side for two whole days without sleeping.

Once I woke up, he was in tears, saying he would never let me suffer like that again. Kai would be his only child.

After that, no matter how busy he was, he took full responsibility for taking care of Kai. He never let me worry about raising our son.

We were once so happy. A family everyone envied.

For five years, Elijah took good care of me. Even Kai learned from him, becoming a thoughtful child who looked after me in his own way.

I never imagined that the husband and son who loved me so much would hide another woman from me.

Warm tears fell onto the photo frame. I lifted my head and said firmly to Matteo, “Yes, I’m willing to give up everything! Let ‘me’ die in front of Elijah, so he’ll finally let go!”

Since I can’t leave openly, I’ll let Elijah watch me disappear.

In this lifetime, I won’t have the chance to see them again.

Matteo was silent for a moment before saying, “If this is what you want, I’ll make it happen.”

He said he would arrange a car accident for my fake death in three days, on the day of my fifth wedding anniversary with Elijah.

“Hazel, I have to remind you that every year on your anniversary, Elijah never leaves your side. Are you sure you can find a chance to fake your death?”

Even Matteo, far away in Sinticily, knew how much Elijah valued me.

“If he doesn’t leave, then I’ll cancel the plan. This is the last chance I’m giving him.”

My voice came out hoarse as I spoke.

After everything was arranged, I returned to Mason Manor, exhausted.

As soon as I pushed open the door, Kai ran toward me happily, holding a bouquet of bright, nameless flowers.

“Mom, where did you go? Why are you back so late?”

Like a little bird, he threw himself into my arms and held the flowers out with a proud look on his face.

“Mom, I picked these myself. Do you like them?”

Then he quickly added, “Dad wanted to help, but I said no. I picked all of these myself. Aren’t I amazing?”

He looked at me expectantly, and that hopeful expression made my heart soften.

I picked him up and kissed his forehead.

“Thank you, baby. I really like your gift.”

Satisfied, Kai ran off.

I took the bouquet upstairs, planning to find a nice vase and place it by the bedside.

Then I suddenly remembered that I had taken the vase to the kitchen, so I turned back.

However, just as I reached the stairs, I accidentally overheard my husband and son talking.

“Kai, where did you put the Halo diamond bracelet you customized at Cartier? Wasn’t that a gift for your mom?”

“Dad, that’s for Aunt Naomi. The necklace you bought today should also be saved and given to Naomi. That’s our agreement.”

I froze where I stood.

The cheap bouquet in my hands suddenly felt like a quiet mockery of my own self-delusion.