Chapter 3

Elena's POV

Martina stood behind Stefano, holding up the bracelet as she taunted me. "So, this is the Santoros' family heirloom, huh? Now that I'm wearing it, does that make me their Principessa?"

She burst out laughing, and Stefano joined in.

"Just admit it, Elena. You have nothing left."

I let out a long sigh. There really was nothing left for me here.

Seven years earlier, my Padre found out that I planned to leave him to be with Stefano.

We had a huge fight. Papa had yelled, "I don't approve of you being with him! How could a small family like the Contis ever be good enough for you?

"If you insist on being with him, don't blame us for cutting you off! From now on, you're on your own. You can come back when you finally come to your senses."

Still, I chose Stefano and never went back to my family.

After I got together with him, I helped turn the Contis into one of the most powerful families in the underworld.

Two years ago, a rival crew came after us, and I was caught off guard. A bullet grazed my right ear, leaving me with permanent hearing loss on that side.

When Stefano saw the wound, he looked genuinely shaken. "Elena, I don't want you out in the field anymore. Stay home from now on. I'll protect you. It kills me to see you hurt."

By then, his business was already well established. So, I settled into life at home, taking care of the household for him.

From then on, my entire world revolved around him. Every morning, I got up early to make him breakfast.

Stefano had a sensitive stomach, so I made him easy-to-digest meals. I researched new recipes every day, always trying to prepare food that would nourish him.

I thought he could tell how much I loved him and that he'd love me back. What I didn't realize was that, in his eyes, I'd become nothing more than a useless fool.

At that moment, Stefano grabbed me and yanked me to my feet.

"Look at you. You're so damn weak," he spat. "All I did was shove you, and you couldn't even get back up. If you weren't still useful as my free housekeeper, I wouldn't have kept you around this long.

"Think about it, Elena. Once I throw you out, how long do you think you'll survive with all those rival crews coming after you?"

Martina stepped over, patted my cheek, and said, "Take it easy, Stefano. She's so delicate. You might break her."

She went on, "Elena, I suppose I should thank you for all your hard work over the years. Every operation you built for Stefano was rock-solid. Whenever I took one over, I could step right in and take control."

Martina was about to leave when she stopped in her tracks, as if she'd just remembered something.

"Oh! And those lunches you made for Stefano every day? They really weren't that good. Stefano and I never liked them, but my dog loved them!"

I had painstakingly researched and perfected every one of those meals. Yet, Stefano had been feeding them to Martina's dog the whole time.

It was only then that everything finally became clear to me.

The love Stefano had shown me had never been genuine. It had all been manipulation and deceit. And like a fool, I'd handed him everything I had.

He wasn't the right person for me, and he no longer deserved my love.

With that, I packed my bags and left that house for good.