Chapter 2

In just seven years, the Bellini family had replaced the Rossis as the most powerful family of all.

Another annual gathering of the mafia families came around. I had no intention of returning to Northern Italy, but Rafael arrived early with our son, Antonio, and insisted I come.

"Watching our rivals squirm will cheer you up, my love," he said with a light smile during our video call. Then his voice softened. "Fine. The real reason is that I miss you. I haven't held you in two days, and I can't focus on anything."

"And don't worry," he said calmly. "I've arranged for the most reliable family to pick you up."

Alright then.

In the arrivals hall, I spotted them immediately: a line of bodyguards in tailored suits standing at attention. The display was excessive.

Rafael always loved theatrics.

However, when the man at the front removed his sunglasses, everyone froze.

Giovanni?

He looked me up and down with open contempt. His first words made me laugh in spite of myself.

"How do you even have the nerve to come back?"

Lina and the family's consigliere burst into laughter when they saw me.

"Don, isn't this the woman who spent seven years groveling at your feet?"

"Look at what she's wearing: cheap and outdated. Even my grandmother wouldn't touch that."

"Seems like life hasn't been kind to you. What? Did you sell blood to afford that outfit? Hahaha!"

I almost argued, but thought better of it.

Apparently, the Rossi family really had fallen that far. Even brands that once catered exclusively to mafia families no longer did business with them.

The clothes I was wearing happened to be this season's newest line: subtle, understated, and exceptionally comfortable.

Lina let out a haughty snort.

"Get lost, traitor. Don't block the way. We're here to receive a distinguished guest."

Traitor?

I turned to Giovanni.

His underboss immediately jumped in.

"You disappeared without explanation on your wedding day. Not only did the Don not blame you, but he also mobilized every resource he had to search for you, afraid that something had happened!

"And where did your trail end? In the Bellinis' territory!

"You betrayed the family!

"The Don has already erased your name. Why are you back?"

"Enough," Giovanni snapped, silencing his men, though his gaze remained fixed on me. He spoke as if he were being kind.

"Traitors don't get to come home. But looking at how far you've fallen… The associates are short on people to move bodies. You can start there.

"What's with that look? You came back because you were driven out of the north, didn't you? I'm offering you a chance to atone. Don't be ungrateful."

It looked like he was still the same.

He truly believed that because I had loved him for seven years, I would forever come crawling back with my tail wagging.

What he did not know was that his family's downfall had begun with me.

I had more to say, but Rafael and our son were already waiting, and I wanted nothing more than to leave these parasites behind.

I was also eager to tell him that, just before this trip, I had found out I was pregnant with our second child.

"Aren't you here to pick someone up?" I said calmly, gesturing at the bodyguards. "We can leave now."

They froze, then burst into even louder laughter.

Lina raised her designer handbag and nearly jabbed it into my face.

"Elena, did something break in your head while you were in the north? You think all this is for you?"

"Open your eyes! It's for Victoria Bellini!" she declared loudly. "Only the Bellini family's Donna is worthy of being personally received!"

Victoria.

That was the name I had given myself after leaving Giovanni.

They began whispering among themselves, reverence masking bitterness.

"Don Bellini is ruthless. When he cleans house, there's no mercy, but he's gentle with his wife."

"We sent a principessa to make peace. He said his wife would get jealous and cut three of our smuggling routes instead."

"This alliance dinner is our last chance to save the family."

"Everyone knows that if you want to please Don Bellini, you must first please his wife. Too bad he guards her so tightly. No one's ever seen her face…"

I could not help laughing softly.

That clingy man at home had this kind of reputation.

Seeing the smile on my face, Giovanni's expression darkened.

"What are you laughing at? Envious of the Bellinis' Donna?"

Lina sneered immediately.

"Of course she is. After defecting to the north, she must know better than anyone how obsessed Don Bellini is with his wife. Must hurt, right?"

Then, she said mockingly, "Hey, Elena, you've been in Northern Italy for so long. Have you ever seen the legendary ring?"

"What ring?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"You don't even know that? How did you survive up there?"

Lina never missed a chance to flaunt herself. She lifted her chin smugly.

"Listen carefully. To win his Donna's favor, Don Bellini personally forged her a ring. He even carved the family crest himself.

"They say that ring represents him giving half his power to his wife."

"Oh?" I smiled faintly and took a velvet box from my bag.

"You mean this one?"

I opened it.

Inside lay a heavy gold ring, engraved with the Bellini family's lion crest.

"It's too heavy," I said casually. "I don't like wearing it every day."

The air went dead silent.

Every pair of eyes locked onto the ring, disbelief rippling through the crowd.

To them, it was impossible.

The Bellini family's Donna was rumored to be a reclusive noblewoman from an ancient mafia lineage: mysterious and untouchable.

How could she be me? The woman they remembered as Giovanni's timid, desperate shadow?

"If there's no problem, let's go," I said, closing the box.

"Fake! It has to be fake!"

Lina shrieked and lunged forward, snatching the box from my hands. She inspected it for two seconds and then burst into laughter.

"See? The Bellini crest is a lion! Why does yours have a laurel wreath on its head?"

"You dare forge a Bellini family token?!"

"Throw it away!" Giovanni barked instinctively.

"Give it back!"

I shoved him aside and reached for it.

That ring symbolized the Bellini family's honor. No one had the right to defile it.

In the chaos, someone tripped me. Lina seized the moment and slapped me hard across the face.

My cheek swelled instantly. I staggered before barely regaining my footing.

The taste of blood rose in my throat. I raised my hand to strike back…

"Don't you dare!" Giovanni roared.

He twisted my wrist violently, wrenching my arm behind my back.

"Argh!" I cried out in pain. "Are you insane? Let go of me!"

"You're the one who's insane!" he snarled, pinning me down, his voice grinding through clenched teeth. "Lina is a top-tier jewelry appraiser. She wouldn't make a mistake! Do you want to get us all killed? I'm saving your life!"