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Chapter 2

Penulis: Echo
The next morning, my phone started buzzing nonstop. I didn't need to look to know who it was.

I took my time with my morning routine, poured a black coffee, and only then did I swipe the screen open.

Just as I thought. A string of texts from Rosalie.

Seeing I hadn't replied, her tone had shifted from last night's condescension to her old trick: playing the victim.

【Sister, why aren't you answering me?】

【Edmund didn't sleep at all last night. I'm so worried about him. I know you're busy, but Sophia's tuition for private school is due. If Edmund's business goes under, she'll be kicked out! She's your niece!】

【And the bank is about to foreclose on Mom and Dad's house. If we don't get the Vexille family's protection, we'll all be out on the street. You wouldn't want to see that, would you?】

I read the words and a cynical smile twisted my lips.

Wouldn't want to see it?

I was afraid I was going to disappoint her.

I'll never forget six years ago, as they were plotting to marry me off to that old man, Rosalie was admiring a diamond ring from Edmund. "It's her duty to contribute to the family," she'd said, gloating. "Besides, the old man might be old, but he's rich. She's not losing out."

She was smiling then. So bright. So innocent.

I ignored her and got dressed, driving at a leisurely pace toward Vexille headquarters.

On the way, I got a call from Diana.

Diana was one of the few people in New York who knew the real me, and the city's top information broker.

"Well, well, Your Majesty. What have you been up to?" Diana's voice was playful, but it quickly turned serious. "I hear your dear brother-in-law is desperately trying to offload that port of his to stay afloat. Did he come crawling to you?"

"He did. Why?"

"I knew it... Don't you dare lift a finger for him. You have no idea the stories your sweet sister has been spinning while you've been away." Diana sounded furious on my behalf.

I raised an eyebrow, suddenly interested. "What did she say?"

"She said you weren't running a business in Sicily. She said you were selling your body to some old, dying mob boss just to get by. And that 'little casino'? That was just severance pay he gave you for your services."

My hands tightened on the steering wheel. My eyes went cold.

Diana continued, "She told everyone, in vivid detail, how you cried and begged Edmund not to leave you when you found out they were getting married. Oh, and she laughed about how you're still single because you're a 'cold fish'—too frigid and boring for any real man to want."

"Corinne, take my advice. The Falcone family is a black hole, and a woman like Rosalie doesn't deserve an ounce of your help. Let them burn."

"I know," I said, taking a deep breath to push down the rage building in my chest. "I have it under control, Diana. Thanks for the heads-up."

I hung up and watched the city blur past my window. It was all so absurd.

Me. The Don of the Vexille family. The queen who controlled the East Coast ports and had legions of loyal men. The way Rosalie told it, I was a pathetic whore who'd slept her way into a "little casino."

The ignorance was laughable.

I opened the family group chat I'd long since muted.

Rosalie was playing her favorite role: the pitiful victim.

【Rosalie: Sister still isn't answering me. Dad, Mom, did I do something wrong? I just want to help Edmund, and find a respectable job for my sister...】

【Mother: You did nothing wrong! It's that ungrateful girl! She thinks she's a big shot after a few years away?】

【Father: Corinne, answer when you see this! If the Falcone family goes down, don't think you'll be fine! Go find out about the Vexille family for Edmund NOW!】

I couldn't even be bothered to type a reply. I just closed the app.

The Maybach pulled silently into the underground garage of Vexille Tower.

The place was a fortress. Dozens of men in black suits, all armed, straightened up and bowed respectfully as my car approached.

I stepped out, my heels clicking on the concrete, and took my private elevator straight to the Don's office on the top floor.

My advisor, Marco, was already waiting. He handed me a file. "Don, about the 9:30 meeting with the Falcone family. How should we play it?"

I smiled. "That depends on what he brings to the table."

"After all, he's the one begging for Vexille's protection."
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  • He Begged the Don. It Was Me   Chapter 9

    I didn't resort to private justice. Instead, I had my legal team draw up an indictment. I sued my parents and my sister for kidnapping and extortion.When the cold steel of the handcuffs snapped around their wrists, they finally understood I wasn't playing a game.Rosalie sobbed hysterically in her holding cell, screaming Edmund's name, hoping he would hire the best lawyers in New York to save her.All she got was a divorce agreement delivered by his assistant and a public statement from the Falcone family disavowing any connection to her.When faced with his own ruin, so-called love was just a piece of paper, easily torn and discarded.The day before the trial, Edmund cornered me in the parking garage one last time.He looked like he had aged ten years. His eyes were sunken, his face covered in stubble. The dashing, arrogant prince was gone forever."Corinne..." he looked at me, his voice raspy, a bitter smile on his lips. "The Falcone family... it's over. The credit lines are frozen,

  • He Begged the Don. It Was Me   Chapter 8

    After Rosalie was thrown out of Vexille Tower like a piece of trash, I had a week of blessed silence.Then, my father called.I answered. His voice was old and trembling, thick with unshed tears. "Corinne... your mother is dying. A massive brain hemorrhage. The doctors say she won't make it through the night. Her last wish is to see you. I'm begging you, come home. See her one last time."My hand tightened on the phone, my knuckles white.After a long pause, I agreed. "Fine. I'm on my way."My car had just pulled up to the house when my father rushed out to meet me.He looked years older, his eyes darting around, unable to meet mine.When Marco and four armed bodyguards prepared to follow me inside, my father blocked the door."Corinne, your mother needs absolute quiet! Are you trying to scare her to death, bringing these... these killers inside? Make them wait out here!"I noticed it immediately. His face held none of the grief of a man about to lose his wife. Instead, there was a str

  • He Begged the Don. It Was Me   Chapter 7

    The next morning, New York's high society exploded.The news that I was the mysterious new Don of the Vexille family spread like wildfire.My personal phone was bombarded with messages.The socialites who once sneered at me at parties, the business tycoons who wouldn't have given me the time of day, even "old classmates" I barely knew—all of them were suddenly sending texts.Every word oozed with sickening flattery.Some went even further, sending invitations and expensive gifts to Vexille-owned businesses, trying to pull strings to get an audience with me.I looked at the thick stack of invitations on my desk with disgust."Don, about these meeting requests..." Julian asked quietly."Reject them all," I cut him off. "Send out the order. From now on, anyone claiming to be an old friend or a relative is not to be let in. Anyone who tries to get them an audience is out of Vexille. Immediately.""Yes, Don." Julian's expression hardened as he left to carry out my command.But some people,

  • He Begged the Don. It Was Me   Chapter 6

    As I expected, Edmund didn't give up.He called twenty-seven times that afternoon, begging for a private meeting.I rejected every single one.But his persistence went beyond what I'd anticipated.Half an hour later, the front desk informed me that he was blocking the main entrance to Vexille Tower.He had abandoned all pretense of dignity, trying to force his way past security, shouting my name in the lobby and causing a scene."Don, should I have security throw him out?" Marco's voice came through the intercom, cold as ice."No. A scene in the lobby is bad for business," I said, closing a file and straightening my suit jacket. "Tell the driver to meet me in the sub-level garage. We'll use the private exit."I thought that would be the end of it, but I had underestimated the desperation of a drowning man.As my private elevator descended to the garage, a disheveled figure lunged from behind a concrete pillar."Corinne!"Edmund's voice was raw and broken, echoing in the vast, dim space

  • He Begged the Don. It Was Me   Chapter 5

    "Corinne... how can it be you? This is impossible... You were in Sicily..." he stammered, the shock completely shattering his reality."My time is valuable, Edmund," I said, glancing at my watch, my voice cutting through his confusion. "You have a thirty-minute appointment. Three of those minutes are already gone."The words "thirty minutes" snapped him back to the present.Though his eyes were still wide with disbelief, the desperation of his family's ruin forced him to pull himself together.He began to stumble through his proposal."I... We, the Falcone family, wish to enter into a deep partnership with the Vexille family," Edmund stammered, swallowing hard to make his voice sound stronger. "We are willing to cede control of our key port on Third Avenue. In exchange, we request one year of Vexille's protection and a capital injection of twenty million dollars to help us survive this... this cash flow crisis."I said nothing, just slowly flipped through the file in my hands. The only

  • He Begged the Don. It Was Me   Chapter 4

    9:00 AM.My phone lit up again. A text from Rosalie, her tone now a furious accusation.【Corinne, why didn't you answer Edmund's message? Do you have any idea the pressure he's under? If this deal with Vexille falls through and the Falcone family goes bankrupt, it will be all your fault! You'll be a traitor to this family!】Immediately after, the phone rang. The screen read "Mother."I answered. Before I could speak, her shrill voice shot through the receiver. "Corinne! What is your problem now? Your sister said you're ignoring Edmund! Do you have any respect for this family? All we asked was for you to take ten minutes to ask about the new Don, and you're putting on airs?""I'm not putting on airs.""No? Then what? You think you're so great after six years in Sicily? Let me tell you, you've done nothing for this family in six years! Now that we're in a crisis, you won't even do this one small thing. How could I have raised such a cold, selfish daughter!""I'm warning you, if this deal

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