Chapter 2

Leo let out a mocking laugh, shaking his head.

“Aurora, that word should be coming from me. If it wasn't for this goddamn marriage alliance, why the hell would I have been in hiding for five years?”

“That car crash was the perfect escape..”

I stared at him.

I suddenly remembered the bodyguard who "escaped" with Leo.

He came back, said the car exploded and went off the bridge. Leo died instantly.

I thought it was strange then. If the explosion was that bad, how did the bodyguard get out clean?

Now I knew. The whole thing was a setup by this coward.

"Leo, you—"

"Sir!" A panicked voice cut me off.

Antonio, the head butler, rushed in. He saw Leo and his face went white.

"Sir, you cannot speak to the Madame that way!" he stammered, horrified. "She is the Don's wife! The sitting Don!"

He raised an amused eyebrow, looking from me to the terrified butler.

“The Don's wife?”

Cecilia beside me asked in a feigned innocent tone.

“Leo, didn't you say that once your father stepped down, he would pass the title of Don to you?

Leo's expression froze for a moment, then he looked at me indifferently.

“My father has only one son, and no one else is qualified to inherit the title of Don besides me.”

“Antonio, have you gone senile in the five years I’ve been away? Everyone in New York knows I am the one true heir to the Corleone bloodline.”

Antonio looked even paler, his voice shaking. "Sir, you... you misunderstand. The Madame is married to Don Cassiano. He is the head of the Corleone family now."

After Leo fled the wedding that day, I stood blankly in the church, surrounded by mocking stares from everyone around.

Just when I thought I would die of shame, the heavy cathedral doors swung open.

Cassiano walked in.

He wore a black, custom-tailored suit, his face as cold and hard as a marble sculpture.

“The wedding will proceed,” his voice was low, leaving no room for argument. “I will marry her.”

No one dared to question him. No one dared to object.

Because he was Cassiano Corleone. Leo’s uncle. The true power of the Family.

He saved my dignity. He saved my life.

If that's the case, why wouldn't I marry?

“I’ll admit, Aurora, it’s a clever move. But using my Uncle Cassiano as your shield? That killing machine who doesn’t even touch women? You really think I’m going to fall for that?”

Antonio kept persuading him: "Sir, this is the truth. You can check the news on social media, or ask the maids in the household if you still doubt it."

Leo turned to the other trembling servants. “And you all want to tell me,that this woman is now your mistress, hmm?”

The servants didn't dare look up. One maid whispered, her voice shaking, “…Yes, sir. The Donna… she is married to Don Cassiano.”

Another servant nodded as well.

Leo’s smile vanished from his face, replaced by the cold fury of a man who feels he’s been played for a fool.

He didn’t shout. His voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl. “Good. Very good. It seems everyone in this estate has learned to act in the five years I’ve been gone.”

“Aurora, your methods have gotten cheaper. Not only did you cook up this ridiculous excuse, but you paid off the entire staff to play along with this little charade to trick me?”

I calmly admired my diamond-studded nails, not even bothering to spare him a glance.

I was the Don’s woman. That was an unbreakable law.

Whether he believed it or not was completely irrelevant.

Leo was spoiled since childhood, and Antonio feared he might do something irrational，hastily ordered one of his men:

"Get a message to the Don!Tell him to abort the deal and get back to the estate. Now!"

Cassiano went to Sicily today, closing a heavy arms deal.

The old Don and his mother are not in the manor.

If they were here, Leo wouldn't have the balls to pull this crap.

Right in the middle of the standoff, a little voice called from the stairs.

"Mama, it's time for my target practice!"