Chapter 1

Lenore's POV:

I was sitting alone in the car when Kane Miller suddenly called.

I answered, but instead of Kane, it was Vera Hayes' voice that came through the line.

“Lenore, I’m so sorry.” Her voice sounded a little weak. “My period came unexpectedly, and my cramps are unbearable... Kane saw how much pain I was in, so he took me home first. The hurricane is almost here. Would you mind taking a cab home on your own?”

Raindrops hammered against the car windows. My heart grew colder with every word.

Three years ago, an enemy family had ambushed us. Vera’s brother, Carl Hayes, had stayed behind to fend off the attackers, sacrificing his life to protect Kane. With his dying breath, he entrusted his only sister to Kane.

It was a dying wish sealed with his life. I had always understood that, which was why I had never begrudged Kane the extra care and attention he gave Vera.

Still, over time, his concern for her had grown to the point where he cared more about her than he did about me.

I gave a quiet reply, “Okay.”

The next second, Kane’s voice drifted through, soft with affection and indulgence yet carrying the faintest trace of reproach.

“If your stomach hurts, you should be lying down and resting. Why insist on making a phone call? I can explain things to her myself.”

Vera let out a soft, almost coquettish whine, “But you left Lenore all alone at her birthday party just to take me home. I feel terrible about it. I should at least apologize to her personally.”

Before I could say a word, Kane took the phone from her. His voice was apologetic.

“Lenore, Vera hasn’t been feeling well these past couple of days. She needs someone to look after her. And with the hurricane making it difficult to go anywhere, I’m going to stay at her place for the next few days. Make sure you take good care of yourself, okay?”

I tightened my grip on the phone, my fingertips turning cold.

Kane had never been like this before. No matter what happened, he had always put my safety and feelings first.

Now, I was no longer the person who occupied his thoughts or commanded his concern.

The last trace of warmth in my heart slowly faded beneath the icy winds. I said nothing. Instead, I simply ended the call.

The car soon pulled up outside my apartment building. I got out and made my way upstairs.

The entire building had lost power because of the approaching hurricane, leaving everything shrouded in darkness.

I sent a message to my father, who was halfway across the world, to let him know I was safe.

His reply came almost immediately: [Lenore, it’s your birthday today. Did Kane spend it with you?]

I stared at the message for a moment. Not wanting him to worry, I replied: [Yes.]

My phone screen went dark, plunging the room into complete darkness. Only the howling wind and pounding rain outside broke the silence.

Just then, my phone lit up again. I stiffened as I instinctively reached for it. However, it was only a social media notification.

Vera had just made a post. The photo showed an elegant tray holding painkillers, a glass of warm water, and a sandwich. Beyond it, the storm raged outside the window.

Her caption read: [My cramps are absolutely killing me. Thank goodness he’s here to take care of me. He even made dinner!]

I stared at the screen and gave a cold, mocking laugh. It was such a transparent attempt to provoke me.

Without so much as a change in expression, I swiped the post away.

I had never been the kind of woman who let others walk all over her.

My father, Samuel Florer, was the former Don of our family. Years ago, he was ambushed by his enemies and gravely wounded. He publicly announced his death, but in reality, he had gone into hiding overseas.

Back then, Kane had been my entire world. I loved and trusted him.

As his fiancée and Consigliere, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to supporting him, helping him climb the ranks until he finally took the position of Don.

Now, my love was gone, and my trust had been shattered.

If he could no longer be sincere with me, then there was no reason for him to keep his position as Don, either.

As the thought crossed my mind, a message from Kane popped up: [I only threw together some dinner because Vera wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t know she was going to post about it. Don’t read too much into it.]

I stared at those words, finding the whole thing utterly ridiculous.

He remembered every little detail when it came to caring for Vera. He even remembered to cook for her himself.

Yet somehow, he had forgotten that his fiancée was celebrating her birthday alone, waiting in an empty ballroom for him to come back and take her home on this storm-lashed night.

My heart had finally turned ice-cold. I let out a bitter laugh and was just about to call him.

I decided to convene a meeting of the family elders the following week and strip him of his position as Don.

The next second, a deafening explosion erupted outside my window.