Chapter 2

I glanced down at the screen; the professor had already cut the connection.

I calmly slid the satellite phone into the pocket of my robe.

Just as I was trying to figure out how to explain the half-sentence he'd overheard, the private phone in Lucas's pocket buzzed.

It was a text from Bella.

She had sent a picture of herself feeding stray dogs on a Sterling Heights street, the plunging neckline of her dress on full display.

"Very cute," Lucas replied.

She texted back instantly: "Are the puppies cute, or am I?"

Lucas stared at the screen, the hard line of his lips softening into a gentle smile. "Both are nice."

Seeming to remember I was still there, he quickly wiped the smile from his face and put the phone back in his pocket.

He walked over and, out of habit, pulled me into his arms, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

"Baby, why aren't you in bed?" his voice was low and tender. "I told you not to stay up so late. It's bad for your skin."

He didn't even ask about the "agreement" I'd mentioned on the phone.

I leaned against him obediently, a small, wry smile on my lips. "There are still a few figures that aren't sorted out."

"It's late. What accounts could be so urgent?" Lucas sighed, stroking my hair. "Elara, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you've been dragging your feet lately. Be a good girl and finish it tomorrow."

Lucas frowned, grumbling a bit.

I didn't bother explaining that my inefficiency was due to his last minute changes, nor did I waste my breath arguing my case.

Seeing my silence, Lucas didn't press the issue. He let me go and walked over to the bar in our bedroom to pour a drink.

A few minutes later, his low, easy laughter drifted from the other room.

I rarely saw him laugh like that anymore. It was only with Bella that he seemed so genuinely amused.

I pulled my gaze away, sat down at my desk, and opened a thick professional book.

To return to Zelova and take over my professor's financial project, I had to re-familiarize myself with professional knowledge I had long since set aside.

"What are you reading?"

Lucas had come out at some point, holding a glass of whiskey.

He leaned down, bringing with him the faint scent of tobacco, and wrapped his arms around me from behind in a familiar embrace. He reached out, took the book from me, flipped through a couple of pages, and tossed it back on the desk with a soft laugh.

"Why are you reading this?" He pinched my cheek. "Darling, don't waste your time on this. With me here, you don't need to know any of it."

I put the documents away, my tone calm. "Just browsing."

"Did you need something?"

In the past, I would have been flattered whenever Lucas initiated a conversation. Perhaps surprised by my coldness, he seemed taken aback for a moment.

His expression was a little unnatural.

"Actually, there is something."

"Bella did a great job handling things during our island vacation. I'm planning to let her manage that new legal casino we acquired in Mesa."

He looked at me, and though he said it was a discussion, I knew it was just an announcement.

I nodded. "It's your call."

"Mesa is a mess. I wouldn't feel right sending you there," Lucas said, gently cupping my face. "So I was thinking you could take over collections on a few streets in the Rowan District. It's just street-level stuff, but it's safe."

"Don't worry, it's just temporary. Once I've completely taken over Valmont, you'll be the most honored lady of the Moretti family, the Capo's wife. I'm doing this to protect you. You'll support me, right?"

I let out a silent, bitter laugh.

Of course. The message was clear.

He could read Bella's mood from the smallest clues and knew what she liked from tiny details.

But here I was, his fiancée, with my dissolution agreement already signed by his own hand, and he was completely oblivious.

He was still using the pretense of protecting me to hand the family's most profitable enterprise to his new favorite, while sending me to the slums to collect dirty money.

When I simply nodded and softly said, "Alright," Lucas's expression, which had started to darken in anticipation of an argument, instantly relaxed.

"Then it's settled. The Rowan District post is yours." His mood brightened, and he leaned in to kiss me.

I turned my head slightly to avoid him.

He wasn't angry, probably certain I wouldn't make a fuss over such small matters.

This had happened too many times. In just one year, thanks to Bella's provocations, my status in the family had dropped again and again. If I could tolerate it then, Lucas was sure I wouldn't dare leave him now.

He was about to leave when he seemed to notice something and walked back, his gaze suddenly falling on my collarbone.

"Where's the platinum necklace I gave you? The one with our initials."

I subconsciously touched my bare neck.

In this mansion, every photo, every keepsake, every memory of us, I had secretly destroyed.

Lucas used to complain that my head was full of such childish trifles, but he never knew that they were my constant reminders that he had once loved me.

Only later did I realize how ridiculous I'd been.

Each of those items was a mockery of my own foolishness.

I gave a casual excuse. "The clasp broke. I don't know where it fell off."

"Why are you always so clumsy?"

Lucas sighed, a mix of indulgence and reprimand in his eyes. He glanced down at the Persian rug beneath our feet.

"Clean the rug tomorrow." He ruffled my hair. "Someone's coming by in the afternoon for the Mesa handover documents. The clasp is sharp. We wouldn't want anyone getting hurt."

With that, he took his drink and returned to the bedroom, clearly in a good mood.

Watching his back, I couldn't help but laugh at myself.

He wasn't worried about me, of course. He meant Bella.

This was our home. I had managed all its security systems until a few months ago, when I found unfamiliar fingerprints in his private safe and smelled a perfume on him that wasn't mine.

Only then did I realize he had brought Bella here many times.

I couldn't stop myself from confronting him. It was like he already knew what I was going to say.

He immediately produced evidence proving they were only there to handle money laundering accounts and took the opportunity to reprimand me for being suspicious and small-minded.

To punish me for my "accusations," he began bringing Bella into the family's most confidential financial dealings out of spite.

I could sense the veiled provocation and hostility from Bella whenever she faced me.

But on the surface, their interactions were normal, with no obvious lines crossed.

Over time, I began to doubt myself.

I spent every day wondering if I was the one in the wrong. Looking back now, if I had spent that time on myself, I could have succeeded at anything.

The next morning, Lucas announced to the entire family Bella's appointment to run the casino, as well as my demotion to the Rowan District.

He was a little wary as he made the announcement, only relaxing when he saw that I acted as if nothing had happened, finally believing I had truly accepted it.

He was in a great mood, and so was I.

He booked an exclusive Sterling Heights club to celebrate Bella's promotion. I contacted my bank in Serrania.

He took Bella out on a yacht with champagne and a sea breeze; I transferred my cryptocurrency and erased my digital footprint.

Two days later, on my last day with the family, I destroyed the final batch of paper ledgers in the safe house and prepared to leave for good with a single, very small suitcase.

Before leaving, I had to make one last trip to the family headquarters to return the final key to the vault.

"Go to the Capo's office before you leave. Lucas wants to see you," the person in charge said without looking up.

I considered refusing, but then it hit me that I was leaving tonight. If Lucas went out with Bella as usual, this might be the last time we ever saw each other.

After five years together, a proper goodbye seemed necessary.

With that thought, I took the private elevator straight to the executive office.

Just as I was about to push the door open, I saw through the one-way glass that Lucas and Bella were standing side by side at the desk, their heads close together as they examined a document.

Bella reached out and straightened Lucas's collar, the movement so practiced and natural it was as if she had done it a thousand times.

Lucas let her fuss over him, even tilting his head down slightly to accommodate her.

They whispered something to each other, and after she finished, Bella covered her mouth, giggling uncontrollably.