Chapter 2

The port fell into chaos the day after I announced I was leaving the Salvi family.

Wearing the ring she had always dreamed of owning, Lilith strutted down the docks.

She wanted to establish her authority there, just as I had once done.

But when one of the men handed her a gun, she couldn't even find the safety lock and almost shot herself in the foot.

The veteran members who controlled the port had all risked their lives fighting alongside me.

When they saw Lilith ordering them around, even though she could do nothing but cry, they drew their guns and declared a strike on the spot.

Word spread quickly.

The rival families had been watching from the sidelines. The moment they sensed trouble, they sent their men to surround the port.

I sat on the estate's terrace, leisurely sipping my tea.

On my digital tablet, I watched a video one of my men had secretly sent me. It showed the chaos at the port.

I thought it would break my heart to see everything I had built fall apart, but I felt nothing.

If anything, I felt a little satisfaction.

So it turned out the Salvi family couldn't even last a day without me.

Before long, someone violently threw open the front door.

Vincent stormed in, reeking of gunpowder. All his usual dignified composure had vanished.

"Cecilia, I'm begging you! Get to the port right now and bring those men under control!"

He rushed over and grabbed my wrist.

He was frantic, but beneath that was his unquestioning faith in my abilities.

"Lilith's terrified. You're the only one who can keep things under control now."

Here we go again.

For five years, I had loved and supported Vincent, only for him to rely on me whenever trouble struck. Then he would expect me to step aside once things were peaceful again.

"Let go," I said coldly.

Vincent froze, clearly not expecting my response.

I remembered another time he had grabbed my wrist just like this.

I took a knife wound saving his life once, and my fever refused to break.

Weak and barely able to move, I clutched his sleeve and begged him to stay with me.

He had grabbed my wrist in turn. Vincent's eyes were filled with pain and conflict, but in the end, he made his choice with a cruel resolve.

"Cecilia, I'm sorry. Lilith was terrified during the thunderstorm and is threatening to end her life. She's in a terrible state and could be in danger at any moment. I have to go to her.

"Your wound is almost healed. Hang on a little longer, okay? I promise I'll be back soon."

But I waited all night, and he never came back.

I had been heartbroken then. Now, I was perfectly at peace.

I lowered my head and didn't look at Vincent again.

"Didn't you think Lilith could handle it herself?"

I turned to the bodyguard by the door and ordered them to escort Vincent out.

Vincent paused outside for a moment, then started pounding on the door.

"Cecilia, this isn't the time to throw a tantrum! Just open the door, will you?"

I didn't spare him another glance. Instead, I walked to my desk and dialed an encrypted number.

A steady voice answered. It belonged to the man who had run my underground intelligence network for years.

"What are your orders, Ms. Russo?"

"Get me a completely new set of identity documents and a plane ticket for an early flight tomorrow morning.

"I don't need to take anything with me. Just make sure my new identity is completely clean."

After hanging up, I looked out at the Salvi family's sprawling estate.

I had made the family a fortune over the past five years, but now I didn't want to take a single cent with me.

Having decided to cut all ties with them, I wanted nothing from the Salvi family.