Chapter 1

On the way back to the estate, I didn't say a word.

It wasn't until the car passed the last checkpoint that I turned to look at Sterling.

"You can still back out."

Sterling was reading the contract he'd just signed. He looked up when he heard me.

"Ophelia."

"Ilona wants more than just a month." I clenched my hands into fists. "She wants you. Everyone can see it. If you give her this today, tomorrow she'll push for more."

Sterling closed the file and reached over to wipe away my tears.

"Her feelings for me are her problem. You know you're the one I love."

I pulled away from his hand.

"Then why did you agree?"

"Three years of priority shipping rights at the port." His voice dropped. "It's just business. Nothing more."

"So our marriage is only worth three years of port rights?"

Sterling's brow furrowed. "Don't say it like that. After a month, everything goes back to normal."

The car stopped in front of the estate. He got out first and held out his hand for me, like always.

I looked at it and didn't take it.

That night, the lawyer brought the papers to the study. Sterling had already signed them.

When I picked up the pen, I still hesitated for a few seconds.

He was standing by the window, his shirtsleeves rolled up to the elbows. When he saw I hadn't signed yet, he came over and gave my shoulder a squeeze.

"At the end of the month, we'll have the ceremony all over again. Then I'll take you anywhere you want on vacation."

I looked up at him.

"Sterling, if you back out now, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

He went still, and the study was silent for a few seconds. At last, he said quietly, "Don't make me tear up a contract I just signed over a little thing like this."

A little thing like this... I gave a short laugh and signed my name on the last page.

Ilona's message arrived the very next afternoon.

She reminded Sterling that since he'd agreed to be single for a month, he shouldn't bring his ex-wife to any of their families' public events during that time.

There was a charity gala in three days, and my gown had already been delivered to the estate two weeks earlier. When Sterling read the message, his expression darkened.

"She's overstepping."

I stood in the closet doorway. "Then tell her no."

He came over and reached for my hand.

"The partnership's only just started. There's no need to fight with her on day one."

I tucked my hands behind my back.

Sterling stopped. "You're upset again?"

"No."

"Then don't make that face."

His voice softened. "I told you, I'll make it up to you at the end of the month."

I didn't say anything else.

That night, I opened the bottom drawer in the study and took out my passport and the old pocket watch my parents had left me.

Tucked inside the watch was the only photo of the three of us together.

My parents died when I was 17, and several of my uncles took turns looking after me.

In the end, it was Sterling who came for me.

He was 19, and his family wasn't powerful yet. He promised my uncle he'd take good care of me and that one day I'd be the Donna. Only then did my uncle hand me over to him.

Later, he became one of Sicily's most influential Mafia Dons, and he married me as he'd promised.

But after that, he wouldn't let me anywhere near the businesses my father had left me.

"You don't need to deal with any of that. You have me."

At first, I still managed the winery and two companies. Later, I handed even those over.

Sterling assigned me a driver and bodyguards, and wherever I went, someone would clear the place before I arrived.

I used to think he was just keeping me safe. Now, as I tucked my passport into my bag, I realized I hadn't left Sicily on my own in years.

My phone lit up with a text from Orlando Galli. It read, "Have you decided? About Quebec."

I thought about it for a moment, then texted back, "I'm going. Could you book me a one-way ticket?"

I didn't book it myself because I didn't want Sterling to find out where I was going so easily.

The next evening, Ilona came to the estate herself.

She and Sterling were downstairs discussing the gala. As I passed the stairs, I heard her ask with a laugh, "It's a celebration of our families' partnership. Surely you wouldn't mind me sitting next to you?"

Sterling didn't answer, and I stopped where I was.

For all these years, that seat had been mine.

After a few seconds, he shrugged. "Of course."

Ilona smiled. Then she spotted me and pretended to be surprised. "Oh, you're here too?"

As if I were the outsider who didn't belong.

I gave her a cold look and started to walk away, but she stopped me.

"Why are you still wearing that ring? You're not the Donna anymore. Know your place."

Her words made my blood boil. But the next second, a familiar, gentle hand took mine.

"Be good, sweetheart."

Before he'd even finished speaking, he'd slipped the ring off my finger and into his palm.

I looked at the man in front of me, my eyes burning. Then I yanked my hand away and went back to my room.

Much later, Sterling came in. He spotted the open suitcase right away and frowned.

"Why are you packing so much?"

I looked down and put my documents inside. "I'm going to stay somewhere else for a while."

Sterling came over and took a heavy coat out of the suitcase.

"It's only a month. Don't go too far."

He hung the coat back up in the closet, then pulled me tight against him, his stubble rough against my neck.

"As for the ring... I'll get you an even rarer diamond when the month's over."