Chapter 4

Joren knelt there, comforting the woman in his arms like she was made of fragile glass.

"It's okay, baby," he coaxed softly. "You're too reckless. Don't let an outsider work you up like this."

I clutched my badly bleeding hand, watching them with completely dead eyes.

They were flirting like I wasn't even standing there. It was blindingly sickening. My stomach churned, and I nearly threw up right on the rug.

If this were the old naive me, I would have screamed at him, begging to know why he was doing this.

But now, I didn't want to ask a damn thing. I was just exhausted. I just wanted to get the hell out of this disgusting place.

"Joren, she kept saying this villa is hers!" Chloe whined, pointing at me again. "She even brought guys to kick me out!"

Joren finally looked up.

His eyes landed on me, and he finally noticed the thick blood dripping steadily from my hand.

His gaze fell on me, finally noticing the blood dripping from my hand.

The moment our eyes met, a fleeting panic flashed in his eyes.

"Aria, what are you doing here?"

"Your hand..."

He was about to step toward me, but Chloe grabbed his arm. "Baby, do you know her?"

The neighbors in the hallway were watching the scene curiously, and I just stared at him.

I wanted to know, would he claim me in front of all these people?

But Joren just stayed silent, then turned his head away.

Seeing this, his men standing around smirked mockingly."Boss, who is this chick?" one of them whistled, his words filthy. "Is she a streetwalker looking for a quick job?"

"Hahaha, looks like it! Did she try to get in the Boss's bed, get rejected, and stalk him all the way to his house?"

The vile insults bounced off the high walls.

I stared dead at Joren.

He heard them degrading me to garbage. His face tightened, his lips parted slightly. But in the end, he didn't say a damn word to stop them.

He silently approved of my total humiliation just to protect his tough "Don" image.

The neighbors at the door were having a field day with the drama.

"Just a dumb groupie trying to be a mob wife. How absolutely shameless!"

"Exactly. We've all seen how much Joren loves Miss Chloe. I just saw on her Insta that they're having an engagement party on a private island in Miami next month!"

My pupils constricted sharply.

The Miami island.

So, the so-called "vacation for his loyal men" was actually a secret engagement party for his mistress. Everyone knew but me.

A freezing chill washed over my entire body.

I was so goddamn stupid. Ten years of my youth willingly fed to a snake.

Noticing my expression shift, Joren’s face fell. He walked quickly over to me, lowering his voice to a harsh whisper. "Aria, stop making a scene. I'll explain everything to you later."

Seeing my cold expression, he added, "Besides, you shouldn't have just shown up here behind my back."

I almost laughed. This was my house. Why the hell couldn't I come here?

Seeing my total lack of reaction, Joren’s patience completely snapped. He ripped off his fake nice-guy mask and threatened me openly.

"Aria," he gritted out. "Don't forget, I am a Don now! I'm not that lowly street punk you used to throw tantrums at. You better learn your damn place!"

"A Don?" I let out a cold, sharp laugh, my voice carrying across the silent room. I pointed right at his face. "Joren, since you’re such a big Don now, why don't you explain it to your men!"

"Tell them exactly who I’ve been to you for the last ten years!"

The room went dead silent. The laughing men and the gossiping neighbors all stopped and stared at their Don.

Joren froze in place, his eyes darting wildly. He couldn't even look me in the eye.

Just as he opened his mouth to spin another massive lie, Chloe lunged forward.

She shoved Joren behind her back, raised her hand high, and slapped me hard across the face.

Smack.

A stinging pain exploded across my left cheek.

"Who the hell do you think you are, talking to the Don like that?!" Chloe screeched.

I didn't even touch my face. I just stared with bloodshot eyes at the man hiding like a coward behind her, the man who just let it happen.

My eyes went completely cold. The very last illusion I held of him shattered into dust.

I clenched my jaw and raised my hand, fully ready to slap that toxic bitch into the floor.

Just then, a man in a sharp black suit strode into the room, his voice cutting through the tension with absolute, unwavering respect.

"Miss, allow me to handle this trash. You shouldn't dirty your hands."

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