Chapter 3

When Annie was born, Luca was not like this. He used to dote on her, treating her like the most precious thing in the world.

But everything changed after Olivia and Emma moved into the main house.

Under the old Romano Family code, the widow of a fallen brother could be provided for, but she was never meant to live in the main house.

The Family had already set up a residence for Olivia and Emma in the guest house on the outer grounds, complete with servants and a monthly allowance.

But Luca insisted on moving them into the main house.

Several members of the Family Council objected.

"The main house belongs to the Don's wife and his direct heirs.

"Allowing outsiders to live here permanently will disrupt the order."

Luca dismissed their concerns.

"They're just a helpless woman and child.

"The Romano Family can surely make room for two more people."

...

The day Olivia and Emma moved into the main house, Annie clung to Luca's leg and watched as Olivia led Emma inside by the hand.

"Daddy, is she going to live here too?"

Luca crouched down and smoothed the hem of her dress.

"Yes.

"But Daddy promises you, no matter what happens, you'll always be my princess."

So Annie took Emma's hand and gave Emma her favorite doll.

"Now we can play together."

During Emma's first year in the main house, Annie secretly tried on the Family's crest ring because she was curious about the symbol she might one day inherit. Afterward, she carefully put it back where she had found it.

Emma snatched the ring and ran crying to Luca.

"Uncle Luca, Annie said she's going to be the next Don! She said the crest ring will be hers someday. She was trying to steal it..."

Luca didn't even bother to find out what had really happened.

"Someone as scheming as you has no right to touch the honor of the direct bloodline. Your mother certainly raised a fine daughter!"

From that moment on, Luca saw Annie as a greedy, scheming little brat.

In front of everyone, he suspended Annie's privileges for six months.

Her private tutors and lessons were suspended. She couldn't even enter the library without submitting a new request.

That day, the grand hall went so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

At last, Marco stepped forward, unable to stay silent. His face was pale as he spoke.

"Don Luca, under Family rules, you can't revoke Miss Annie's privileges without investigating the matter. Any punishment must also be reported to the Council..."

Luca didn't even look at him.

"I am the Don now.

"Are you saying my word means less than some outdated rulebook?"

After a long silence, Marco lowered his head and stepped aside.

Later, I learned that Marco had recorded the incident in the disciplinary ledger that very day.

"The Family's direct heir lost her privileges without an investigation."

The disciplinary ledger was regularly submitted to the Council.

Before long, the Council summoned Luca to answer for the incident.

Salvatore Romano, chairman of the Council, opened the old code and warned Luca in front of everyone.

"The Romano Family can accept a ruthless Don, but not one who puts outsiders before his own family.

"The direct bloodline is the foundation of this Family.

"Bringing Olivia Bellini and her daughter into the main house against the Council's advice was already a grave violation!

"If you keep putting outsiders before your own wife and daughter, you won't just break our rules. You'll destroy this Family from within."

Luca's expression did not change. He reached over and closed the book.

"I bring in seventy percent of the Romano Group's annual profits.

"This Family cannot function without me.

"As for my private affairs, no one else gets a say."

The Council members' faces darkened, but they did not push him further.

They filed the report, along with Marco's entry in the disciplinary ledger, in the archives.

No one could have imagined what those records would eventually become.

Over the years, the evidence against Luca piled up, page by page. One day, those records would help bring him down and strip him of his position as Don.