Chapter 3

I clenched my fists and crumpled the banishment order into a ball.

"Marco," I said. "You better think this through. You can't hold the succession ceremony without the nod from the person backing me."

The hall went silent for a second, then erupted into even louder laughter.

Marco laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight.

"Do you think just because you slept in Corleone's bed, you wield Corleone's power?"

Marco walked up to me and patted my cheek.

"Wake up. I investigated your background a long time ago. You're just an orphan from the slums. If I hadn't picked you off the streets back then, you'd be dead in a gutter somewhere. And you dare threaten me?"

To protect me, my brother had fabricated my identity, so clearly, Marco didn't have the clearance to access my real file.

I turned to leave. Just as I reached the edge of the stairs, Sophia suddenly blocked my path.

She had her back to Marco, revealing a vicious smile only to me, and whispered:

"Trying to leave? It won't be that easy."

The next second, Sophia suddenly screamed, threw herself backward, and rolled down the stairs.

"Ah! My stomach... Marco, help! Our baby!"

Sophia clutched her flat stomach, rolling on the ground.

Marco rushed over to scoop Sophia up, then turned back to glare at me ferociously.

"Elena! You poisonous viper! You dared to push her? She's carrying my child, how could you be so evil!"

"I didn't push her. She threw herself down."

"Shut up!" Marco roared. “Guards, hold this bitch down!"

Two bodyguards rushed forward and forced me to my knees.

The floor was covered in shards from the broken wine glass. My knees hit the glass, and blood immediately seeped out.

Marco pointed at Sophia on the floor.

"Crawl over there and apologize to Sophia! Beg for her forgiveness! Or I'll cripple those hands of yours!"

The bodyguards pushed my head down, trying to force me to kowtow.

I braced myself against the floor, keeping my head up to stare at Marco.

"Marco, you weren't like this before. You said you would protect me forever."

"Letting you stay by my side for these five years was already a charity. Not only are you ungrateful, but you also tried to harm my fiancée and child?"

"Fine," I said. "Marco, remember what you said today."

"From this moment on, we are dead to each other."

"Dead to each other? You think you can escape me?"

He issued a command.

"Send in the Enforcers. We have a traitor here. Take her to the water dungeon and teach her a lesson."

Seven or eight heavily armed men in black rushed in, their guns aimed at me.

That was Marco's most trusted private militia—and I was the one who had trained them.

"Former Consigliere Elena has betrayed the family. Freeze all her assets. Anyone who dares to save her makes an enemy of Marco Leon."

Marco crouched down and gripped my chin.

"There are people outside lining up to kill you for the bounty."

"I'm going to lock you in the water dungeon. When you learn to be obedient like a dog, I might consider letting you out."

"Take her away!"

I was dragged toward the basement by two large men.

The moment the iron door slammed shut, I saw Marco pick Sophia up gently.

"Don't be scared, baby. I've already taken care of that bitch."

Sophia wrapped her arms around his neck and looked back at me with a victorious smirk.