Chapter 6

Victor froze and glanced at Demira's hands. "Demira, why do you want those Vitali people released?"

Demira had not expected me to confront her so directly. Her eyes darted away. She hid her hands behind her back and stumbled over her words. "They're from my fishing village. They only joined the Vitali family to survive. They haven't done anything truly evil all these years. I just… I felt sorry for them for a moment…"

Halfway through, she broke down again. "Victor, I want to go home. I don't want to stay here anymore. I'm scared I'll lose the baby."

Victor listened to her explanation. His brow tightened at first, but when he saw her crying, his expression softened.

Then he looked at me with that same coldness. "Even if Demira handled this badly, you still shouldn't have scared her."

I had expected exactly this. I did not argue. I turned to the guard beside me. "Have they all been questioned?"

"Yes, Donna. We got everything we needed. We're waiting for your orders."

Without hesitation, I pulled out my gun and aimed it at the prisoner closest to Demira. "Watch carefully. This is what scaring someone looks like."

I pulled the trigger. The bullet punched through the center of his forehead. A red hole bloomed between his brows. Terror froze in his eyes. He did not have time to react before he dropped dead.

Blood sprayed across the room. Some of it struck Demira's face.

She stared at the man's open, lifeless eyes. All the color drained from her face. Her pupils shrank. Her whole body trembled.

Victor had not expected me to fire either. He stood stunned for a beat, then his eyes widened with fury. "Lydia!"

I turned the gun toward him and pressed a finger to my lips. "Victor, you should understand something. This is my territory. In the past, I cared enough about what we once had to leave you some dignity.

"But now you are leaving the family, so I have no reason to spare your pride. For the next few days, keep Demira under control. Otherwise, she will end up as shark feed."

Victor shook with rage and reached for his gun. "How dare you."

At almost the same moment, the men around us drew theirs and trained them on Victor and Demira.

Love was terrifying. It could turn a smart man into a complete idiot. Then again, in my previous life, I had probably looked just as pathetic in other people's eyes.

I gave a cold laugh and looked away. My gaze moved over the rest of the prisoners, who were already terrified.

"If they're all from the fishing village, cut them up and dump them back there. At least that way they can go home."

I flicked my hand. The men behind me lowered their guns and pushed my wheelchair out of the dungeon.

Behind me, Victor roared, and Demira's crying turned shrill.

My smile deepened. I did not look back.

…

After that day, whether Demira had truly been frightened or Victor had confined her to the courtyard, she stopped causing trouble.

I did not see her again before my birthday.

My birthday was also the anniversary of my father's death, so I had never celebrated it.

Early that morning, Luca came to me carrying an exquisitely crafted box. "Lydia, guess who sent this."

Seeing the way he waggled his brows, I sighed. "Matteo, obviously.

"He said he hopes you like it."

I opened the box. Inside lay a diamond necklace so brilliant it almost hurt to look at. Each main stone was the size of my thumb, throwing off shards of light. One glance was enough to know it was worth a fortune.

When I lifted it out, the maids in the courtyard began murmuring in admiration.

Luca grinned. "That's not all. He also sent a whole batch of gemstones. It's already in storage."

I looked at the necklace, and for the first time in days, a small warmth stirred in my chest. I had not expected Matteo to know I liked diamonds. It was a small preference I had never shared.

I smiled. "I'll contact him myself later."

Demira's voice cut through the courtyard without warning, tearing the moment apart. "People like you only know how to enjoy beautiful things. You never stop to think about how many people died for those diamonds, or how many families were destroyed."

She stood at the gate, staring at the necklace. Her eyes were red, and the jealousy in them was unmistakable.

Victor stood beside her, looking at me with an unreadable expression.