Chapter 1

At my birthday party, a subordinate chuckled and said in Russian to my husband, Tony Gambino, heir to a mafia family.

“Sir, Sasha has a surprise for you tonight. You’re in for a good time!”

Tony handed me the piece of cake he had just cut and wished me a happy birthday before replying to him in Russian.

“That girl always has her tricks in bed. Makes it hard to resist. I’ll see her tonight.

“Just don’t let Madam find out, or I’m afraid I’ll get thrown out.”

The subordinate assured Tony that I would never discover anything.

My appetite vanished then, and I set the cake aside.

Noticing I hadn’t eaten, Tony leaned in slightly, his warm breath brushing my ear.

“Why aren’t you eating? Don’t like it?”

His eyes showed concern, but all I felt was nausea.

The same man who had just been discussing another woman’s bedroom skills with his men was now acting gentle and devoted. It was almost surreal.

I wanted to peel off the many layers of his mask just to know how dishonest he was.

“It’s nothing. I was just curious about what got you two talking so seriously.”

Tony lightly tapped the tip of my nose, smiling dotingly.

“We were talking about the shipment at the docks. I didn’t want to scare you with the details, so we switched languages.”

He seemed to forget that before my family, the Vegas, fell, our business was international. So, I grew up surrounded by multiple languages.

Russian wasn’t just something I understood. I was fluent.

I didn’t want to stay there any longer and pushed his hand off my waist.

“You all continue. I’m going to get some air in the garden.”

Then, I walked away without waiting for him to respond.

Along the way, guests and servants greeted me politely. Their voices lowered as soon as I passed.

“That’s Mrs. Gambino. What a life she lives. Their wedding back then was one for the century, with every major mafia family in Europe attending.”

“Her birthday parties are always so grand. So many years, and they still act like they’re in love. I’m so jealous.”

“Isn’t it? What woman would not want to live like her?”

In the past, hearing this would have felt sweet.

Now, each word felt sharp instead.

No one knew that the man who supposedly loved me the most had already betrayed me.

Last month, I accidentally discovered a hidden phone in the secret compartment of his study.

Since it had no password, I opened it, only to find the gallery full of photos and videos of a woman named Sasha Arden.

It was her and Tony, all in intimate photos at different angles, rooms, and hotels from around the world. I couldn’t bear it.

In one video, Tony held her chin and laughed, “You’re more exciting, much better than that stiff doll at home.”

Stiff doll.

So that was all I was to him.

I didn’t move anything and put the phone back exactly where it was.

Then, using the few remaining contacts of the Vegas, I began preparing my exit.

My phone vibrated, pulling me back to the present.

“Miss, your new identity and Swiss accounts have been activated. Your flight information three days from now has been sent to your email.”

“About my family…” I began, but the words stopped.

Five years ago, after my family was massacred, Tony saved me and became my only family.

Now, he was personally erasing me from his life.

“…Erase every trace of me here.”

There was a brief pause of hesitation on the other end.

“Miss, are you sure? Once we wipe it, there will be no trace of a person named Claire Vega. If Mr. Gambino loses control and tries to find you—”

I let out a quiet, dry laugh.

“He won’t look for me.”

After all, he was already tired of me.

“Understood. I’ll take care of it. Please take care of yourself.”

The call had just ended when a shadow fell over me.

“Who won’t look for you?”