Chapter 7

Victor was terrifying. I looked back at Marcello, my eyes filled with fear and despair.

But Marcello didn't see my tears.

He was frantic. "What are you waiting for? Get over there! Can't you see Camilla's hurt?"

He lowered his voice. "Phoebe, you're my woman. Making sacrifices for the family is your duty! I've got snipers in position. Don't worry, I won't let you get hurt. Trust me. I'm the Don. I'll keep everyone safe."

Right.

Even if he didn't love me, he wouldn't... let me die.

I was trapped.

I squeezed my eyes shut, gritted my teeth, and walked toward Victor.

But as Victor grabbed me and released Camilla, Marcello's tone suddenly changed. "Victor, I'm telling you now, I will not agree to your ridiculous demands! If you turn back now, you can still be saved!"

I felt like I'd been struck by lightning.

Marcello... had lied to me again?

Victor's expression twisted. "You bastard! Marcello, you dare to play me! That woman was your wife, wasn't she? That's why you were so nervous about her!"

He raised his gun, about to spray bullets at me.

"Then don't blame me for killing an innocent! This broad can join my brother in hell!"

Just as he was about to fire, a single shot rang out. Marcello had fired, hitting one of Victor's men in the head.

All hell broke loose.

Bodyguards swarmed in, providing cover for their retreat.

Only then did Marcello dare to hold Camilla. "Camilla, I'm sorry, I was late, it's all my fault..."

He never once looked at me.

I lay trembling on the ground, a stray bullet having grazed my cheek, the wound bleeding.

My tears had run dry. I couldn't speak.

I finally understood. Marcello could have taken out Victor with a single shot. He didn't need to trade hostages... He did it anyway because he was afraid he might miss. He couldn't bear the thought of Camilla facing even the slightest risk.

And me?

What was I in Marcello's heart?

Camilla cried, her voice a pathetic whimper. "Marcello, it hurts, my leg is still bleeding..."

Marcello looked at the gunshot wound on her leg, and his face went cold.

"Men!"

His eyes were red with rage. "Lock Phoebe in that warehouse! If she hadn't colluded with the Drake family, lied about her identity, and gotten Camilla kidnapped, if she hadn't been so slow to make the trade, Camilla would never have been hurt!"

Despair swallowed me whole.

No matter how I struggled, I was dragged away by his men and locked in a warehouse filled with gunpowder. The acrid smell of smoke made me want to vomit.

With my last bit of strength, I crawled to the door, wanting to beg Marcello for mercy.

But all I heard was his conversation with Rocco.

Rocco's voice was hesitant. "Don, that warehouse is so cold and damp. Ma'am just gave birth not long ago, her body might not be able to take it..."

Marcello slammed the car door. "She brought it on herself! Who told her to dare and hurt Camilla."

The cars sped away, taking all sound and light with them.

What they didn't notice was that a spark from the firefight had quietly ignited a corner of the warehouse.

I smelled the sharp scent of something burning. In an instant, the will to live surged through me. I used all my strength to shakily get up and crawl out through a ventilation duct.

As I crawled, my wedding ring slipped from my finger.

I glanced back at it for only a second before forcing myself to keep moving.

Maybe it was a sign from above, encouraging me to leave this all behind.

I fell hard onto the ground outside and pulled my documents from my clothes.

Today was the day I was supposed to leave with the medical team. Thankfully, I had kept my papers on me, just for this moment.

Behind me, a series of explosions rocked the warehouse. I forced my body up and, through the shockwaves of the blast, I ran. I took nothing with me. Without a single look back, I boarded the plane heading for the border.

Five years of marriage, the loss of a child, all the betrayal and pain...

Finally, it was over.