Chapter 1

After signing the divorce papers, I dialed my mentor’s number.

“Professor Mary, about that research project in the Arctic—the one developing a new drug—please add my name back to the team.”

Mary’s excited voice burst through the speaker. “You’ve changed your mind? That’s wonderful! The military will send someone to pick you up in ten days. But Aurora, I have to remind you again. Once you join this mission, your personal information will be erased. Your husband… with his extreme need for control… will he agree?”

Hearing her concern, I froze for a moment. Marco really did have an overwhelming possessiveness toward me.

We grew up together. The Vitale family was always busy with mafia affairs, and the previous Don raised Marco by his side. However, no matter how chaotic things got, Marco always made time to see me.

As I was a light sleeper by nature, he searched the entire world for bedding, personally testing everything just to find what helped me fall asleep fastest.

When he learned that my stomach was sensitive, he trained with the family chef for two months and woke up two hours early every day to make me a special meal that wouldn’t upset my digestion. When I turned twenty-two, he lit up the sky with fireworks and drones, spelling out his romantic confession.

Naturally, I fell head-over-heels for the man who was both domineering and tender. I really believed my fairy tale had come true. However, shortly after the wedding, Marco injured his spinal cord in a turf war, and the doctors said he’d spend the rest of his life in bed.

He couldn’t accept that kind of fall from power. He became irritable and volatile, sinking into self-destructive urges and suicidal thoughts. In less than three months, he had tormented himself into a shell of who he once was.

“Aurora, a paralyzed man like me doesn’t deserve you, but I also can’t stand the thought of watching you fall into someone else’s arms. I’ve signed the divorce papers. Just leave me.”

To force me to leave, he even pulled out a gun and pressed it to his own temple. I threw myself immediately in front of the barrel.

As a medical researcher, I fought tooth and nail to secure a spot in a project, then set out for the barren desert to gather a rare medicinal extract that could repair spinal nerves. Before I left, he crafted a necklace for me with a built-in micro camera.

He kissed me hard, his tone paranoid as he said, “Aurora, you’re my everything. I can’t have you leave my sight. If I lose track of you, I’ll lose my mind.”

I knew how twisted his need for control was, but to put him at ease, I willingly wore the necklace and headed into the desert.

Every single day out there, he watched me through that camera. However, who would’ve guessed that a man who loved me to the bone would secretly start a family with another woman?

Smiling, I brushed off my mentor’s concerns and confirmed that I would leave with the military in ten days.

When I returned home, I started packing. That was when Marco suddenly came back. He stared at the suitcase in my hand, his brows instantly in a knot.

“Where are you going? Why didn’t you talk to me first? I was away on a business trip for a week, and now you’re sneaking off without telling me?”

Hearing his familiar tone, I let out a bitter laugh. “Am I not allowed to step outside anymore?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Marco softened his voice. “I’m worried about your safety, that’s all. I’ve made a lot of enemies these past two years. If you need to go out, it’s safer if I’m with you. And besides… you’re my everything. I can’t stand being apart from you for even a minute.”

Marco stepped forward, grabbed my suitcase, and bent down to kiss me.

“Honey, I just got back. You’re not going anywhere right now. I’ve prepared something for you. Don’t you want to see it?”

Marco brought me gifts every time he returned from a trip. He would hide them in my favorite greenhouse and then accompany me with a doting smile as we played a little treasure-hunt game. This time, though, someone else was already inside when he led me into the greenhouse.

“Aurora!” Lina ran up and grabbed my arm excitedly. “I get gifts too this time! Come on, Aurora. Let’s race and see who finds theirs first.” Her voice was cheerful, but she was provoking me with her stare.

Seeing my expression darken, Marco spoke in a low voice, “Aurora, don’t be petty. Yesterday was Lina’s eighteenth birthday. I missed it, so I wanted to make it up to her today. You wouldn’t get upset over that, right?”

As I thought of yesterday’s wedding, my chest felt hollow. So, the moment Lina turned eighteen, Marco rushed to marry her.