Chapter 1

For a moment, Alessio Muratori seemed caught off guard by how calm I was. He clearly didn't believe me, so he gave a mocking laugh.

"Three years apart, and you've learned how to play hard to get," he said. "That little trick won't work on me, though."

He controlled every known and hidden rule in this city. Arrogant and domineering, Alessio only ever enjoyed the feeling of having people obey him.

Back then, I had loved him too deeply. Every time we fought, I gave in.

But that night, I had no personal feelings left for him. Everything I did would be for the mission.

To keep my true intentions hidden, I swallowed my disgust and pulled out the contract. "Mr. Muratori, this is the draft letter of intent. I'd like to go over the basic terms of a potential partnership with you."

Alessio barely glanced at the document. His gaze fixed on me, his expression darkening. I knew that look very well—he was furious. "You came all the way here to talk business?"

Before I could answer, he raised his hand and knocked the papers aside. His hand hit the glass of whiskey beside him, sending it spilling all over me.

His voice was cold and dismissive. "I won't read a single word of anything you bring me."

I could hardly maintain my smile. I coldly straightened my clothes.

Just then, the sharp click of high heels hurried toward us. A familiar yet strangely unfamiliar figure slipped into the space beside Alessio.

Gianna Bruni was his assistant. She dressed exactly how I used to, from her clothes to her makeup and overall style. With her face bearing a striking resemblance to mine, she looked almost like a younger version of me.

"Alessio, the contract with the Rinaldi family is ready."

I stiffened for a second. Excitement shot through me. Without letting it show, I discreetly started the recording device hidden in my pocket.

The Rinaldi family had been in the drug trade for generations. By doing business with them, Alessio was making it clear that he had never intended to go legitimate in the first place.

Accepting regulatory oversight was nothing more than a way to use this partnership as a cover while keeping his entire criminal operation running.

Still, I pretended to be furious.

"So, you never intended to cooperate with the authorities or run a legitimate business from the start. You were only using this partnership as a front to keep your dirty business going.

"And all this time, you've been playing me for a fool."

Displeasure flickered across Alessio's face, and he shifted his gaze to Gianna. "What are you doing here? We'll talk about this later."

When he turned to me again, his eyes were filled with possessiveness and threat. "You're the ones who came to me asking for a partnership. Whether I sign or not is up to me.

"Stay with me tonight, and I'll keep cooperating with the authorities and sign the contract."

Gianna looked anxious. The opportunity she thought she had was slipping away. "But Alessio, you promised me."

He shot her a cold glance, immediately silencing her. Her hostile gaze fell on me.

I had no interest in playing along with Alessio's pathetic substitute-for-an-old-love game. I turned and tried to leave.

For the first time, he lost his composure. He grabbed me from behind and pulled me tightly into his arms. His voice was filled with frustration and disbelief.

"I used to have plenty of women, and you were fine with it before. So why are you so reluctant to let it go this time? Are you jealous? If you just swallow your pride and come back to me, we can still get married."

I tore myself out of his arms, turned around, and slapped him hard across the face. "You're unbelievably pathetic, and the old me was even worse for putting up with a bastard like you."

Something in Alessio seemed to snap. He stood there, grim, as if he had lost his soul.

Out of nowhere, he snatched my phone. The lock screen showed a photo of me holding a child while nestled in the arms of another man.

"A family portrait? Is this the husband you were talking about?"