Chapter 4

The banquet was held at the Obsidian Sanctum Hall in Manara, Novaro. Dons from different families moved through the hall with glasses in hand.

Luca stood there in a custom black suit embroidered with dark gold roses, his expression cool and imperious. Gina stood beside him as if she were the true Donna.

Several men drifted toward Luca, whiskey glasses in hand.

One of them clapped him on the shoulder and spoke in a low voice. "I heard that the Gambino famiglia's new partner is Don Rossi. You're truly impressive for someone your age. I'll have to rely on your help with the arms trade in southern Sicilento from now on."

Luca pressed his lips into a thin line, a cold glint of confidence in his eyes.

"Don Gambino is here," someone whispered.

The stage lights snapped on, flooding the room with a blinding glare. A moment later, Don Gambino walked in with steady, measured steps. Everyone bowed their heads in respect.

Don Gambino began speaking. "I now announce the new partner of the Gambino famiglia—"

Luca straightened his tie and prepared to step onto the stage, but he noticed that Don Gambino didn't look at him at all.

Instead, Don Gambino pointed toward the audience. Luca followed his finger and realized it was pointing at me, dressed in a black velvet rose gown.

Don Gambino continued, "It's the Marino famiglia!"

The hall immediately erupted in shock.

Luca froze mid-step, his face turning pale instantly. His voice sounded completely different as he asked, "Elena? How can it be you?"

I sneered and glanced at him. "Why? Am I not allowed?"

"Come over here right now! This isn't the place for your nonsense," Luca said.

Before he could move, Don Gambino pulled me onto the stage.

"She is the Gambino famiglia's newest ally. Anyone who dares lay a hand on her makes an enemy of the entire Gambino famiglia," Don Gambino said.

The words "newest ally" sent Gina into a fit of laughter. "She is just a washed-up, abandoned housewife. How could she possibly be an ally to the Gambinos?" she asked.

Don Gambino's expression instantly went cold. "How dare you question the word of the Gambino famiglia? It seems that you have a death wish."

Gina's body stiffened, and she went silent at once.

Then Don Gambino signaled, and two bodyguards in black stepped forward, each holding a silver tray. On the trays were two documents with gold-embossed covers, the partnership agreements that our families had finalized.

Seeing this, everyone finally believed it.

Luca's expression darkened. He stared at me, his eyes filled with disbelief. He never expected that the Marino famiglia, having lost its Don, could connect with the incredibly wealthy Gambino famiglia and become a powerful ally that he couldn't risk crossing.

Luca looked at me, his voice trembling slightly. "Elena, we are husband and wife. How could you—"

I didn't even bother to look at him and announced, "Luca Rossi and I are divorced. The Marino famiglia is formally withdrawing all technical investment in the Rossi famiglia's arms development. From now on, our technology will be shared exclusively with the Gambinos."

Then, I threw a copy of the divorce agreement at Luca. After reading it, he froze in place. He stared at me and instinctively stepped forward to reach for my hand.

Suddenly, the doors to the banquet hall slammed open. Two made men scrambled inside, practically tripping over themselves. They collapsed at Luca's feet, their faces bloody.

One of them shouted hoarsely, "Our old allies showed up with their men, returning all the weapons they had purchased. They said that without the Marino famiglia's core components, our goods were reduced to scrap. They've already taken over our armory. We can't hold them off any longer!"

Luca panicked. He staggered back several steps and fell to the ground. "No, this can't be happening!"

A moment later, he looked up at me and reached out his hands. "Elena, you can't do this to me. I love you so much. I told you that you would always be my Donna."

I looked at him and sneered, kicking his hand away. "Your Donna? Luca, from the day you betrayed me, I stopped caring about that title!"