Chapter 3

Vito froze for a second, but before he could speak,

Isabella, beside him, put on a great show of her shock. "Vito, this is all your fault! You left Liliana in a neighborhood where a gunfight could break out at any moment to bring me back first. She's angry with you."

He fell silent, clearly agreeing with her.

In his mind, there was no way I actually wanted a divorce.

I was a madwoman who craved absolute freedom, who had run away from an arranged marriage ninety-nine times.

But it was this same rebellious me who had fussed over our wedding, personally vetting every single flower for the bouquet.

In front of the priest, I had eagerly let him place the heavy wedding ring, a symbol of family ties, on my finger.

What, if not absolute love, could make a wild bird fly willingly into its cage?

At the thought, the panic in his eyes faded, and his tense shoulders relaxed.

"Stop throwing a tantrum. I'll have the butler run you a bath."

I couldn't be bothered to argue. I knew exactly how clear my mind was.

That night, I secretly contacted one of New York's top divorce lawyers.

The next morning, I was awakened by a phone call.

"Miss Falcone, we saw that your booking for the Monaco Formula 1 race on your birthday has been canceled. Was there a change of plans?"

"Canceled? I absolutely did not cancel it. You must have made a mistake."

I had been planning this Monaco racing extravaganza for a long time and had already told all my racing team friends.

I had once sat straddling Vito's lap, arrogantly declaring that it would be my wildest birthday ever.

At the time, he had tilted my chin up, his eyes filled with adoration. "Then may I have the honor of paying for it, my queen?"

Staring at the cancellation email, my mind went blank with a roaring rage. All I wanted was to confront Vito.

I reached the top of the stairs, only to find Isabella also sitting on the leather sofa in the grand hall.

"The Monaco Formula 1 race looks so exciting. To be honest, I'd love to go too!"

Vito tapped her on the head disapprovingly. "Absolutely not. Do you have any idea how chaotic an F1 race is?"

"It's crowded and our enemies are everywhere. A stray bullet could end your life."

Isabella pouted, complaining petulantly, "You're so controlling! Then why is Liliana allowed to go?!"

As if a nerve had been struck, Vito didn't answer for a moment.

He frowned deeply, silent for a long moment before saying in a hoarse voice, "She's... different from you."

Different?

A bitter smile touched my lips. Of course we were different. Vito didn't give a damn if I lived or died. He only cared about Isabella.

If he cared so little about whether I lived or died, then why cancel my trip?

Then I heard Isabella's sickly sweet, probing voice. "But Vito, if we turn Liliana's birthday party into a welcome-home banquet for me, will she agree?"

"She will."

His tone was arrogant, certain.

Because I loved him so much, he was confident he could talk me into anything. Taking my birthday was nothing. He could probably drain me of my blood and I would let him.

My foot froze mid-step.

"Oh, why is Liliana just standing there on the stairs like that?"

Vito turned at the sound of her voice. When his gaze fell on the dark circles under my eyes, his brow tightened.

"Didn't sleep well? Did you stay up all night over something so trivial?"

I didn't bother telling him that I hadn't slept because I was planning the next chapter of my life.

I asked coldly, "Why did you cancel my Monaco trip?"

Vito's eyes flickered for a second before he regained his composure.

He stared at me and lied without batting an eye. "Monaco isn't safe. Let's have a family dinner in New York instead."

"It's perfect timing with Isabella back. You'll need to invite the women from the five families to help her build her network."

I had no intention of backing down. "When I was racing on cliffsides and diving into bays, you never called it dangerous. This is a professional F1 track."

"Besides, I've already invited my team. If you're afraid to die, you can stay in New York."

Isabella jumped in, playing the peacemaker. "Liliana, Vito is just trying to protect you. How can you be so ungrateful!"

I watched her performance with cold appreciation.

Those who benefit are always like this.

They enjoy the fruits of others' sacrifices with a clear conscience, but the moment their benefits are threatened, they put on a righteous facade.

To that, I just wanted to say: Not my problem.

My mind was made up. I was going to Monaco, with or without his permission.

There was no point in saying more. I turned to leave.

"Liliana," Vito said casually from behind me. "Do you have to be this way?"

I stood my ground. "Yes. And I already invited my friends. They're all looking forward to it. What will they think of me if I back out now?"

At my core, I was still that rebellious, defiant Mafia Principessa. My circle was full of reckless, fearless people. To break my word to them was impossible.

Vito's voice turned cold.

"Don't make me remind you of this family's rules."

"Liliana, what do you think would happen if every racetrack in the world suddenly closed its doors to you?"

His eyes were cold and sharp, his tone threatening.

It was as if someone had dumped a basin of liquid nitrogen over my head, my very organs freezing solid.

This man had always been cold-blooded and ruthless. Now, he was using the same brutal tactics on me that he used to control the underworld.

"Be a good girl. Listen to me."

"I'm doing this for your own good."

I suddenly burst out laughing, laughing so hard that tears streamed down my face.

Finally. I had earned his "concern."