Chapter 3

Everything unfolded as I had anticipated. The men whose secrets I controlled came forward to court my favor.

Under pressure, they gave me critical intelligence about the Victor Family's resources.

They had no choice now but to become my most loyal men.

"Don, the Victor Family's leader has requested negotiations with you."

I agreed.

In my previous life, the Victor Family had negotiated with Andrew too. That meeting ended in his absolute defeat.

But everything was different now.

The Victor Don was named Burke. He was young and handsome in the photographs.

He was said to be formidable. After rising from the bottom, he had brought his entire family to heel in only a few years.

When Burke heard I was the new Don, he demanded to meet with me personally.

Burke. I was sure I had heard the name before. It stirred a vague sense of familiarity.

But I could no longer remember why.

Once the meeting with the Victor Family was arranged, I went home.

Andrew still had not returned. He must have been rescuing his first love.

For that matter, I would not have minded if Lilith died.

If she died, Andrew could not blame me this time. I had already taken his power; that alone would make his life unbearable.

If she lived, I would strip him of his power and then destroy his love as well.

After showering, I lay down in my bedroom. Soon, the front door opened and two people entered.

I knew Andrew had returned with Lilith.

I stepped out of the bedroom and watched Andrew in silence.

He was carrying Lilith in his arms. She was completely unharmed, though clearly shaken by what had happened.

"Ella, the ceremony went well, I take it?"

Without so much as acknowledging me, he gently settled Lilith on the sofa, then came straight toward me.

"I'm back. Lilith is fine. She's just a little shaken."

He strode up to me as if everything were settled and spoke with the condescension of a man granting a favor.

"You've done enough. Now give me the Don's ring. I'll take over from here."

He held out his hand and waited for me to hand over power meekly the way I had in my previous life.

I gave a soft, mocking laugh and lifted my chin.

"Andrew, have you misunderstood something?"

His face stiffened as I held his gaze. "I am the Family's sole Don now. The way you're speaking to me already crosses a line."