Chapter 2

After changing my clothes, I walked downstairs to find the guests already surrounding Bella. She was wearing a limited-edition white dress, looking every bit the innocent woman among these mafia men.

Gideon stood by the window, swirling a glass of red wine as he gazed at her with a tender look.

I did not pay them any mind. I simply stayed in the corner, tasting the food.

“Hi, may I ask who you are?” A man approached me. “You’re way too pretty to be standing here alone. Would you honor me with a dance?”

Before I could respond, Bella quickly cut in, “She’s my elder sister, Evelyn.”

The man nodded politely and extended his hand to me. “Nice to meet you. I’m Zerrick.”

The moment he said his name, Bella’s smile disappeared.

Zerrick Shane was a man of high status. His name carried as much weight as Gideon’s.

A hint of jealousy flashed across Bella’s eyes before she deliberately turned toward Gideon. “Wow, Evelyn, I guess some people really do have all the luck. You barely got here and already charmed such a great guy. I’m really jealous.”

Gideon’s gaze shifted to me, his brows slightly furrowed. His voice was cold like ice. “This is Bella’s party, not a place for you to toy with men.”

Toy with men?

The absurdity of it almost made me laugh. I had not done anything, yet with just one sentence from Bella, I was branded guilty.

Zerrick frowned. “Mr. Wade, don’t you think that’s a bit too much? This lady hasn’t done anything.”

The moment those words fell, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Everyone fell silent without realizing it, waiting to watch the showdown between the two great families.

Gideon’s lips curved into a faint smile. He reached into his suit and drew a gun. In the next second, the muzzle was pressed to Zerrick’s forehead.

Everyone gasped in shock.

They all knew of Gideon’s reputation. He had clawed his way up from the bottom. He was ruthless and unrelenting.

“It’s been a long time since anyone dared to talk to me like that.”

Zerrick’s eyes held not a flicker of fear. He simply met Gideon's gaze with icy calm.

I felt a flash of anger at Gideon's outrageous behavior. I stepped forward and grabbed his arm. “Gideon, stop it…”

Before I could finish, the icy barrel of the gun shifted until it was pointed squarely at my forehead.

Bella’s panicked voice cut through the air. “Gideon, please don't! She’s my sister!”

Her words might have sounded like she was defending me, but her tone was full of excitement and laced with ridicule. It felt like she was mocking me, for the man who had slept beside me for five years was now aiming a gun at my head.

My body trembled uncontrollably. Gideon gave a cold, disdainful laugh before lowering the gun and tucking it back at his waist. He took a few steps closer. His voice was low and venomous. “We’ll settle this later when we get home.”

Then, he turned around and walked back into the crowd with Bella’s hand nestled perfectly in his. The party came alive again as though nothing had happened.

Everyone’s eyes lingered on their clasped hands. They were curious about what was going on between them.

“Bella, what’s your relationship with the Don? He seems to adore you.”

“So, the rumors are true. The Don never took an interest in women before because he already has one.”

“Looks like she’s the future Mrs. Wade. We’d better stay on her good side.”

My parents stood proudly in the center of the crowd, beaming with pride at their younger daughter.

They used to brag about me being the Don's wife until Gideon publicly warned them to keep their mouths shut. After that humiliation, they started resenting me more and more.

Gideon was smiling, seemingly enjoying every bit of the gossip and whispers.

I watched them, bathing in starlight and adoration, just as a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the side.

The fork in my hand clattered to the floor, but before I could fall, Zerrick caught me.

“Are you alright?”

I was clutching my stomach in pain as sweat came pouring down. I reached for his hand. “I’m sorry… Could you please get me to a hospital?”

I thought the cramps were faint, but the moment I got into the car, darkness swallowed me whole.

When I woke up again, the only person by my side was Zerrick, the man I had just met.

My phone lit up. There was a string of messages from Gideon.

[Who told you to leave?]

[Do you have any idea how worried Bella is about you? Evelyn, you’re being ridiculous.]

[Be back in one hour. If you’re not, I’ll have someone bring you back. You know what I’m capable of.]

As the screen dimmed, another wave of pain rippled through my stomach.

Zerrick noticed me frown and reached for the call button. I stopped him immediately.

I pulled back the blanket and forced myself to stand. “Thank you for tonight. I should go.”

He caught my arm.“No. The doctor said you need to rest.”

“I don’t need to…”

“Evelyn!”

Gideon’s furious voice thundered down the corridor. His eyes were bloodshot when he appeared. His hand clamped around my chin with bruising force as he said in a cold voice, “Who said you could leave? If anything happens to Bella, you’re dead!”

“What are you talking about?” I met his gaze. “Bella? What happened to her?”

Zerrick tried to step forward, but Gideon’s men blocked him instantly.

Zerrick barked impatiently, “She just experienced massive blood loss. You can’t treat her like this!”

“Massive blood loss?” Gideon froze for a moment. His gaze shifted to Zerrick, then he let out a cold, bitter laugh. “Looks to me you were on a little date!”

He squeezed harder, and pain shot through my jaw. I thought it might shatter.

Zerrick lunged toward us, but he was outnumbered.

I struggled against Gideon’s grip, but he slammed me down, the weight of him crushing my chest. Agony tore through my abdomen. I could barely breathe.

“Doctor… Get me a doctor…”

I could barely steady myself against Gideon when, out of nowhere, my parents came rushing toward us.

My father yelled, “You monster! Bella told us everything! She said you called her from the hospital and said you were in trouble. She left her party to come find you, and now… she’s been in a car crash…”

My mother sobbed behind him, pointing a trembling finger at me and Zerrick. “Bella is such a kind girl, and this is how you repay her? You were just sneaking around with your lover! How dare you claim to be ill!”

I stood frozen, staring at them in disbelief. “What… What did you just say?”