Chapter 1

It took me three years to warm the heart of Theo, the Family's chief surgeon.

I gave up the title of North America's best independent director for him. I even got an IUD simply because he said having a kid in this lifestyle was a death sentence.

In everyone's eyes, we were an unbreakable couple. But on our fifth anniversary, I asked my lawyer best friend to draft divorce papers as quickly as possible.

She was shocked that I would give up the marriage I had sacrificed everything for. I looked at the exquisite gift box on the table and smiled bitterly. "Because of a peony."

I was actually happy when I first received this box today.

I thought Theo had finally come to his senses and prepared an anniversary surprise for me.

But when I flipped open the card at the bottom of the box, the smile on my face completely froze.

Thank you for breaking the rules to save my cousin using the Family's clinics. I picked this peony myself. I think it suits "us" perfectly. I hope you think of me when you see it. Yours, Isla.

My grip loosened. The gift box hit the floor, and the dark red peony rolled far away, its delicate petals scattering across the ground.

Three years ago, my father suffered from heart failure.

The doctors said he needed immediate surgery and that the best surgeon needed to act fast.

Theo was the best surgeon in the entire city. He also controlled the Family's clandestine medical network, complete with the fastest ambulances and the best-equipped operating rooms.

With red eyes, I begged Theo. I begged him to save my dad.

What did he say?

"Outsiders are not allowed to use Family resources. This is the rule set by the Don. As the chief surgeon, I must uphold it."

Later, my dad died in a crowded, run-down public hospital.

That became a wound I could never heal from for the rest of my life.

So many times I woke up in the middle of the night, picturing my father's cold tombstone, muffling my sobs in the blanket until I fell asleep.

I convinced myself over and over again that I couldn't hate Theo.

He was the chief surgeon. He had his Family's stance and the ironclad rules he had to defend.

It wasn't until today that I realized rules could be broken and boundaries could be crossed.

It was just that I, Harper, wasn't worthy of it.

Hanging up Jade's phone call, I swept the entire exquisite candlelit dinner on the table into the trash can.

I opened my laptop and typed a few words into the search bar: North American desert rally routes.

Wind, sand, canyons, and roaring engines stretching all the way to the end of the wilderness.

I had once made a promise to my father that, in our lifetime, we would drive an off-road vehicle, bring our cameras, and shoot a documentary about the wild open road.

After my father passed away, Theo kissed my forehead to comfort me and promised he would fulfill that journey with me.

But that year, he had just taken over the medical lifeline of the entire Mafia family.

Turf wars, assassinations, emergency surgeries. He came home every day reeking of heavy blood, without even a moment to close his eyes.

Seeing him suffer stomach cramps from back-to-back surgeries broke my heart.

So I gave up the major film festival awards that were practically in my hands, transforming from a promising documentary director into Mrs. Theo.

That year, two top Hollywood production companies came to my door with contracts, and I turned them down single-handedly.

Later, Theo became the most sought-after surgeon in both the legitimate and underworld scenes on the East Coast. No one in the Family dared to show him anything less than utter respect.

I once thought my sacrifices were worth it.

Looking back now, I only found it ridiculous.

The sound of the fingerprint lock chimed, interrupting my thoughts.

Theo was back.

He took off his trench coat, draped it over the back of a chair, and glanced at the empty dining table. His brows tightened.

"You didn't cook?"

I stared at the off-road vehicle price quotes on the screen without even lifting my head.

His frown deepened.

"You stay at home every day. Can you really be more tired than me?"

Before I could answer, his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and picked it up in a second.

"What's wrong?"

A soft, breathless female voice came through the phone.

Theo's tense jawline visibly relaxed, and the corners of his mouth even curved up slightly.

"Don't panic. I'll be right there."

I could faintly hear the cheering of a few mob bosses in the background.

"Miss Isla needs a rescue again."

"Hurry up, Doc. Our beautiful supplier is terrified of these brutes."

A wave of relaxed laughter echoed, laced with a flirtatious tone.

I, his legally wedded wife, felt more like an outsider who couldn't fit in.

Hanging up the phone, Theo grabbed the trench coat he had just taken off.

I spoke up. "Isla?"

His movement of buttoning his coat paused for a moment.

"There is an organ rejection issue at the underground clinic. She's the supplier, so she has to come to me for clearance. It's a matter of life and death, so don't let your imagination run wild."

With that, he turned and walked out.

I watched his tall, straight back.

I remembered how he had also left home in a hurry like this last week, claiming he was going out of state for a medical seminar and wouldn't be back for three days.

Only now did I understand that there was no seminar at all.

He had used the smuggling medical routes, flown all night, to save Isla's cousin, an outsider who took a bullet to the shoulder.

"Theo."

I called out to stop him.

He stopped at the entryway and looked back at me. "What is it?"

I looked straight into his deep eyes and asked softly, "Do you remember what day it is today?"

He barely even thought about it. "The anniversary of the South Side turf war?"

I smiled.

He had completely forgotten.

Today was our fifth wedding anniversary.

And from the looks of it now, it was also our last.

"Nothing."

I looked away, my tone completely devoid of emotion.

"Go do your work."

Theo looked at me, his brows slightly furrowed, as if sensing something.

After a long moment, he squeezed out a sentence.

"I'll come back and keep you company when I'm done. Want me to pick up some of that Italian food you like on the way?"

I shook my head.

"No need."

There would never be a need again.

After Theo left, I went alone to the Michelin-starred restaurant I had booked three months in advance.

The night was intoxicating, couples were embracing, leaving me to sit alone in the corner.

The waiter asked respectfully, "Ma'am, when will your husband be arriving?"

I took a sip of red wine. "He's not coming."

He would never come again.

After paying the bill, I called the car dealership.

"I want to order a high-performance rally car with a desert-grade suspension. Full payment, in cash."

The owner said it was in stock but would need a week for bulletproofing and performance modifications.

Countdown to my departure: 7 days. These seven days were enough for me to strip away this rotten relationship and end this messed-up marriage.

"I'll take that one. I'll pick it up next Saturday."

As I hung up, an email from Jade popped up. The divorce papers were ready.

I clicked it open, glanced at it, and replied with a quiet "Received."

She fell silent on the other end of the line for a moment before finally failing to hold back.

"Harper, you tied your whole life to him. Can you really bear to cut ties?"

I looked out at the city drowning in neon lights outside the window and asked her back.

"Jade, have you ever seen Theo ignore the Don's warnings and break the Family's deadly rules for someone?"

"No," she answered honestly.

"I have."

A bitter, self-deprecating smile touched my lips.

"But that person wasn't me."