Chapter 3

Just then, Leo's phone rang.

It was the company's finance director.

Leo answered with shaking hands. The moment he put it on speaker, a panicked voice burst through.

"Mr. Lovera, something's wrong. Swiss Bank just called, saying they've frozen the company accounts! We're supposed to pay ten million dollars today to the Colombian arms dealers. If that money doesn't clear, they're going to dump us in the ocean."

Leo's hand jerked, and the phone nearly slipped from his grip.

He lunged at me, trying to snatch my phone. "Anna, you witch! Unfreeze the money right now. Are you trying to kill me?"

I stepped aside and kicked his knee in one smooth motion.

He hit the floor with a dull thud, landing on his knees.

"Kill you?" I looked down at him. "We're not even close to that yet."

I stared at him from above, my voice calm. "Over the past few years, you've been selling the Family's weapons on the side. You used that money to buy Sophia jewelry, luxury cars, and even a seaside villa. Every single transaction is being investigated. You misappropriated company funds on a grand scale. How many years in prison do you think that'll buy you?"

Leo knelt there, all his arrogance gone.

"A-Anna, listen to me. This is all a misunderstanding. There's nothing between Sophia and me. She seduced me. I swear."

When Sophia heard him, she rushed out barefoot.

"Leo! Just yesterday you said you were going to divorce this old hag and marry me. Now you're backing out?" Sophia shrieked. "I'm carrying your child!"

Leo did not even look at her before shoving her aside. "Get lost. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this mess!"

Sophia fell to the floor and broke into loud sobs. "Fine. I'm calling the police. I'll report all of you!"

I watched the scene unfold, completely unmoved.

"Go ahead." I walked over and sat on the couch. "While the police are here, they can also check the receipts in that Hermès bag of yours. Let's see whose card you used to pay for it."

Sophia's crying stopped instantly.

Just then, a rapid knocking came from the gates of the estate. Then, a sharp, shrill voice followed.

"Open the door! Where is everyone? Leo! Your mother is here and you're not coming out to greet me?"

Leo looked like he'd spotted salvation. He scrambled to the door, nearly tripping in his haste.

"Mom! You actually came! I can't take this life anymore!"

The door opened, revealing an older woman draped in a gaudy fur coat.

It was Leo's mother, Rosa Moretti.

She stepped inside and let her eyes sweep the room, finally settling on me.

"If Leo hadn't pulled you off the streets back then, you wouldn't be alive today!"

I said nothing. Meeting Leo that day had been an accident.

A bomb had been planted along my usual route. After barely escaping it, a group of young thugs mistook me for a beggar and beat me up mercilessly.

Leo happened to be the only passerby I could grab.

I begged him, as an ordinary woman named Anna, to take me home and marry me.

I had lived under that identity for five years. Five years during which I managed his company and let him live in my estate.

That was more than enough to repay the tiny favor of saving my life.

Leo leaned in close to whisper something in Rosa's ear.

She spat on the floor, scratched at her hair that hadn't been washed in days, and dandruff snowed onto my expensive Persian rug.

"Since my son lives here, this estate belongs to us!"

She strutted over and plopped herself down right next to me.