Chapter 4

The car stopped in the old quarter, and the lights were still on inside my mother’s house.

I pushed the door open and called out before I had even changed my shoes.

“Mom.”

My mother rose from the living room, and the moment she saw my swollen, reddened eyes, she froze.

“Lilith, why are you back? Did you and William have another fight?”

Hearing his name made my nose sting.

“Mom, he lied to me.”

I walked over and grabbed her sleeve, telling her everything in broken fragments.

The couples influencer, the casino, the private jet, and every secret William had kept from me.

My thoughts were all over the place, and my voice shook as I spoke.

“William lied to me. He met that girl’s family, and they even held an engagement party. All of his men know her too. Do you know how ridiculous that makes me look?”

My mother said nothing, but there was something strange in the way she looked at me.

I thought she was angry on my behalf.

She remained silent for a long time before finally sighing and pouring me a glass of warm water.

“Drink some water first.”

I took the glass from her, my hands still trembling.

“Mom, what am I supposed to do?”

She looked at me with a complicated expression. There was concern in her eyes, but even more than that, there was a calmness I didn’t recognize.

“Lilith, stop making such a fuss.”

I stared at her.

“What did you just say?”

She repeated herself, sounding almost exasperated.

“I’ve known about William for a long time.”

The glass slipped from my hand, spilling warm water across the floor.

“You already... knew?”

I stood frozen in place as all the warmth seemed to drain from my body.

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

My mother looked up at me, and to my disbelief, there was even a hint of reproach in her eyes.

“What good would telling you have done? What could you possibly do about it? William needs that port right now, and he needs Laura’s family behind him. You haven’t been formally recognized by the family, so if you make trouble, you’ll only be the one who suffers.”

“Not recognized?”

A dry laugh escaped me.

“Mom, I’ve been with him for seven years. He proposed to me, and you’re telling me I was never recognized?”

“So what?”

My mother raised her voice.

“You need to learn to understand him. William has his own difficulties, and he needs resources. Once he secures his position as Don, he’ll naturally give you the place you deserve.”

I stared at my mother and, for a moment, barely recognized the woman standing in front of me.

She was the one who had raised me to be strong and independent, yet now she was telling me to endure this.

Her voice softened as she looked at me.

“I’ve met Laura. She’s a nice girl, and she even brought me gifts. She won’t mind you being around.”

“And William has always treated us well. We’ve had such a comfortable life because of him, so what exactly are you still unhappy about?”

The absurdity of it all suddenly became overwhelming, and I slowly backed away until I reached the door.

She wanted to say more, but I no longer wanted to hear any of it.

I turned, pulled the door open, and stepped out into the night air.

My phone vibrated with a new email.

“Your identity cancellation is complete.”

I took a deep breath and sent a message to the Network.

“I’ll leave tonight.”

After his engagement ceremony with Laura ended, William returned to the home we shared.

He called my name, but no answer came.

Something tightened in his chest, and a bad feeling began to settle over him.

He searched the entire house, but when he still couldn’t find me anywhere, unease quickly turned into panic.

He immediately pulled out his phone and called me.