Chapter 2

The Vitale family was one of the oldest Mafia bloodlines on the East Coast, controlling ports, shipping routes, and several smuggling operations better left unspoken.

And Lux Vitale was the family's long-lost true Principessa.

She was finally brought home at eighteen.

But Donna Vitale could not bear to abandon Bianca, the adopted daughter she had raised for years. So from the moment Lux returned, she gained a 'little sister.'

In the Vitale family, Lux was always treated like an outsider.

Lorenzo was the exception.

Back then, he was not yet the untouchable Don he was today. He was only a rising Capo in the Antara family, sharp-edged, ambitious, impossible to ignore.

When the others mocked Lux for her etiquette and her accent, Lorenzo was the one who stepped in to shield her.

At family banquets, when she became the target of humiliation, he was always the one who stood between her and the sneers.

And once, in front of everyone, he held her hand and said, "The Principessa of the Vitale family does not need to learn how to please anyone."

That was when she fell in love with him.

Later, they married.

With the Vitale family's money, shipping empire, and political backing behind him, Lorenzo steadily secured his position as Don of the Antara family, becoming a man feared and respected throughout the underworld.

For three years, they were the perfect couple in the public eye.

And once upon a time, Lorenzo had truly treated her well.

On winter nights, he would warm milk for her himself.

When she fell ill, he canceled meetings to stay by her bedside.

Whenever the Vitale family treated her coldly, he would take her away and whisper softly against her hair.

"You have me."

Then came the kidnapping.

And everything was destroyed.

That night, Lux, Bianca, and Lorenzo had just left a charity ball when they were intercepted on the road home by a rival family.

The kidnappers demanded Bianca by name.

But Lorenzo shoved Lux toward them instead.

"Lux, Bianca's heart condition won't let her survive a single night in their hands."

His voice was calm. Rational.

"You're stronger than she is. Healthier too. Hold on until I bring people back for you."

Lux was taken.

Over the following days, she was tortured until her leg was broken, her ribs cracked, and deep restraints carved permanent scars into her wrists.

No one from Lorenzo's family ever came for her.

Instead, the only news she received was word that she had already been given a beautiful funeral.

Lux went to the hospital alone to have her wounds treated again.

The doctor frowned as he examined the horrific injuries covering her body and asked what she had been through.

She did not answer.

However, as she passed the nurses' station on her way out, she overheard the staff whispering quietly among themselves.

They said that when Lorenzo had carried Bianca into the hospital, he had ordered the best obstetrics specialist and private physicians in the city to be called in immediately.

"Isn't that the late Donna Antara's younger sister?"

"Why is Don Antara so nervous over her?"

"Isn't it obvious? Don Antara was devastated after losing his wife. Of course he would care about her remaining family."

Lux almost laughed.

Lorenzo had built the image of a grieving husband too well.

Thanks to the funeral and a few carefully displayed tears, Antara Group's hotels and logistics companies had seen their stock prices rise again. Even several hesitant business partners had finally agreed to cooperate.

Who could have imagined what kind of monster was hiding beneath that mask of devotion?

Following the room number she had overheard, Lux walked quietly down the corridor.

Through the narrow crack in the hospital door, she heard Lorenzo say to Bianca with her own ears.

"No one is going to touch our child.

"As for Lux, I'll deal with it."

Bianca looked pale and fragile as she clutched nervously at his sleeve.

"But my sister won't let me go so easily…"

"You just focus on yourself and the baby."

Lorenzo lowered his head and kissed her hand gently.

"I'll take care of the rest. I'm your husband. I'll protect both of you."

Husband.

The word pierced straight through Lux's chest like a blade.

She quietly lifted her phone and took a photo of the scene inside the room before turning and walking away.

The next day, she went directly to Antara Group headquarters.

Then placed two documents onto Lorenzo's desk.

One was a division of assets agreement.

The other was a divorce filing prepared by her lawyer.

Lorenzo frowned.

"What is this supposed to mean?"

"It's simple." Lux looked at him calmly. "Review the asset division. If you don't have objections, sign the divorce papers."

For a moment, Lorenzo froze.

Then he laughed as though he had just heard the most ridiculous joke imaginable.

"Without me, you are nothing in the Vitale family."

He slowly leaned back into his chair, his gaze turning dark.

"Lux, don't say the word divorce to me again.

"I'll arrange a banquet and let everyone know you've returned."

Lux stared at him, her voice so soft it barely carried emotion.

"I think they'll be very surprised.

"After all, everyone, including you, wanted me dead. Didn't they?"