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Chapter 2

Penulis: Gemma
Four days later, I was back at the Rossi estate, packing away the last of my mother’s research files.

The Hartmann Institute had already sent over my admission documents. My assets were being moved quietly, and my new passport was waiting in a safehouse across the city.

Everything was almost ready.

Except Vincent knew nothing.

I was sealing a folder when the study door opened.

“Bella,” he said, his voice cold and sharp. “It’s been four days. I thought you’d have this project finished two days ago. What’s taking so long?”

Lilian stepped out from behind Vincent, her big blue eyes wide with feigned concern.

Lilian stepped out from behind Vincent, her big blue eyes wide with feigned concern.

"Vincent, please don't be so hard on her," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

"This is a huge responsibility, and I'm sure she's been working tirelessly. She must be exhausted. It was my fault for asking her to take this on in the first place."

"No."

Vincent slammed his fist down on the wooden table beside me.

"This project isn't optional," he said, his voice rising with urgency.

"If we don't have this secure communication system ready to present, the entire alliance we've spent years building will collapse!"

He took a deep, ragged breath, running a hand through his dark hair in frustration. His expression softened slightly, though his eyes still held a sharp edge.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice calmer now, though still tight. "I didn't mean to snap. I'm just under a lot of pressure. But this really is critical. I'll give you two more days. You must have it finished by Sunday night. No exceptions."

They turned and walked out, the heavy door slamming shut behind them.

Perfect.

I was planning to leave in exactly two days anyway.

I leaned back in the old wooden chair.

When had things become like this? When had the man who once promised me the world turned into someone who only saw me as a tool to fix his problems?

It had started three years ago, when Lilian's parents died saving his life during an ambush.

He'd brought the sixteen-year-old orphan into his home, vowing to protect her for the rest of her life.

At first, I'd felt sorry for her. I'd tried to be her friend, to help her adjust to life in the mafia world.

But slowly, things changed.

Lilian learned to weaponize her fragility.

She'd tell him lies about how I treated her, and he'd always believe her.

Every time there was a choice between us, he chose her.

He missed our engagement anniversary because Lilian had a nightmare.

He canceled our honeymoon plans because Lilian was "too scared" to be alone while we were gone.

He even gave her the necklace my mother had left me, saying she needed something to make her feel safe.

And I'd let him. I'd told myself that he was just being loyal, that his guilt was eating him alive. I'd thought that if I was just patient enough, just understanding enough, he'd eventually see how much I loved him.

But I was wrong.

Well, I didn't need him anymore.

I picked up my pen and went back to my research.

I had more important things to do.

I had a new life to build.
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    Two days before my birthday, I was leaving the old warehouse where I’d stored all my research equipment when gunshots rang out.A bullet grazed my right arm.I fell to the concrete floor, white-hot pain exploding through my body. I looked up and saw three masked men running towards the getaway car.

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