Chapter 2

I don't know how I left.

I stumbled blindly to the cemetery, standing in front of the headstone I'd built for him.

I thought of all the times I came here to cry when I missed him. What a joke.

I grabbed a sledgehammer and smashed his headstone to pieces. Then I had my Soldatos pack it up, along with the bloody jacket I'd kept for three years, and sent it to him.

I gave a bitter smile. "Consider it a wedding gift."

By the time I got home, my parents were waiting in the living room.

They looked pissed.

"Helene, did you send that garbage to Warren?"

"Do you know you terrified Chloe? Or are you just trying to get back at them?"

"No wonder Warren didn't want you. Pulling a stunt like this... it's absurd!"

I stared at the two of them.

The two people I was closest to didn't even take my side.

"Why didn't you tell me? Three years! You knew exactly how much pain I was in!" I choked out.

Papa sighed.

"Helene, you have a whole mafia empire. You have everything! Chloe only has Warren."

He looked like he genuinely thought he was right.

"If you weren't such a control freak, Warren never would have left you. You need to look in the mirror."

My mother nodded.

"Don't think we're playing favorites. You've been busy with your bloody mafia business all these years. When I fell and broke my bone last year, Chloe took care of me. On my birthday, Chloe was the one who celebrated with me. That's the kind of loving daughter we want."

"We kept Warren's fake death a secret to let Chloe have her true love."

I stood there, stunned into silence for a long time.

Then, I let out a laugh.

"The top medical team that did your surgery was hired by me. For your birthday, I gave you the deed to that private island you always wanted to visit... So in your eyes, none of that mattered?"

My mother froze for a second, then frowned in disgust.

"So what? Don't think your dirty money can buy us."

"In our hearts, Chloe is the one who is truly there for us!"

Papa gave me a heavy look.

"Helene, just do it for us. Let them go."

"Chloe suffered in silence for three years before she could finally be with Warren. She's been through enough."

"Besides, they're husband and wife now."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

I always knew they preferred Chloe because she was soft and needy. But I always thought they still loved me.

Now I knew the truth. They didn't love me at all.

Papa continued:

"Chloe said she wants her big sister's blessing. They're having another wedding reception in a few days, and they need a driver for the bridal car. You should do it."

"That way, no one will think the Frey family is falling apart. As the Donna, you should be the bigger person."

I stared at the car keys, suddenly feeling incredibly calm.

"Fine. I'll be there."

Three days later, Warren and Chloe's wedding made headlines everywhere.

[Back from the Dead? No, Mafia Boss Fakes Death for True Love!]

I drove up to their house.

From the moment I showed up, all eyes were on me.

"Helene's here. This is gonna be a show."

"She really came to be their driver? And she calls herself a Boss... how pathetic!"

Warren walked up to the car with Chloe, smirking.

"Glad you know your place."

He shoved the keys into my hand, but I didn't take them. They dropped to the ground.

"You—!"

Seeing my dead eyes, Warren paused. His gaze shifted to Chloe's hand, and he went quiet.

It was the diamond ring Warren and I had picked out together.

I used to dream about him putting it on my finger. Now, it was shining on Chloe's left hand.

My face darkened. The last shred of hope in my chest was ripped to pieces.

Warren cleared his throat.

"The ceremony is starting soon. Let's go."

I stepped on the gas without a word.

Looking at the guardrails, I started imagining crashing into them. I had my seatbelt on. They didn't...

Warren seemed to read my mind and said coldly, "Helene, don't do anything stupid."

He suddenly showed me a video on his phone. It was my best friend, Maya, in Europe.

She was tied up, a time bomb strapped to her chest.