Chapter 3

I stared at him in disbelief.

Maya was my only real friend. She was the one bright spot in my dark, bloody world. He knew exactly how much she meant to me.

"Just drive us to the venue safely."

He linked arms with Chloe and sneered at me.

I gripped the steering wheel so hard my nails dug into my palms.

I barely remember how I drove them through the city to the hall.

All I knew was the press was having a field day.

[Donna turns into a doormat? Drives her own sister to marry her ex!]

Warren had even bought internet trolls to steer the narrative.

"He faked his death just to get away from her. Who wouldn't be scared of a psycho like that?"

"If I were him, I'd have run too."

"All she knows is violence. The unloved one is the real third wheel!"

I didn't sleep a wink that night.

The next day, I went to the Frey syndicate headquarters, only to find my safe emptied and my things tossed on the floor.

"Sorry, Helene. All of this is mine now."

The door opened, and Chloe leaned against the desk, watching me.

"What are you doing here?"

I tried to step past her, but Warren blocked my way.

"All your shares and assets have been transferred to Chloe, backed by the family commission. It's time to return things to their rightful owner."

I blinked, stunned.

"I put my life on the line for all this."

Warren cut me off impatiently.

"What do you mean, 'yours'? The Frey family belongs to my wife and me! As for you, thanks for your service, but it's time for you to retire."

I looked around at the crew.

Three years ago, when I took the throne, they were kissing the ground I walked on.

Now, they just watched coldly, enjoying the show.

I had never seen how cheap loyalty was until today.

Chloe rolled her eyes, walked over, and grabbed my arm affectionately. "Honey, don't be so hard on Helene. She's my sister, after all."

But then she leaned in and whispered in my ear, "You're such a loser, Helene."

"You have no family, and no man wants you."

"You know what Warren told me? He said you were a dead fish in bed. You never satisfied him..."

A wave of sheer humiliation hit me. "Shut up!"

I tried to shake her off. Before I could even use any force, she threw herself backward, tumbling down the stairs.

"Chloe!"

Warren's face went white. Seeing the blood pooling under her, he screamed at the guards, "Get a doctor! Call a fucking ambulance!"

At the hospital.

"Sir, Chloe has internal bleeding. She has a rare blood type, and we don't have enough in the bank..."

The doctor shook his head.

Warren glared at me where I was pinned to the floor.

"Helene, you did this on purpose! You're trying to kill her!"

A sharp slap echoed. My cheek instantly swelled up. Warren looked like he wanted to tear me apart.

"Your face disgusts me! When we were together, you only cared about the business. You'd take calls during our dates."

"Now, you're trying to kill Chloe over money and shares!"

He looked at me like I was pure trash.

I never knew he hated me this much. Exhausted, I just muttered, "I didn't push her."

Warren didn't believe a word. He grabbed me by the collar.

"I'm giving you one last chance. Lie down, give Chloe your blood, and tell the world you were the one who ruined our relationship!"

"Do it, and I'll let Maya live."

Every inch of my body hurt. But thinking of Maya...

I closed my eyes.

"Fine. I'll do it."

I laid on the cold hospital bed, feeling the thick needle pierce my arm.

My blood drained away, making me shiver.

"Sir, she's too weak. We have to stop."

I heard Warren's cold voice: "Keep going. She's tough. She won't die."

I managed a weak smile.

Three years ago, I was healthy. But these past three years of stress, depression, and running the mob had wrecked my body.

By the time they stopped, I had passed out.

I was out for three days. On the third day, Warren dragged me out of the hospital.

He threw me in front of the press and forced me to read a humiliating statement he had written.

"I am sorry. I apologize to Chloe. I was the one who ruined your relationship..."

I choked out every word, swallowing my pride like broken glass.

The crowd whispered.

"She stole her sister's man, pushed her down the stairs, and almost killed her. What a bitch!"

"Get the hell out of New York!"

"Apologize to Chloe!"

The camera flashes blinded me. I stood frozen, unable to speak.

"Enough!"

Warren finally stopped the circus.

He had his men drag me into a car and tossed a wallet at me.

"This car is going to the border. Maya is waiting for you there. Once you leave, don't ever come back."

The wallet was stuffed with cash.

He slammed the door and walked back to Chloe, giving her a loving smile.

I closed my eyes and let out a long breath.

Finally, I was out.

(Warren's POV)

Warren watched the car pull away, a strange, heavy knot settling in his gut.

Chloe had her arm slipped through his, chattering excitedly about their honeymoon, but Warren was miles away.

He couldn't shake the image of Helene being dragged into that backseat. The sheer, hollow despair in her eyes.

The fierce fire that used to burn in them was completely dead.

His mind drifted back to years ago, when they were just two hungry kids rising through the Family ranks.

Standing on a penthouse balcony overlooking the city, her eyes had shone brighter than the skyline itself. "Warren," she’d told him, pointing at the sea of lights below, "one day, all of this is gonna be ours."

He had to admit, her absolute fearlessness had hooked him back then. It was the thrill of finally meeting his match.

But now, he was the one who had snuffed that fire out.

It had to be done, he told himself.

Helene was too sharp, too much of a wild card. He needed a sweet, obedient wife—not a queen who fought by his side and threatened to steal his crown.

A little hardship will do her good, he rationalized silently. Once she's broken, once she learns how to submit and realizes who's really running the show... I'll bring her back.

"Warren? Are you okay?" Chloe's voice snapped him back to the present.

He shook his head, banishing the broken image of Helene from his mind, and forced a smile.

"I'm fine. It's nothing."

Just then, his cell phone started ringing frantically in his pocket. He answered it.

"Boss, we got a problem! The car taking Miss Helene... it just blew up!"