Chapter 2

I shook my head, forcing the ugly thought from my mind.

I just typed "Understood" and hit send.

A glaring red exclamation mark appeared on the screen.

In his rush to prove his loyalty to Kate, my fiancé hadn't even waited for a reply. He'd already blocked me.

Even better. I didn't mind at all.

In fact, I should thank him for saving me the trouble.

Picking up a burner phone, I dialed the secure line to my family's consigliere and announced the indefinite postponement of the marriage alliance.

Harper Romano. Wedding postponed indefinitely for personal reasons.

My announcement sent shockwaves through the city's elite, on both sides of the law. My phone immediately started ringing off the hook.

Not wanting to create more complications, I stuck to the script Miles had given me: it was too soon, and I wasn't ready.

Even so, my family's most trusted capos sent me urgent warnings.

"Harper, Miles is about to take over all of Apex Harbor. Every ambitious woman in this city is gunning for your spot. If you back out now, you're just handing over the empire you helped him build."

I glanced at the message and put my phone on silent.

I didn't know how to respond. After all, Miles was already another woman's husband.

Not long after my announcement, Kate sent me a photo.

It was a picture of their ceremony in the family chapel. Her message oozed with a victor's arrogance.

Harper, thanks for backing out. Miles had the priest perform our vows tonight, just to make me feel secure.

I didn't reply. I just blocked her number and all her social media.

My phone vibrated violently. My mother's furious voice came from across the ocean.

"What in God's name are you thinking? This is the most important deal for the entire Romano empire. If you walk away now, no one's going to beg you to be the Don's wife later."

I leaned back in my leather chair and chuckled softly. "And what if the Sterlings are the ones who broke the contract?"

My mother was silent for a second, then her tone became even sterner, more pragmatic.

"Then that means you failed to hold on to your man. You need to think about the bigger picture, show some goodwill. Don't forget the resources we've invested. We can't afford to lose everything at this critical juncture."

In the eight years I was with Miles, family honor was always his weapon of choice.

He couldn't get married until his position was secure, that was his favorite excuse.

Now that he was powerful enough to take his father's seat, he was shielding someone else.

It's not that I didn't pay a price. It's that the man was never worthy of it.

It's not that I didn't fight for it. It's that fighting was useless.

Over the years, I gave up a high-ranking position in my own family to help him eliminate his rivals. I've taken bullets for him in more assassination attempts than I can count.

I even lost our unborn child while we were on the run.

Back then, he held me and said our world was too dangerous, that we couldn't bring a child into this life of violence.

I kept my promise. I gritted my teeth and endured the immense pain, both physical and psychological.

I loved him. So whatever he said, no matter how wronged I felt, I went along with it.

Just like tonight, when he decided to brazenly marry someone else.

The moment I learned the truth, my heart ached, but I also felt an incredible sense of relief.

A clean break was for the best. I would no longer have to live in his shadow, groveling for a proposal.

My mother was still droning on about using a woman's wiles to save the Alliance. I had lost all interest in arguing.

"Mother, the deal is off. I will never marry a man like him."

After hanging up, I ordered the immediate withdrawal of all the top-tier security and event teams we had arranged for tomorrow.

The head of logistics hesitated for a moment on the other end.

"Miles just gave a direct order. All the custom-flown items, the floral arrangements, posters, and decor are to be sealed and stored for three years. That's against protocol..."

I understood at once. It wasn't that he didn't have the energy to deal with questions from the other capos.

He just didn't have the guts to face the backlash for breaking his own rules.

He was arrogant enough to think I was just another one of his possessions, to be shelved for three years.

Or that I was a canary in a gilded cage, willing to sing for him again in three years.

"Burn it all. In three years, it'll all be worthless anyway."

Just like his love for me. It had rotted away long ago.

After hanging up, I stared at Eleonora's name on my screen, a headache already building.

That formidable woman would see through Kate's scheme in a heartbeat. If she found out her son was being led around by some low-class girl, she would be furious.

Taking a deep breath, I did one thing first. I had the priceless diamond engagement necklace, the symbol of the Sterling family, sent back to her.

I counted to three in my head. Right on cue, her private line rang.

"Harper, what is the meaning of this? Why did you return the engagement necklace?"

Her voice held a hint of probing, and a faint note of alarm.

"Madam, Miles and I have put our plans on hold. Indefinitely. I'm flying overseas for a three-year sabbatical."

Even though my voice was calm, the shrewd and capable Eleonora immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Did Miles do something to you? I'll deal with him myself, right now. Tomorrow's ceremony will proceed as planned. That's a direct order from the Don."

"I'm afraid the situation is already out of your hands, Madam."

But the matriarch had already hung up on me.

Now, we'll see how Miles handles his mother's wrath.

It was time for me to grab my things and make a clean exit.