LOGINThree years into my arranged marriage with the Valachi family heir, the one that got away came back. He left me for Julia eight times. The ninth time, he left me bleeding on the side of the road with a gunshot wound to go running to Julia, who’d called him because she felt a little dizzy. "She needs me. You get that, right, Leona?" This time, I didn't fight for him. He didn't know about the bet I’d made with Julia. The ninth time he abandoned me, I would be the one to leave for good. So on his birthday, I left a set of signed divorce papers on his desk and got on a plane.
View MoreToday is Bertha's husband Derek's birthday - she has gone shopping and will organize a surprise party for him, in the hope, he will understand her sincere feelings.
When Bertha entered the living room, she saw no one. She went to the kitchen and asked a maid where her husband was. But, the maid just smirked at her.
Bertha was used to the times when she asked but no one answered. Because all of Tibble's family's maids don't care about her.
Bertha went to their bedroom. Nearing the door, she suddenly heard a vague sound coming from inside. She thought she heard wrong but no, the sound was quite clear.
Frowning, Bertha slowly turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. She was behind the door so she couldn't see if Derek was in there or not, but when she faced the bed, she froze on the spot.
Bertha didn't know if she was in reality or just dreaming, but she saw her husband in bed with another girl. They weren't wearing anything, what was covering their bodies was the blanket she used to cover. Her husband had an affair right in their bed, their bedroom.
Her chest was spinning, her breathing became heavy. Bertha didn't know how to react. Is this a joke? Even though Derek doesn't love her, he shouldn't treat her so badly. Her hands shook, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"Hmm."
The girl's moaning voice pierced Bertha's heart like a sharp knife. She feels suffocated. She bit her lip and stiffened.
The woman in the room is Derek's ex-girlfriend - Laura, and the husband she loves with all her heart and soul.
Bertha let go of her hand holding the grocery bag, it fell to the floor causing a loud noise that startled the two people on the bed.
"Bertha," Laura screamed in mock panic.
Derek turned his head, he frowned, looking coldly at Bertha. He pursed his thin lips and remained silent.
The scene before her eyes stunned Bertha. She caught them in the act but Derek remained calm and nonchalant as if this was just a normal thing. What did he think of her? Why did he insult her so casually?
"You two... why are you two doing this right in our room?" Bertha stammered.
"Our room?" Derek sarcastically said. "This is my room. Whatever I want to do, that's my business." He got out of bed and got dressed. "If you have seen it, I have nothing more to say. This matter cannot be hidden forever."
Bertha stubbornly glared at him, refusing to admit she was a loser.
Derek clenched his fist. His deep dark eyes stared at her, trying to burn her if possible.
"Derek?" A gentle voice broke the deadlock between them.
Bertha looked towards Laura, who was walking towards Derek. "I know, it's not right for us to do this, but I really can't stop loving you."
Bertha's eyes darkened. She couldn't understand.
What is Laura thinking? Is she trying to play the victim to gain sympathy from Derek and get back at him? However, Laura is more cunning than Bertha thinks. She wants Derek so she can claim the Tibble family fortune.
"Laura." Derek looked back at Laura, his expression softening immediately. He stroked her hair and said. "Don't worry, we didn't do anything wrong."
Laura often comes to Derek's mansion and receives the favor of Mrs. Victoria.
Derek declares his feelings for Laura. But Bertha is his legal wife. Laura and Derek's shady love affair went on for nearly a year without Bertha's knowledge.
Even all the maids in Derek's villa seemed to support their love story. Those maids didn't like Bertha from the start. They were very happy that the boss had another woman to warm his bed almost every night.
Derek and Laura were in love before. But then they broke up. Derek has just agreed to marry Bertha - who is believed to be an orphan.
After Derek and Bertha had been married for a few months, Laura broke up with her boyfriend and wanted to get back together with her first love.
Although he was betrayed by Laura before, because of his love for her, in a moment of weakness, Derek fell into her arms.
Taking a deep breath, Bertha looked at Derek. "Let's get a divorce." She has enough already. It's time for her to let go of this cruel marriage.
Derek was a bit taken aback. He didn't think she would ask for a divorce. Because he knows that she loves him very much.
Without waiting for Derek to answer, Bertha walked out of that room.
Despite the pain, Bertha still held her head high, her back straight, and walked without fear. After returning to her room, she texted her friend - Windy - telling Windy to come pick her up in a few minutes.
Bertha sat on the bed, packing her luggage. After three years of living with Tibble's family, she didn't have many belongings.
Bertha dragged her luggage out of the room. When she opened the door, Derek stumbled into the room. She didn't look at him, her cold expression passed by him. She slowly walked down the stairs.
With no other choice, Bertha was forced to leave Derek's house, a place with too many painful memories. Everyone was indifferent, no one spoke or held her back.
She sat on a chair in front of the gate waiting for Windy to drive to pick her up.
Windy finally arrived. She got out of the car and saw Bertha's pale face, she was extremely worried.
"Bertha, what happened?" Windy asked, sitting next to her friend. Looking at the blood on Bertha's leg, Windy was so heartbroken that tears fell. "Where's Derek?"
Bertha wanted to open her mouth but she was very tired now. Her eyes closed. She fainted. Windy quickly supported Bertha, she placed her hand on Bertha's forehead. Windy realized her friend had a fever.
"Why doesn't Derek care about you when you have a fever like this?" Windy mumbled, she didn't have time to work things out with Derek.
Windy helped Bertha sit in the backseat of the car, putting Bertha's luggage in the trunk. She looked at the giant house, shaking her head in frustration. Then she got in the car, stepped on the gas, and drove straight to the hospital.
"Relax, Leona," Serafino said, holding my hand. "My mother will love you."The car drove slowly into the Donnelly family estate. It was even more magnificent than I had imagined—a classic Irish-style manor, with perfectly manicured gardens and guards patrolling every corner."Welcome, Leona," a commanding voice said.Serafino's mother, Patricia Donnelly, was more approachable than I expected. She was a woman in her fifties, her silver hair impeccably styled, with the same blue eyes as her son."It's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Donnelly," I said, extending my hand."Please, call me Patricia," she said, giving my hand a firm shake. "Serafino has told me so much about you."Dinner was wonderful. Patricia and the other family elders showed a keen interest in me. We talked about business, the future, and potential collaborations."Leona," Patricia said, taking me aside after dinner. "Come with me."We went into her study. The room smelled of cigars and whiskey, and portraits of past Donnelly
As expected, the entire underworld was in an uproar the next day.The Valachi family faced an unprecedented crisis. With their secrets exposed, their funding cut off, and facing a joint assault from the Calabria and Donnelly families, they were on the verge of collapse. Isak, the one responsible, was left to face the wrath of the family elders.And Julia became a pariah.Edited clips of the video spread like wildfire, and she was mocked and scorned everywhere she went. She tried to seek refuge with Sandro, but he publicly disowned her, claiming she was the one who seduced him, which only made her more of a laughingstock.When I saw the news, I commented to Serafino, "That Sandro is a real bastard. Using Julia and then tossing her aside like trash. I thought he might have had some real feelings for her."He raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry, my love. I looked into it. Those Valachi businesses he took over have some major hidden liabilities. He'll get what's coming to him soon enough."We
On the night of the gala, the ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria was glittering.I walked in wearing a custom sapphire-blue pantsuit, with Serafino at my side. He was dressed in a black Valentino suit, as elegant as a nobleman from a classical painting."It seems we're the center of attention," Serafino whispered in my ear.He was right. Every eye in the ballroom was on us, but the gazes were more scrutinizing than welcoming."Leona, you finally came."Julia's voice, laced with sarcasm, came from behind. I turned to see her and Isak approaching, both dressed impeccably, looking like the perfect couple."Julia. Isak," I nodded, my tone flat."We need to talk," Isak said, his eyes locking on mine, a complex storm of emotions within them. "About your recent actions."The surrounding guests seemed to sense the tension and quieted down, turning their attention to us."What is there to talk about?" I said coolly."Leona Rossi!" Julia suddenly raised her voice for the entire ballroom to hear. "Y
Isak didn't sleep all night.He tossed and turned, the scene in the cable car playing on a loop in his mind—Leona and that man, the way they looked at each other. That look used to be his alone.And Julia—"Julia, can you please not look at your phone while we're eating?"This was the third time this week. Ever since they’d returned from the mountains, Julia was constantly taking calls and texting during their dates, completely ignoring him."Sorry, darling. I've been a little busy lately," Julia replied dismissively, her eyes still glued to the screen.Isak looked at her, and Leona’s image surfaced in his mind. Leona would never be distracted when they were having dinner. Even at her busiest, she would listen intently, remembering every little detail he mentioned."Forget it," Isak said, standing up. "I'm heading home."As Isak walked away, a look of contempt crossed Julia’s face.She’d noticed Isak’s lingering obsession with Leona on the trip. That wasn’t a good sign. After all her s












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