Chapter 1

I stared at the screen, unable to believe what I was seeing.

The video replayed again and again. The fireworks over the marina, Samora’s smile, Ross’s hand at her waist, and the matching silver ring I had designed for him were all painfully clear.

I lost control, rushed out the door, and called the driver who usually took me around. I told him to take me straight to the Leone family’s private marina.

Before we reached the marina, a black SUV suddenly closed in from behind. The driver tried to change lanes, but the next second, our car was slammed into the guardrail. The seat belt cut hard across my body, and a tearing pain ripped through my abdomen before everything went black.

When I woke, I was in the hospital.

The doctor said my child could not be saved, and they needed my emergency contact to confirm authorization for the procedure.

I called Ross again and again, my fingers shaking so badly I could barely press the screen as my body slowly went cold.

“Please… pick up.”

But he never answered.

It was not until the fourteenth call that the line finally connected. Samora’s laughter came first in the background.

“Ross, is that woman calling you again?”

Ross’s voice was low and hoarse, edged with careless mockery.

“Ignore her. She’s just a woman from an orphanage. I gave her a job, a place to stay, and enough security to keep her quiet. If she leaves me, she has nowhere to go. Even if she finds out about us, she won’t be able to make trouble.”

Samora asked softly, “But she’s been with you for seven years.”

For one brief second, the line went quiet.

I almost thought he would explain.

Then Ross gave a faint laugh.

“So what? Seven years only made her more dependent on me. She knows better than to risk losing everything I gave her.”

I signed the authorization myself after that.

By the time I came out of surgery, my ten-week-old child was gone.

I closed my eyes, unable even to cry.

Not long after I was sent back to the ward, an encrypted message from a burner number appeared on my phone.

Seven years together, and he still won’t acknowledge you. I honestly don’t know why you keep clinging to him. Half a month ago, when you were cornered in a parking garage and called for help, Ross was with me at the club next door.

A second message followed.

Tonight’s car was only a warning. If you still refuse to leave, next time it won’t stop at one child.

My fingertips turned cold.

So it had not been an accident.

It was Samora.

Ross did not know the truth.

I was the real heir of the Leone family.

Samora was not.

Three months earlier, my biological parents had found me and begged me to return home to take over the family’s affairs. I had refused then because I could not bear to leave Ross.

At that time, I had even thought that if I returned one day, I would ask my parents not to be too harsh on Samora. After all, she had also been placed in a lie created by the woman who raised her.

But now she had sent a car after me.

She had killed my child.

After reading those messages, I called my mother.

“Mom, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll return to the Leone family, but there can only be one daughter in that house.”

My mother understood at once.

“Of course.”

Her voice was calm, but years of suppressed anger hid beneath it.

“The position of Leone heir was always yours. If Samora’s mother, Marcelline, hadn’t switched you two while I was unconscious from childbirth, you would never have been left outside this family for so many years, and we would not have missed so much of your life.”

After a pause, she continued.

“The lawyers and the family adviser have reopened the medical records from that year. Marcelline will stand trial.”

I closed my eyes, my nose stinging.

“Thank you, Mom.”

Her tone softened at once.

“Silly child. We are the ones who owe you an apology. Your birthday is in ten days. It is also the day Samora has always celebrated as hers.”

She paused briefly before continuing.

“We will hold the birthday banquet as planned. Every Don, councilman, investor, and business partner tied to the Leone family will be there, and they will learn who the real daughter is.”

A moment later, she added, “As for that boyfriend you mentioned, your father and I discussed it. If you insist on marrying him, the Leone family can make Stockdale one of our primary investment partners—”

I cut her off immediately.

“No, Mom.”

The other end of the line fell silent.

I looked out at the pale hospital window and said each word clearly.

“Ross and I are over. Stop every investment, client transfer, and partnership resource you arranged for Stockdale.”

My mother did not ask why.

She only said, “All right.”

I added, “Don’t tell Samora about the birthday banquet yet.”

“As you wish.”

After hanging up, I took screenshots of Samora’s messages and sent them to the secretary my mother had assigned to me.

Find out everything about the black SUV tonight. Driver, route, surveillance footage, hospital records, and anyone waiting near the marina. Leave nothing out.

After the message was sent, I leaned back against the hospital bed and slowly closed my eyes.

Before, I had only wanted to leave Ross.

Now it was different.

Everything Samora owed me, I would make her return piece by piece.