Chapter 2

My unprecedented obedience cracked his cold facade.

He didn't take the handkerchief.

A flicker of panic he couldn't hide crossed his eyes.

"Liriel," he said, his voice softening unconsciously, "your wounds haven't healed. Go back to your room and rest."

I looked at him and curved my lips into a small, empty smile.

"Of course, Uncle Hudson."

I turned, my back ramrod straight, and walked out of the hall under everyone's gaze.

It wasn't until I was in the empty garden, the night wind on my face, that I realized I was shaking from head to toe.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, and the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free.

"Liriel!" My best friend, Anna, came running after me in her heels.

She pulled me into a hug, her voice laced with pain. "Why didn't you fight for him? This isn't you! You know if you make a scene, Hudson will always give in!"

I buried my face in her shoulder and closed my eyes, a bitter taste in my mouth.

Fight?

Last time, egged on by those comments, I crashed the party.

I successfully ruined the engagement and got my wish: I married Hudson.

I thought I'd finally found happiness. But on our wedding day, Bianca was kidnapped by enemies after her inheritance.

She called Hudson again and again, begging for help, but he was at our wedding. He didn't get a single call.

She was killed. The ransom was never paid.

Hudson was devastated. Consumed by guilt, he started to hate me.

"If you hadn't been so selfish and jealous, if you'd let me marry her and protect her, Bianca would still be alive!"

He had roared at me, looking at me like I was the enemy.

After that, he refused to see me.

Not even when I was pregnant with his child. Not even when I had a nervous breakdown, fell down the stairs, and miscarried in a pool of my own blood.

He was still cold. "You owed Bianca that."

In the end, I took the remains of our unborn child, poured gasoline all over the Volkov estate, and lit a match.

The pain of the fire is still seared into my bones.

This time, I won't make the same mistake.

I'm letting him go. And I'm letting myself go.

I wiped my tears and pushed Anna away gently.

"I'm fine, Anna. I'm not in love with him anymore."

I walked to the second-floor study and knocked on the old Don's door.

The old man sat behind his desk. Seeing my pale face, he let out a deep sigh.

"My dear child, you've been wronged."

I walked to him and dropped to my knees.

"Godfather, I heard the Family is considering an alliance with the Thornes in Chicago." I looked up, my gaze steady. "I'll do it. Send me."

The old Don was shaken. He sighed, looking at me.

"Liriel, Dexter Thorne is a wild card. A different kind of animal. You don't have to do this just to run from Hudson..."

"No, I'm serious," I cut him off. "The Volkov Family raised me for ten years. This is the only way I can repay you. And I want a change of scenery. A new start."

The old Don was silent for a long time. Finally, he opened a drawer, pulled out a thick file, and handed it to me.

"This is the five-hundred-million-dollar trust fund your parents left you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I've added another five hundred million from my personal account. A gift."

"Take it. Go to Chicago. Live a good life."

I looked at the file, my eyes blurring with tears again.

I bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Godfather," I choked out. "Thank you for everything these past ten years."

"Get up," the old Don said, helping me to my feet.

"Godfather, I have one more request," I said, taking a deep breath. "Please, keep the marriage alliance a secret from Hudson. For now."

The old Don nodded. "Alright. I promise."

I took the file and turned towards the study door.

I gripped the handle and pulled it open.

In the dim light of the hallway, a tall figure stood silently by the door.

My heart skipped a beat.

Hudson was leaning against the wall, his tie loosened, a half-smoked cigar between his fingers.

Through the haze of smoke, his voice was dark and rough, heavy with a suffocating pressure.

"...What are you keeping from me?"