Chapter 3

After Luca officially became the Don, he got busier than ever. Sometimes, I wouldn't see him for weeks.

Then one night, there was a massive explosion at the harbor. Smoke and the smell of saltwater swept across the balcony.

Luca had led his men to wipe out the rival faction and seize the shipment of smuggled weapons. The haul was worth a fortune, enough to multiply the Lorusso family's profits several times over.

When Luca came home that day, he smiled for the first time in ages as he carried two gift boxes into the living room.

One was a license granting me the rights to run his chain of bars. The other was a couture dress Elena had wanted for half a year.

As we were opening the gifts, Sergio, who wasn't home, called Luca.

"Don Lorusso, the Capone family used the negotiations as a cover to set me up. They cornered me in an underground club, demanding the location of the weapons."

Luca rushed out without even putting on his coat. "Janella, take care of Elena. I'll be back soon."

That was the last thing he ever said to me.

He led his top-tier Soldati into a deadly firefight against the Capones to rescue Sergio.

Sergio broke through safely, but Luca was ambushed. Both his hands were shattered, and the back of his head was smashed bloody and raw.

When we got to the hospital, Luca was saved but slipped into a coma, never to wake up again.

My world collapsed at that moment.

I forced myself to manage the family mess during the day, but at night, I'd cry silently by Luca's bedside.

Elena never left Luca's side, rejecting both food and water.

When I saw her swollen, red eyes, my heart ached in sympathy.

I pushed her out of the ward. "Go now! Luca would never want you to waste your life waiting for him. I'm making the call for him. Get a divorce. You're still young. You shouldn't be dragged down."

Elena clung to Luca's arm, crying uncontrollably. "I'd rather die than divorce! I want to stay by his side!"

Her determination moved me.

I handed all of Luca's assets to Elena, keeping only the old house for myself.

Meanwhile, Sergio locked himself away in his apartment, drowning his pain in alcohol. He couldn't bear what happened to Luca.

One day, Elena kicked open his door and slapped him hard.

"If you really care about Luca, stop throwing your life away like this! Avenge him and protect those he cares about!"

That slap seemed to wake Sergio up.

He officially took over the family and vowed to make those who had hurt Luca pay. At the same time, he took on the responsibility of looking after me.

Back then, I was drowning in grief and confusion. Sergio became my only lifeline.

I remembered it clearly.

Sergio had dropped to one knee and proposed to me in front of Luca's hospital bed. He said he'd love me in Luca's place for the rest of my life.

Just then, Sergio's phone rang, pulling me out of my memories.

Elena quickly changed the subject. This time, her tone was lighter. "Don't blame Sergio. He's the Don of the Lorusso family now. He's busier than ever."

She flicked her hair and deliberately showed off the huge ruby necklace around her neck.

It looked similar to the jewelry pieces Sergio showed me not long ago, the ones he claimed to have designed for me.

"Sergio designed it himself for my birthday recently. The ruby alone costs eight figures."

Sergio put away his phone and walked over with a casual expression. "What are you two talking about?"

Elena shyly linked her arm with his. "I was just saying Janella dresses too plainly. I'll dig out some of my necklaces I've never worn to give her later."

I said flatly, "No, grazie. I have a low tolerance for filth."

Elena's face instantly turned pale, and she acted like she'd been slapped in public. "Janella, how can you say that? I'm only doing this for you—"

Before she could finish, I glared at her and enunciated every syllable as I asked, "Really? Do you really think everything you did was for me?"

Sergio's expression darkened. "Janella, let's not bring up the past."

I snorted.

After Luca's accident, I was deeply moved to see Elena staying by his side.

At that time, I was convinced Luca hadn't loved her in vain. He had picked someone loyal and devoted.

When I hesitated about going back to school, both Sergio and Elena supported me.

Sergio promised he'd take good care of Luca. To ease my worries, he transferred Luca to the best hospital, into a VIP ward with 24/7 care.

No matter how busy he was, he always made time to call me and update me on Luca.

"Janella, the doctor says Luca's condition has improved recently. We should have the wedding on your birthday this year. Maybe Luca will wake up and see you as the most beautiful bride."

Filled with anticipation, I secretly booked a flight home for the day before my birthday. I just wanted to see Luca and Sergio sooner.

But when I opened the door to Luca's ward, the scene hit me like a storm.

Luca was lying in bed, hooked up to all sorts of tubes. His once-strong frame had shrunk to skeletal thinness, stripped of all its former vitality.

On the nearby couch, two naked bodies were tightly entwined.

They were Sergio and Elena.