Chapter 1

The TV played a live broadcast of Sereno Group's global jewelry launch.

The powerful conglomerate, headquartered in Veritas and dominating both luxury and financial sectors across Avalon, had long been shrouded in mystery.

But one name loomed behind its empire—Leo Sereno, the enigmatic kingpin of Veritas' criminal underworld.

Tonight, for the first time in years, he made a public appearance. Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, he unveiled the group's newest masterpiece—the Amoura Eva necklace.

The necklace featured a 30-carat pear-cut diamond at its center, surrounded by seven blood-red rubies. Each stone symbolized silent devotion.

The moment it was revealed, media across the globe went into a frenzy, and social media feeds exploded, with hashtags trending in less than a minute.

Leo said only one thing. "For her, any price is worth paying."

The screen flickered, cutting to street interviews. "Hi there, do you know anything about Don Leo and his wife, Eva's love story?" the reporter asked.

A woman in a floral sundress sighed dreamily. "Who doesn't? He published an entire private journal just for Eva—every single page was a memo to her. She once mentioned that she liked cherries, so he flew in an entire shipment of cherry trees from Bellavigna and planted them all over their estate.

"It looks like a damn forest from a fairytale now! If my husband had even half that devotion… Forget it. It's infuriating to even think about it."

The screen flickered again.

A college student clasped her hands, her eyes gleaming. "He's beyond devoted! A few years ago, Eva had acute kidney failure, and the doctors said she needed a match immediately.

"That night, Don Leo went under the knife and gave her one of his kidneys. He said, 'If she can't live, I don't deserve to either.' That's not just love—it's something out of a romance epic."

Across Veritas and the internet, everyone was in awe of Leo and Eva's romance.

Eva sat in the dimly lit living room, her gaze fixed on the interview playing on the screen. A cold smile tugged at her lips.

She had never been short of admirers.

But she never believed in love. After watching her parents' marriage fall apart piece by piece, she had come to see even family as fragile. She thought romance was even more fleeting.

For every romantic gesture, she gave the same answer. "Sorry, I'm not interested in relationships."

That changed when she met Leo—the man who ruled a criminal empire with ruthless precision. He was obsessive, cold-blooded, and powerful beyond reason.

Yet in front of her, he humbled himself, chasing her for three relentless years.

She turned him down time after time, but not once did he back away.

To get her a single 18th-century oil painting she had only glanced at once, Leo stormed into an underground auction in Londaire.

It was a black-market antique exchange so dangerous that even international agencies stayed away.

But he risked everything to claim it—trading under the table, dodging gunfire, and nearly being ambushed by a rival syndicate.

Yet, when he brought the painting to her, looking bloodied and bruised, all he said was, "Worth it."

In that moment, the part of her that had been frozen for as long as she could remember finally began to melt.

When they got together, he gave her everything and protected her like a precious treasure. He proposed 52 times, each one like a sacred ritual. And she finally said yes.

She remembered that day clearly. He got down on one knee, holding out the ring.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him and whispered, "Leo, I'll try to be the best wife I can be. Rich or poor, in sickness or in health, I'll never betray you. But promise me one thing—never lie to me. If you do… I will vanish from your life. Forever."

And now, every vow sounded like a cruel joke.

Three months ago, Eva discovered something that shattered her entire world. Leo had taken a lover six months earlier.

By day, he played the devoted husband, but by night, he disappeared into the arms of a woman named Cleo Guzman.

It turned out, the heart that had felt the most was the first to go numb.

Eva slowly raised her hand and turned off the TV. She pulled open a drawer and took out a divorce agreement, one she had prepared weeks ago. With calm, deliberate strokes, she signed her name.

She headed to the garage and stepped into the RV Leo had given her on their 100th day together. Quietly, she placed the signed papers on the bed inside.

Then, she placed the RV keys into a velvet gift box and tied it shut with a ribbon by hand.

…

An hour later, Leo returned to the villa in his signature black suit. He didn't even take off his coat before crossing the room in long strides, headed straight for Eva, where she stood staring blankly out the window. He pulled her into his arms, his voice filled with playful affection.

"Eva, I'm sorry. There was an issue at the port. I had to go pick up the necklace myself. That's why I was late for our anniversary. Please don't be mad, okay?"

As he spoke, he pulled out the custom jewelry box carrying the Amoura Eva and offered it to her, his eyes full of eager devotion.

The top buttons of his black shirt were undone, and his collar was crooked. Below the fabric, faint hickeys and claw-like scratches trailed down his skin.

Eva hadn't left those.

Her fingers trembled slightly, her gaze stinging as she looked at him.

Whether he had gone to retrieve the necklace or had just come from Cleo's bed no longer mattered. The truth was already etched across his skin.

Leo remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing behind her eyes.

With a gentle smile, he unfastened the necklace and clasped it around her neck himself. The diamonds shimmered under the low light.

"Eva, you look… breathtaking."

Eva didn't smile. Her eyes were slightly red, but she kept her tone even as she handed him a gift box. "This is for you."

He blinked. "What's this?"

She said calmly, "It's only fair. You gave me something for our anniversary. I wanted to return the gesture."

Leo looked into her eyes, a flicker of suspicion and guarded curiosity passing through his gaze. He asked, "Can I open it now?"

She laid a hand over his and shook her head. "No. Open it in two weeks."

He froze. "Why two weeks?"

"Because it won't mean anything until then," she said softly.

Leo stared at her for a moment, then gave a slow smile. He didn't press the matter. Instead, he kissed the back of her hand.

"Whatever you say. I'll wait for the surprise."

He scribbled on a small note, peeled it off the pad, and stuck it onto the box himself. "Open in two weeks."

Eva stood silently, watching him label it with such care.

Yet, her thoughts were quiet but clear. "Leo, I truly hope that in two weeks, you'll still think this was a surprise."