Chapter 1

After my accident, Ricky Lenza's sister, Audrey Lenza, rushed to the hospital in a panic.She took one look at my numb and eerily calm face, then gently held my hand, her voice soft with sorrow."Summer, don't be sad. You and Ricky can still have children in the future. Right now, what matters is your recovery. You should be healthy and radiant when you walk down the aisle.""There won't be a wedding." I turned my face away, wiped the corner of my eye without letting her see, and opened a news article on my phone. I handed it to her.It was a full page—headline after headline—announcing Ricky's new relationship with Lindsay Penrose.Over the past six months, Ricky's name had become a fixture in the tabloids, each time linked to another affair. As the Mafia Don of the Lenza family, he made headlines no matter what he did.And yet, I pretended not to care, continuing to play the perfect future Donna.But when the woman he loved deliberately caused the accident that took my mother

Chapter 2

Just as I wiped away the last of my tears, Ricky's name lit up on my phone."Summer," he snapped the moment I picked up, "you've grown some wings now, huh? Told my sister I was cheating?"I'm warning you—you were the one who ruined what we had. You owe me. If you dare play the victim again, I'll cut off your mother's treatment."If this had been before, I probably would've cried, apologized over and over like I always did, begging for his forgiveness.But now?I didn't want to anymore."Yeah, okay."He paused, caught off guard by the indifference in my voice. Then he gave a short, mocking laugh."I heard you gave birth. No wonder you're acting so tough now. But don't forget—I'm the one in charge of the family. Without my favor, you and the baby are nothing."You think that empty title of 'future Donna' means anything? Let's see how long that attitude of yours lasts."If I don't marry you, your child's just a bastard. He'll never inherit the family fortune or the title of Don.

Chapter 3

It wasn't until the day I was discharged that I finally learned why Ricky had lashed out at me.As it turned out, Audrey, furious on my behalf, had retaliated by using her influence to blacklist Lindsay—Ricky's lover—across the entire industry. She even issued an official statement on behalf of the Lenza family denying the affair.Lindsay assumed it was my doing.That phone call yesterday—the one that set everything in motion—was her, complaining to Ricky.To save her from embarrassment, Ricky bought her a five-million-dollar diamond at an auction that same day. Not long after, she posted a flawless picture on Instagram, showing off the jewel.The caption read: [The man who loves me always spends like a king for me.]Ricky liked the post.His public show of support flipped public opinion overnight. The audience rallied behind Lindsay, painting her as the poor Cinderella caught in a web of power and wealth.And me? I was cast as the cruel villainess in her fairy tale.I left a

Chapter 4

Audrey pointed a trembling finger at Ricky, her voice rising with rage she could no longer contain."Summer was on her way to a prenatal checkup when she overheard your conversation with Lindsay. She got into a car accident. The baby was born prematurely. He died the moment he came out!"And Summer's mother… died in that crash too! This is all your fault, Ricky!"The words sliced through the air like glass. Ricky sobered instantly, frozen where he stood.For a long moment, he didn't say anything. Then he let out a low, bitter laugh and kicked over the wreaths around him, scattering white petals across the floor."Come on, Audrey. Don't joke with me." His tone was mocking, dismissive. "Summer's always been good at putting on a show—now you're joining her act? She loves money. She loves being my wife. She'd never walk away from me."With a smirk, he flopped onto the couch like nothing mattered."She's just mad I didn't come see her or the kid, right? Fine. Let her come out. I'll h

Chapter 5

Audrey had been right.It wasn't until Ricky unlocked the front door and stepped into the half-empty apartment that the panic truly set in.He rushed to the bedroom like a man possessed, only to find it even more barren than the living room.There was nothing. Not a trace that Summer had ever lived there.That was when it hit him. That day they fought—she hadn't come back to talk. She had come to pack her things.She was really gone. And she wasn't coming back."Summer!" he shouted, again and again.But no voice answered him.His knees gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto the floor.At that moment, the doorbell rang.Like grabbing at the last flicker of light, he scrambled toward the entrance."Summer, you're back—"But the person outside wasn't her.It was a stranger. A man.Ricky's expression changed instantly. He lunged forward and grabbed the man by the collar."I know you! You met with my fiancée a few days ago and gave her a gift, didn't you? You've got some

Chapter 6

At long last, I returned to my childhood home.Years had passed, but the old house where my mother and I once lived still looked exactly as it had in my memory. Time had barely touched it, just as the town itself seemed frozen in place.When the neighbor saw me, her face lit up with surprise and joy."Summer!" she said warmly, clasping my hands. "You've grown into such a beautiful, poised woman. I'm so happy for you. You were the first one from our little town to make it into a top university. Your mother must be so proud of you. She gave everything to raise you right."I lowered my head.It was true—before I left, even I believed I was destined for a brilliant future. I swore I would take care of my mother, give her a better life.But fate had its own plan. I stayed behind for Ricky and devoted myself completely to him, believing it was love.And in doing so, I lost my youth. And eventually… I lost my mother.When my old neighbor learned my mother had passed, her expression di