Chapter 1

Everyone said my good looks were what saved me from my family's downfall. It was how I managed to become a Donna.

I was the only one who knew why he had to compromise to marry me.

Xavier Whitmore, the tall and handsome Don, was unable to have physical relationships with a woman.

When I shyly took off the gown on our wedding night, he sat in his chair and lit a cigarette before remarking in an icy voice, "I'm allergic to women. That said, you have my word that you will be the only woman in my life."

He kept his promise. Though he never so much as touched me in the five years of our marriage, he provided me with a life of luxury and wealth.

Although it was merely a title, being his only woman brought me happiness.

Everything changed on the day my men and I were ambushed by a rival mafia family. We barely made it out alive.

When I returned home, I found him locked in a tight embrace with his widowed sister-in-law, Alice Ortega.

"Alice, I won't let you remarry. If you do, I'll make sure that man dies a thousand deaths."

I scoffed. It wasn't so much that he couldn't handle being physical with a woman. It was simply that he could not be physical with anyone but her.

In that case, she could have the pleasure of being the Donna.

Chapter 1

Alice Ortega tried to break free from Xavier Whitmore, but he held on to her tightly like a boy who refused to let go of his favorite toy.

They looked like they were reenacting Romeo and Juliet, a pair of star-crossed lovers.

What about me? Did my official title as the Donna count for anything?

I felt my blood run cold upon witnessing their interaction.

“Xavier, let go, we can’t…”

“I’ve already given you to my brother once. Do you expect me to let another man have you again?”

The veins on his forehead seemed about to pop. His usual calm and stoic demeanor was replaced with a torrent of anger and jealousy.

I had to wrap my arms around myself to stop myself from trembling.

Six months ago, I was kidnapped by a rat in the family. He held me hostage and used me as leverage to get Xavier to step down from his position.

Xavier seemed completely unfazed during the negotiation with the traitor. Then, when there was a moment’s distraction, Xavier gunned him down.

In my mind, he was always an expressionless, stoic man.

It was a shock for me to see that he could be brought out of his shell, capable of jealousy and wanting affection.

I supposed I was not worthy of his affection at the end of the day.

“Xavier, please listen to me and let go. We can’t do this, think about Grace…”

I delusionally waited for his response, only to hear him produce a long sigh.

“Five years back, I already told her not to hatch any ideas about me. She should know better by now.

“She already got the money she wanted, while I saved myself for you. We both got what we wanted.”

His words struck me like a heavy blow. It shattered the beautiful fantasy I had about us over the last five years.

All this time, I held out the hope that as long as I listened to him and stuck by his side, he would be touched by my devotion and come to develop feelings for me one day.

As it turned out, I had been delusional this entire time. It was all but a baseless fantasy.

“Grace, you're back!”

It was Alice who noticed me first.

She gasped while shoving Xavier away from her.

She regarded me with a look of cruel pity, as if she was sorry for me because she knew I was nothing but a replacement.

When Xavier turned around, the lingering warmth in his eyes dissipated the moment he made eye contact with me.

“Why do you look so beaten up?” He frowned while scrutinizing me from head to toe.

I observed my bloodied knees before wiping the blood of an underling from my face.

“The Moores attacked us in an alleyway at the Harvest Market. It was Annie who helped me escape.”

“Alright. Get a doctor. I'll take care of it tomorrow.” I finally caught a hint of anger in his voice, but it quickly reverted to his usual tone of indifference.

“Xavier, I... I want to talk to you in person.”

He glanced at his watch and frowned before brushing me off, “That can wait until I get back. I need to take Alice to... the hospital.”

“It's important. It won't take more than a few minutes.”

I was persistent.

Xavier's patience had finally run out. At last, he stated in a tone that was not to be defied, “Grace, you’re a Donna. You should have a better sense of judgment and know not to cause trouble.”

With that, he turned around and escorted Alice outside without bothering to look back.

The roar of his car’s engine soon faded into the distance, as if mocking me for my last five years of false courage.

With that, I turned around and slowly went up the stairs.

The wound on my knee hurt so bad that I had to clench my teeth through it. And yet, it was nothing compared to the agonizing feeling in my heart.

Upon entering the bedroom, I calmly opened the bottom compartment of the safe.

It contained the same divorce papers he had chucked at me on our wedding night five years ago.

“Grace, we are both in this to get what we want. If the day ever comes when you feel like you’ve had enough or if I feel like you are no longer qualified, this divorce agreement can be invoked immediately.”

I had had enough. Besides, I did not consider myself “qualified” anymore.

My hands were shaking as I carefully signed my name on the sallow, aged paper.

Chapter 2

I cried myself to sleep, and when I woke up, I found myself in a pitch-black room. It was only then that I realized it was midnight.

After I carefully put away the divorce papers, the door behind me opened.

Xavier entered.

“You… Why are you here?”

I flinched when I saw him. He cast me an indifferent look before gesturing for me to sit up.

“The doctor came by just now, but since you were sleeping, I told him not to disturb you.”

Then, he knelt before me and opened a first-aid kit to apply some ointment for me.

His movements were gentle, so gentle that I felt they did not resemble the gestures of a Don whose life was always at a blade’s tip.

Just like that, I felt myself caving and melting for him all over again.

Although we never had any intimate relationship in the last five years, he was very protective of me and looked after me.

If someone badmouthed me, then he would have their tongues cut off.

If I saw a piece of jewelry I liked, he would hand me his card without another word.

Back when I was traumatized and afraid of the dark for an entire month after surviving the kidnapping episode, he made sure all the lights in the manor were turned on all day and night.

It was those little acts of kindness that made me fell for him.

“Xavier, I heard Alice is going to remarry. Is that true?”

His movements stiffened upon hearing this. Then, he spoke in a lowered voice, “Who told you that?”

“I overheard some of the men talking about it.”

My voice trembled when I spoke, “I heard the suitor was an heir to a bank? I heard he's a good man…”

“Ha, a good man?” Xavier sneered and suddenly tightened his grip around me.

I gasped from the pain. He seemed to have fallen into a dark and brooding state, as if he was unable to pluck himself out of the pit of emotions.

“He doesn't deserve her. No man in this world is worthy of her.”

Then, he got up and looked at me from above. All his tenderness had vanished and was replaced by an air of authority.

“Grace, what have I been teaching you for the last five years? You should know better than to ask questions you shouldn’t be asking.”

Then, he approached the window and lit a cigar, “I know how to handle Alice’s affairs.”

I felt an urge to cry upon hearing this.

Forget it. I could no longer lie to myself.

“By that, do you mean you’re going to stop her from remarrying?”

I lost all my senses at once. All I wanted now was to get a definite answer from him, regardless of how reckless it may be.

“Xavier, you told me that you can’t handle being physical with a woman, but I saw you hugging her today! You were hugging her so tightly! You lied to me!”

The silence was oppressive.

He narrowed the look in his eyes and sneered.

“Yes, and what about it?” He exhaled a puff of smoke, “She's the only exception. I’ve wanted her since I was sixteen, but my brother swooped in and took her from me.”

My tears finally fell.

“What about me? What am I to you?”

Xavier came closer and fixed a look on me.

“You’re a good, obedient, and competent wife who does a good job at keeping the elders happy.

“I can give you all the wealth and status you need on the condition that you don’t ask for what doesn’t rightfully belong to you.

“You’ve been getting more unruly these days. I’m disappointed in you.”

He sighed and turned to leave.

I sat stiffly as I stared blankly at what was ahead of me for what seemed like an eternity before I snapped out of it. Then, I grabbed several bank statements and some title deeds from a hidden compartment in the safe.

Then, I took a deep breath before dialing a private number.

“Rosalia, please sell off all the insured jewelry pieces.”

The person on the other end hesitated before asking, “Donna, it was the Don who gave them…”

“Are you my assistant or Xavier’s?” I cut her off, “I want you to cash them out within two weeks and wire the money directly to my personal account. If he asks about them, just tell him I lost them.”

It was only a couple of gemstones anyway. He would toss me another check without even batting an eye.

Xavier thought I couldn’t survive without his money and his occasional gestures of affection given out of pity.

He underestimated me.

Not only was I getting a divorce, but I was also taking his money and leaving for good. I was going to live the life I wanted.

Chapter 3

The next morning, I put on full-glam makeup to hide the exhaustion from my previous sleepless night.

Xavier was seated at the dining table, in the middle of flipping through the morning paper. The sun cast a radiant glow on him, accentuating his unbelievable good looks.

I approached him and gravely set a stack of documents next to him.

“What’s this?” He gave me a look.

“Some project grants that need your signature. There are also several authorization letters for the family fund.” I avoided his gaze before continuing, “This last one here is a request for some extra expenses on my end.”

“You’re still throwing a tantrum.” He frowned, “When are you going to see reason?”

“I’m not throwing a tantrum. I’ve thought it through, and I’ve decided I want the new custom ring as compensation. It’s the one in the last document.”

Upon hearing this, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

I sneered at his reaction. It seemed to me that he still believed I would still be under his control as long as I continued to obsess over such frivolous things.

“Buy whatever you want,” he said as he signed the documents swiftly.

When the tip of the pen glided across the dotted line on the divorce papers, I held my breath.

After he signed his name next to mine, I took the signed papers and left satisfied.

Then, I drove straight to Saint Mary Hospital to visit Annie, who took a stab at the abdomen to protect me. I had to make sure she was in good condition.

Upon finding out that the surgery was successful and that she was recovering, I heaved a sigh of relief.

When I walked down the hospital corridor, I heard two nurses whispering excitedly between themselves.

“Did you see that patient’s husband? He’s so handsome!”

“Yes! When she came in yesterday and found out she was pregnant, her husband anxiously arranged for her to get the best services!”

I did a double-take and felt a nauseating, ominous feeling wash over me. I couldn’t help myself and snuck a peek.

Through the crack in the door, I spotted Alice.

She was looking down at her phone. I could already make out the maternal affection in her expression.

“Hey Mom, the doctor said I’m six weeks pregnant. The baby is very healthy.”

The person on the other end of the line was both surprised and curious.

“No, I can't marry him anymore,” Alice said while patting her stomach.

The voice on the other end grew louder. Alice paused for a moment before chirping jubilantly, “Who else could it be but Xavier?”

I slumped weakly against the wall and felt my stomach turning.

Xavier kept insisting that he was “allergic to women,” yet he slept with his sister-in-law.

He told me I was “the only woman in his life,” but this whole time, there was someone else in his heart.

I couldn't bear to listen anymore and walked out of the hospital, all drained.

When I reached the entrance of the hospital, I bumped into Xavier of all people.

“What are you doing here?” He reached out to stop me, but suddenly pulled his hand back before I nearly bumped into him.

“I came to see Annie.” I said with a forced smile, “She nearly died protecting me. As Donna, I have a responsibility to visit her.”

Xavier frowned, “I’ll have someone make the arrangements to have her transferred to a private facility on the outskirts of the city in half an hour.”

“Transfer?!” I snapped as I turned toward him.

I glared at him and said, “She just had surgery, and the wound is barely healed! Why are you transferring her now, of all times?”

The answer came to me before I even finished uttering the question.

Because this was the hospital where Alice was conducting her prenatal checkups.

“I’m doing this for her safety.”

Xavier lied without flinching, “Be good and listen to me. Will you head back home to sort out the credentials of that overseas shipment we received?”

I rebutted, “Is it truly for her safety, or are you just worried I’d find out Alice is hospitalized here too?”

Though my tone was calm, I understood that from this point on, the veneer of peace between us was going to be torn down for good.

Chapter 4

Xavier’s gray eyes widened in an instant, followed by him taking a deep breath.

I knew him well enough to know he was furious. In the past, the sight of it would make me tremble with fear.

However, now that I had decided I no longer loved him, I could hardly be bothered.

“What did you say?”

“Six. Weeks.” I stared directly into his menacing eyes and spoke word-for-word.

“Xavier, I know you’ve been sleeping with your widowed sister-in-law. Both of you are shameless.”

“Shut up!”

He lunged forward and put his hand tightly around my neck as if he wanted to crush my throat right then and there.

What a sick joke! Our first intimate contact only happened because he was so furious that he wanted to kill me.

“You'd better scram and go home, Grace!”

I forced a sarcastic laugh. The lack of oxygen was causing my vision to blur.

“Xavier Whitmore, I want a divorce.”

The veins on his forehead seemed about to burst. His eyes were filled with stark disbelief and rage.

He suddenly released his grip and turned to issue orders to his men.

“Take the Donna home and have her locked in the bedroom on the top floor. No one is to let her out unless I say so.”

“You can’t illegally hold me!” I cried out while two of his men stoically lifted me off my feet.

He looked down at me from above and stated with a cynical smile, “I’m just disciplining my wife.”

With that, I was forced into the car. Meanwhile, he straightened his suit and strutted into the hospital.

Once taken back to the manor, I was locked in the top-floor bedroom.

The windows were nailed shut while guards were assigned to stand outside the door twenty-four seven.

I was furious and smashed everything inside the room. About three hours later, I heard a round of commotion downstairs.

“Hurry up and change the bedding in the bedroom to silk! Miss Alice has never been a good sleeper…

“Also, move all of the Donna’s belongings from the master bedroom to the room on the top floor.”

Then, I heard a familiar and steady round of footsteps followed by a man's voice.

“Take it easy, Alice. You can rest here. This is your home now.”

“Xavier… I'm allergic to pollen…”

“Alright, uproot all the flowers Grace had planted in the garden!”

I slumped to the floor while tears streamed down my face.

They weren't common flowers. They were champagne roses that I had planted, weeded, fertilized, and nurtured for countless days all by myself.

A few years ago, when we were newly married, he whispered in my ear after getting slightly tipsy from the wine after a dinner party, “Grace, the color of your eyes reminds me of champagne roses.”

That was all it took for me to transform the once barren backyard into the flower garden that it was today.

Not just the flowers, I had also meticulously decorated every nook and cranny of the manor over the last five years.

Because this was his home.

I did all that only for him to bring his true love and a bastard child back home. He was so eager to remove all traces of my existence.

He even intended to imprison me here so no one would find out about his affair.

Suddenly, the door was thrown open with a loud thump.

Several housemaids entered with their heads bowed and were timidly avoiding eye contact with me. They piled my belongings haphazardly in a corner of the room.

“Donna…”

Jakob Roth, the old butler, sighed before reluctantly stating, “Don Whitmore gave orders that the master bedroom belongs to Miss Alice. As for your belongings… We’ll leave them here for now.”

“I understand. You may be excused,” I spoke softly.

After they cautiously retreated, I heard Alice's faint voice coming from outside the door.

“Grace, may I come in?”

Even though I did not respond, she opened the door anyway.

She was dressed in a beige cotton dress and eyed me timidly. Her complexion was pale.

“Grace, I’m sorry…” As soon as she started, her eyes began to turn red as if she had been the one suffering a great injustice.

“I was going to surrender to my fate of being a widow for life. I’ve always refused Xavier and never wanted to take anything from you.

“I don’t think I can handle being the Donna of the family, it’s so much pressure. All I wanted was to give birth to the baby in peace, but… I’m sure you know how Xavier can be, he insisted on giving the child a home…”

I stood amidst the clutter and observed her icily before asking stiffly, “If I may ask, Miss Alice, how do you envision the role I play in your family?”

Alice bit her lower lip and blinked daintily before stating, “I was thinking maybe you could be the baby’s godmother…”

I burst out laughing. I found the entire thing comically absurd.

“You want me, the actual wife, to become the godmother of a bastard child?”

She turned deathly pale at this comment. Then, she began to sway and leaned against the doorframe for support.

“I… I didn't mean that. I just wanted to express how much I care about you, Grace…”

After I flipped her off, she wisely took the hint and left.

Then, I heard the sound of the engine of an excavator roaring downstairs.

All the treasured flowers and various plants I had tended to with my bare hands had been uprooted brutally.

Chapter 5

I spent the next two weeks locked in the room, watching the manor transform through the windows that were nailed shut.

Xavier had bulldozed my garden and replaced it with Alice’s favorite plants, which were a carpet of scentless green plants.

My beloved designer furniture was all thrown out as well and replaced with something more child-friendly.

Xavier spoiled Alice rotten. He had been neglecting his duties as the Don, so he could spend his days taking her for walks around the manor.

On a certain evening, half a month into my imprisonment, the door finally opened.

Xavier stepped in expressionlessly with a stylist who was carrying a dress trailing after him.

“There’s going to be a dinner with other dons. Your attendance is compulsory.”

He looked at me icily as if looking at an animal.

“I’m sick. I'm not going.” I rested against the headboard and could not even be bothered to look at him.

The last two weeks of confinement had chipped away at my dignity. It had also taken away the last of my hope for him.

“Grace, don’t force my hand. Don’t forget your duties as the Donna, your job is to keep up the image of a loving relationship with me.”

I turned to him and suddenly felt insulted.

He had shunned me and imprisoned me, yet still had the guts to use me to keep up appearances.

At last, I obliged. I got up and changed into the dress.

Not because I was willing to compromise, but only because I would otherwise be cut off from the outside world if I stayed here.

Tonight’s dinner was my only chance to see Rosalia.

I had already obtained the signed divorce papers. It was only after confirming that the assets were ready that I could have the assurance to leave.

During the dinner, I stayed next to Xavier and presented myself as the respectable Donna in a gorgeous haute couture gown. I laughed merrily during conversations.

Donna Clement took my hand and smiled tenderly, “My dear, I’ve been wondering where you’d been for the past two weeks. Is it just me, or have you lost a lot of weight? Was it because of the pregnancy?”

My smile froze, and my heart nearly stopped.

What was she talking about?

I turned to Xavier, who was elegantly swirling his wine glass. There was a faint, gentle smile hanging on his lips.

Upon noticing my gaze, he candidly put his arm around my waist.

“Donna Clement, I was just about to share the good news.”

With that, he raised his glass and tapped it with his finger.

“Since everyone is here, I would like to share some good news.

“My wife is two months pregnant! The Whitmore family is about to welcome an heir.”

A chorus of thunderous applause, accompanied by congratulations, erupted.

Meanwhile, I could feel my hands and feet trembling and freezing. I felt dizzy and had trouble breathing.

Two months.

Alice had been pregnant for roughly two months as well.

Everything made sense.

He was going to use me to legitimize his bastard child with Alice.

“Are you insane?!” I gritted my teeth and whispered to him, “Why should I be the mother of that bastard?”

“You should feel honored, Grace.” He angled his glass to take a sip of wine before stating calmly, “You will be the mother of the rightful heir. What else could you want?”

“What about Alice? Can she stomach her child calling me mother?” I sneered.

“She's much more understanding than you are.”

The look in his eyes softened at the mention of Alice. “She says that as long as the child is safe and can be made the rightful heir, she does not care about titles.”

I hissed at him, “Xavier, you disgust me.”

He thought nothing of my rage and proceeded to tighten his grip on my waist, “Quit scowling. Don't forget, you're here as the Donna.”

I took a deep breath and excused myself to the restroom to touch up my makeup. There, I finally found Rosalia.

“Donna!” Rosalia was taken aback when she saw me, “You've lost so much weight. I heard they locked you up…”

“No time for catch-ups, Rosalia.” I held her arm tightly and said everything at once in a hushed voice, “Have all my assets been transferred?”

“Everything has been done as you instructed. Donna… Are you trying to get away?

“It’s too risky under these circumstances. They have eyes on you everywhere, there’s no way you can make it out…”

I smiled and gently pinched her nose, scrunched up from worry.

“Don’t underestimate me. I need you to hand this letter to Xavier’s former underboss, Noah Gill. He'll take care of things.”

Chapter 6

When I returned to the manor, the security level was increased.

Xavier must have realized there was no way I would continue to stomach the humiliation and settle for being a sitting duck.

To prevent me from going completely insane, he performed an unusually noble gesture. He had allowed Annie to send me a gift to console me.

It was a ragdoll cat Annie had raised since the cat was a kitten. The cat was named Rosy, which probably originated as a joke at her twin sister Rosalia.

Her handwriting on the letter was shaky: [Donna, may Rosy keep you company in place of my sister and me.]

Annie was gravely injured while protecting me. The stab wound she suffered in her abdomen was very close to claiming her life. Despite all that, she was still thinking about me.

Meanwhile, my husband treated me as if I didn't exist. He was too occupied with his lover and their soon-to-be-born child.

Thankfully, I had Rosy.

Just like its previous owner, Rosy was a lively and affectionate cat. She loved to rub her wet nose against my fingertips.

Whenever I woke up from a nightmare, I would find Rosy purring over me. She would bump against my palm with her furry forehead.

Then, I would hold it tightly and cry. That was how I endured countless dark and silent nights. I vowed to Rosy that I would make it out of this living hell.

We would settle on some remote island where we could live freely with Annie and Rosalia.

One afternoon, Alice opened the door and invited herself inside.

“The cat’s name is Rosy? What a beautiful name.”

“Get out.” I hugged Rosy tightly and snarled at her. I was not interested in being friendly.

“I just wanted to say hello, after all… Rosy will grow up with my child, too.”

She brushed aside my warning and proceeded to bend over to reach for Rosy.

When she tried to grab Rosy by the scruff of her neck, I seized her hand.

“No. Don’t touch her. She doesn’t like being touched by strangers.”

“Well, she'd better get used to it since she’s living here now.”

With that, Alice ignored my protests and grabbed Rosy with her other hand before forcefully hugging her.

The usually docile Rosy sharply yelped a few times before starting to twist and turn violently. At one point, she dug her claws into Alice’s arm and left fresh red claw marks.

“Ah!” Alice cried out and clutched her arm. Soon, she began to cry.

“What are you doing?!”

The door was kicked open at the same time.

Xavier rushed in and protectively pulled Alice into his arms.

“It’s okay, Xavier, the cat scratched me, that’s all.”

Alice burrowed into his arms and let the tears fall. Her fingertips were trembling as she pointed at Rosy.

Xavier fixed a tender look on frail little Alice for a while before turning sharply to me.

“Can’t you discipline your cat?”

“I warned her not to touch Rosy! She wouldn’t listen!” I almost screamed.

Alice continued to nestle in his arms and seemed like she was convulsing at this point, “It’s my fault. I just wanted to get along with Grace…”

Her acting was laughably poor, yet Xavier was a complete sucker and fell for it.

He kissed her hair before turning to Rosy, who was hiding in the corner and shaking.

“Kill this beast right now! Immediately!”

“No! Xavier, no!” I lunged forward frantically to protect Rosy, but his men rushed forward and pinned me to the ground.

“It’s Annie’s darling cat! Please! You can give her away if you want, just don’t kill her!” I pleaded desperately, even resorting to kowtowing on the floor.

All I heard was Xavier’s ruthless voice coming from above me. His tone was devoid of pity and contained only hostility.

“Don’t forget that you are the reason Annie lost her cat.”

With that, he gestured irritably at his men.

The fluffy cat struggled desperately in their arms before letting out at last a terrible cry.

Then, the door slammed shut.

Xavier pinned the blame on me. It was my fault for not listening to him the way I once did. It was my fault for not obeying his lover.

I was lying on the floor before I started to chuckle. Eventually, it turned into a howling laughter that sounded as if I had lost my mind.

Chapter 7

I refused to eat anything for the next three days.

I felt like I was going mad from the extended isolation. I spent my days curled up against the corner of the empty room, oscillating between laughing maniacally and crying.

I had lost count of how many times the door opened. However, it was not Jakob who showed up this time but Xavier instead.

“Grace, eat something.” His voice was calm, but I could sense a hint of irritation underneath it that he must not have realized.

I did not react at all. I hardly blinked at the sight of him.

At last, he lost his patience. He bent over and seized my chin with his monstrously large hand and forced me to look at him.

Upon noticing how haggard I looked, his tone softened slightly.

“It’s just a cat. Why are you ruining yourself? I’ll have someone bring you a few ragdoll cats tomorrow.

“As long as you behave and listen to me, I’ll let you have anything. I’d even get you a tiger if you want.”

I sneered, “Did you think everything in the world could be solved with money?”

“What do you want then?” He frowned sharply while his eyes darkened, “Alice is pregnant! She can’t handle being upset. I have to make sure she is safe.”

“I want you to die.” I felt like my hatred for him had reached a tipping point. “You can go ahead and off yourself with your scandalous mistress and that bastard kid.”

Smack!

The sharp sound of a slap echoed in the room. Half of my face swelled up in an instant while blood seeped out of the corner of my mouth.

Then, his hand that had struck me clenched tightly into a fist. He seemed immeasurably disappointed.

“I’ve given you all the wealth, luxury, and status as the Donna for the last five years. What more could you want? Why must you challenge me over something so trivial?”

“Trivial?”

I wiped the blood from my mouth and retorted with a dead look in my eyes, “Yes, as far as you are concerned, all the love I have for you, along with my pride and feelings, are trivial. You only care about your Alice.”

When he looked at me, I recognized a complex pool of emotions in his eyes. There was anger and what seemed like a hint of panic.

However, it did not take long before he regained his icy demeanor.

“You'd better put yourself together.” He straightened his cuffs, “There’s going to be an annual charity auction held in Zurosh three days later. You’re attending with me.”

The door slammed shut.

It was only after hearing the footsteps in the corridor fade away that I tremblingly reached for a mini communication device I tucked away.

“Rosalia…”

“Donna! Thank God, you finally contacted me!” Her voice was excited.

“Rosy is dead. After she scratched Alice, Xavier… He killed her.”

There was a few seconds of overbearing silence on the other end of the phone.

Then came the sound of her holding back tears and sniffling.

“I’m so sorry, Rosalia. I’ll apologize to Annie myself.”

“Please don’t say that, Donna. I couldn’t possibly blame you.” Her voice was choked up as she said, “Annie is still in the sanatorium, waiting for her cat. If she finds out how you and Rosy were treated…”

“I can’t wait any longer, Rosalia. Has Noah seen the letter yet?”

“Mr. Gill has already given his word that he would make the arrangements. All you need to do is show up at the auction in three days, then he’ll have someone ferry you away.”

Noah used to be Xavier’s Underboss. However, he retired three years ago because he couldn’t see eye to eye with Xavier.

Before retiring, he assured me that if I ever wanted to cut ties with the Whitmores, I could go to him.

At the time, I hardly took it to heart because I was dedicated to Xavier. I thought it was a joke.

Little did I know that this supposed joke would be my lifeline.

“Alright.” I gripped the device tightly, “Tell him I'll be there.”

Three days.

Just three more days until I got out of this disgusting hellhole.

I would avenge you, Rosy.

Chapter 8

On the evening of the auction, Xavier came to pick me up in person.

When he opened the door, I was sitting at my vanity table, in the middle of applying a bright red lipstick.

After having been confined for so long, I had lost a lot of weight. I could hardly recognize the woman in the mirror.

“Looks like you’ve made up your mind.”

He stood behind me and looked at my reflection with a smug, self-satisfied smile.

Then, he reached out to touch my shoulder, but I deftly avoided his touch a split second before he could graze against me.

“Yes, I will do my duty.” I turned to him and flashed a bright smile.

He frowned instantly, almost on instinct. Then, he scoffed dismissively before tossing an exquisite jewelry box onto the table.

“I had the designer customize this for you.”

“Thank you.” I picked up the box and took the necklace to put it on.

When we boarded the private jet, I saw Alice already waiting inside. She had a cashmere shawl draped around her.

“Grace, I’m glad you finally came to your senses,” she remarked softly while subconsciously rubbing her stomach. “We have to get along from now on for my child and for Xavier’s sake.”

I ignored her and settled down on the seat across from her. Then, I stared blankly out the window.

The manor on the ground slowly shrank into a tiny dot. In my mind, I said goodbye to it and made my peace with five years gone by.

When we arrived in Zurosh, it was snowing heavily.

Xavier took my hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world and led me onto the red carpet.

Meanwhile, his beloved Alice attended as his stylist. She entered through a side door with her staff.

The moment I stepped into the hall, I felt two pairs of eyes fixed on me.

Hidden deep within the crowd was Noah, who was dressed in a dark gray suit and casually swirling a wineglass.

Only a short distance behind him stood a woman also dressed handsomely in a suit. Her expression was composed and stoic.

She was my personal assistant, Rosalia.

My breath caught in my throat while I unconsciously loosened my grip around Xavier’s hands.

“Watch yourself, Grace.” Xavier leaned into my ear and whispered a warning.

“I know.” I forced a smile.

That was when Noah, who had been hovering some distance away, parted the crowd and walked straight toward us.

“Hey, long time no see.” He stopped in front of us and greeted us. The entire time, he hardly paid notice to Xavier and was focused on me instead.

“Grace, you’ve lost weight since the last time we met. I take it that the cooking of Don Whitmore’s chef isn’t to your liking.”

Then, he casually put a hand out to receive my hand for a kiss.

“Noah, back off from my wife.” Xavier asserted his dominance by pulling me away from him.

Noah was not deterred by Xavier’s brazen hostility. He withdrew his hand, then traced the rim of his wine glass with his fingers before remarking with a rather audacious smile.

“Don’t be so uptight, Xavier.”

He spoke candidly, making sure to keep his volume just loud enough for the surrounding guests to hear him, “I was just worried you’d be too focused on others and end up neglecting your pregnant wife.

“By the way, I heard you brought your widowed sister-in-law to live with you, didn’t you? Sam must be glad to have a good brother like you.”

Upon hearing this remark, the celebrities around us stopped to listen in. A deep look of intrigue appeared in their eyes.

Everyone knew that coveting a deceased brother’s widow was a gravely shameful and scandalous act in the mafia world.

Xavier sneered, “It is my responsibility to take care of my brother’s widow. You don’t have to worry about what goes on in my family, Noah.

“Let’s go, Grace,” Xavier hissed through clenched teeth while forcefully dragging me away to the other side of the hall.

I turned to glance at Noah and Rosalia just in time to spot them flashing victorious smiles at me.

Everything was ready. It was time to pull the trigger.

Chapter 9

Half an hour later, the auction was about to commence.

I sat next to Xavier, bored out of my mind. I had to drink grape juice because it was good for pregnancy.

Suddenly, events took a dramatic turn.

The soothing classical music stopped suddenly, and was followed by a shadowed announcement delivered in a monotonous tone.

“Everyone, please remain calm! There's a bomb threat!"

After the first scream tore through the silence, the group of celebrities that was so composed moments ago began to shove and jostle their way toward the exit.

“Damn it!” Xavier's expression turned grim. “What's going on?”

His men scrambled over to him. They were sweating profusely when they informed him in a panicked voice, “Don Whitmore! Miss Alice is missing! Someone saw her getting forcibly dragged away by several men in black suits during the chaos!”

“Xavier, there’s a bomb! We have to get out of here!” I grabbed his sleeve and feigned terror.

When he looked at me, a conflicted look flashed across his eyes.

“Grace, listen.” Though he spoke hurriedly, there was still something assuring about his tone of voice, “Get in the car. I’ll have the driver take you back to the hotel.”

“What about you?” I asked coyly despite already knowing the answer.

“I’m going to find Alice.” He let go of my hand without hesitation before turning to his men and barking an order, “Escort the Donna to the car! If anything happens to her, I’ll have you all skinned alive!”

When I stepped out the back door, a rush of cold wind whipped snowflakes at my face. Under the escort of a few soldati, I was taken into a black bulletproof sedan.

It was only after ensuring I got into the car and after it drove away that Xavier turned around and raced back into the venue. He charged in the opposite direction of the crowd, into the hall that could explode at any second.

He must have felt like he was the picturesque hero who was ready to risk it all to save his one true love.

After we were several kilometers away from the venue, the driver suddenly removed his sunglasses.

It was Noah.

“Grace, have you ever jumped out of a moving car before?”

He turned to me with a smile and snapped his fingers.

Three seconds later, we threw the car door open and flung ourselves out into the thick pile of snow lining the side of the road.

Meanwhile, the car continued to steer itself using the automated driving system. It accelerated into a river that was almost completely frozen.

After I got up, I spotted Rosalia, who was running toward me from a distance and crying.

“That was a wonderful jump. Looks like it’s not your first rodeo.”

Noah smiled and draped a thick cashmere coat over my shoulders.

“Donna! I missed you so much!" Rosalia threw herself at me and embraced me tightly, “You've lost more weight!”

“Grace.” Noah held up a black umbrella to shield us from the snow, “No, not Grace. Grace Whitmore is dead from now on. Have you thought about a new name?”

I trudged through the thick snow with them toward an SUV parked by the roadside without looking back.

“There’s plenty of time for me to think about that.”

Meanwhile, Xavier was frantically searching for Alice amidst the frantic crowd.

Finally, he spotted that familiar figure at the back of the hall.

“Xavier! I’m scared!” Alice threw herself into his arms while bawling her eyes out.

Xavier held her tightly. After ensuring that she was not hurt, he was just about to console her when a panic-stricken voice blasted through his earpiece.

“Don Whitmore, it’s disastrous! The Donna’s car just plunged into a river! We’re organizing a search and rescue team, but the water is too deep, the Donna might be…”

Xavier hardly had time to comfort the frightened Alice. Without a word, he turned and staggered toward the exit.

“To the river! Send all of the soldati to the river!” His usual calm demeanor escaped him while he roared into the walkie-talkie, “I’ll have all of you buried with her if you can’t save her!”

Gusts of cold wind continued to blow across the river in Zurosh, transporting flakes of snow.

When Xavier arrived, he was first greeted by the bottomless face of the river, then the faces of his dejected men.

Then, he spotted a pair of “corpses” the men were huddled around. The faces of the corpses had become mangled beyond recognition due to the violent impact.

“Find Grace right now!” He ordered sharply.

“Don Whitmore... that... that's the Donna.” One of the soldati spoke up timidly while gesturing at one of the corpses who looked skinnier than the other.

Xavier came to a halt. Then, he jabbed a furious kick at the soldato.

“Do you have a death wish? This couldn’t possibly be Grace!”

He strode over to the body and wanted to prove it was only a ridiculous joke.

When he crouched low and tremblingly brushed the haphazard hair covering the corpse’s face, his expression dropped.

A nearly broken necklace hung askew over the mangled neck of the corpse.

It was the necklace he had commissioned for Grace. He watched her put it on with his own eyes only hours ago.

“Quit messing around, Grace. I know you're trying to get back at me. Get up, come home with me.

“Please, come back. I'll give you anything you want, just come back…”

He dropped his knees on the snow and cradled the cold, stiff corpse in his arms. Then, he let out an anguished cry.