Chapter 1

On our fourth anniversary, Renzo Romano, my boyfriend, who happens to be the Don of the Romano famiglia, personally comes to pick me up and take me back to the manor. Noticing the 99 red roses in the back seat of the car, I naively think he's finally going to propose to me.

The villa's decorated in a romantic fashion, filled with scores of our friends. My heart hammers against my ribcage, and I'm about to say "I do" when I see him hand the bouquet of roses to his childhood sweetheart, Simona Visconti.

Fireworks light up the sky outside the window, while drones form Simona's name above us. "Happy birthday, Mona!"

My mind goes completely blank, and I freeze in place. "Are you throwing her a birthday party?"

Renzo, who's busy presenting Simona with her birthday gift, casually responds, "Yeah. Mona just returned from abroad. We didn’t have time to make arrangements, so I decided to hold her birthday party at the manor."

The very next second, he notices my pale face, and a hint of confusion flashes through his eyes. "What's wrong? Is there some other special occasion today?"

He vividly remembers his childhood sweetheart's birthday, yet he doesn’t remember our anniversary. I compose myself and plaster an elegant and graceful smile on my face. "It's nothing. I hope she has a happy birthday."

Right after saying that, I lower my head and book a flight on my phone for three days from now.

Since he doesn't care about me, there's no reason for me to care about him either. It's about time I dump him.

Chapter 1

Perina's POV

"Perina Ricci, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and bring me the candles."

I looked up and saw Renzo Romano's brows knitted together. He looked puzzled.

One of his friends noticed and explained, "Renzo called you several times earlier, but you didn't say a word."

"She's the future Donna, after all," someone chimed in snidely. "Aside from Don Romano, who else would she even care about?"

I had heard these kinds of doubtful remarks countless times when I first joined the Romano famiglia.

At the time, Renzo was always the first to step up and defend me. On more than one occasion, he had gotten into bloody brawls with those people.

Instinctively, I looked at Renzo. Yet, he merely sighed. "Perina, don't throw a fit in front of everyone here."

He cast a reassuring glance at the teary-eyed Simona Visconti before walking up to me and deliberately lowering his voice. "My Donna shouldn't be narrow-minded. Everyone's watching. Don't make a scene and embarrass yourself."

Looking into his mildly reproachful eyes, it suddenly struck me that he genuinely believed that I had deliberately humiliated Simona in public because I thought my status was higher than hers.

The old Renzo would've taken my side unconditionally. On the day he became Don, he had told me, "From today on, no one will ever have the right to doubt you again." Yet, now, he was the very person doubting me in front of everyone.

It felt as though an invisible hand had clamped tightly around my heart. I forced a polite smile. "I understand. Carry on without me. Don't let me hold you up."

I stepped forward on my own initiative, unclasped the diamond necklace from my neck, and placed it in Simona's palm. "Happy birthday. Consider this my apology."

Simona froze for a moment, clearly not expecting me to react like this. Renzo looked up at me as well. A glint of surprise flashed across his eyes before it was soon replaced by satisfaction.

I blinked rapidly to hide the prickle of tears rising in my eyes. Renzo seemed to have forgotten that this necklace was a gift he had gone to extreme lengths to win at an auction for me.

His friends gradually gathered around, and I retreated to the fringe. Clutching a glass of champagne, I smiled as I watched Renzo and the others light the candles, make wishes, and sing the birthday song.

My mind drifted back to my last birthday. Renzo had been so tied up with famiglia affairs that he had merely sent someone over with a set of haute couture jewelry as a gift.

When it was time to cut the cake, one of his friends sighed in admiration. "Renzo baked this cake himself. If you ask me, Renzo and Mona look much more like a couple!"

Straightening up, I was about to pipe up when Renzo looked at him and said apathetically, "You've crossed a line. Perina is my future Donna. I don't want to hear another word that discredits her."

The air went still for three seconds until Simona broke the awkward silence by coaxing Renzo to offer her his birthday blessings.

After the party ended, everyone began filtering out.

Renzo eyed me with a hint of concern. "Perina, why do you seem so distracted?"

I pressed my lips together, and just as I was about to speak, Simona, who was next to us, clutched her forehead and leaned against him. "I had too much to drink, Renzo. My head's pounding."

Renzo helped her up and said softly, "Come on, I'll take you to the guest room." Then, he left without sparing me another glance.

I tugged at the corner of my lips and let out a bitter chuckle. Perhaps he did care about me, but he would always prioritize Simona. I no longer wanted a love that was so biased.

After returning to my room and collapsing onto the bed, my tears unconsciously soaked my pillow as memories of our first meeting resurfaced.

I had been working at a bar when a drunk man cornered me at the counter and harassed me. I had grabbed a bottle and was about to fight to the bitter end when Renzo appeared and saved me.

Back then, we fell in love at first sight.

Later on, he was also the one who brought me into the Romano famiglia. Everyone in his circle had told me, "I've never seen Renzo treat anyone this well before. He'd lay down his life for you without a second thought."

I had sworn that I would never be a burden to Renzo again but rather his greatest support. Hence, after he inherited his famiglia business and became the Don, I became his most loyal Underboss.

I had genuinely believed that I would become his Donna, that we would live happily ever after. Yet, reality had shown me that there would always be room for another in his heart. If that was the case, I didn't want him anymore.

Chapter 2

I took down our framed photograph from the wall and packed all my belongings into my suitcase. Over the years, I had left too many traces of myself in this estate.

By midnight, I'd barely managed to clear out a third of my belongings. However, Renzo still hadn't returned.

Lately, the overt and covert power struggles among several famiglie had been escalating. I was a little worried about his safety, so I called him. After ringing him multiple times with no answer, anxiety gnawed at me, forcing me to head out and look for him myself.

Before stepping out, a barrage of thoughts crossed my mind—if something had truly happened to Renzo, how would I keep the situation under control and save his life?

However, as soon as I lifted my head, I spotted Renzo and Simona standing side by side in the garden, admiring a newly bloomed night-blooming cereus together. I remained silent for a moment before stepping forward two paces. "Why didn't you answer your phone?"

His expression stiffened before realization struck, and he picked up his phone with a touch of guilt. "I'm sorry, Perina. Mona's birthday wish was to see a night-blooming cereus blossom. It only blooms for a very short while, so I muted my phone beforehand. Are you..."

Right after saying that, he took two steps forward, intending to hold my hand. I silently backed away.

Renzo went rigid and, ultimately, massaged his temples. "Perina, are you overthinking again? I've told you countless times—I only see Mona as my younger sister. You're the one I love. My Donna should be magnanimous, shouldn't she?"

How absurd. He had kept my heart in my throat for hours just to grant Simona a silly birthday wish.

Had this been in the past, I would've made a huge scene and argued with him until we were blue in the face. But now, I just couldn't bring myself to care anymore.

Looking into his weary eyes, I nodded. "Sure. Have it your way."

Renzo was caught off guard. The very next moment, his forehead creased, and he exclaimed, "You're actually not going to pick a fight with me over Mona?"

What good would that do? I tugged at the corner of my lips and responded softly, "I was immature in the past, but I've come around now. From now on, no matter what you do, I won't stop you anymore."

After all, I was leaving soon.

At that moment, panic gripped Renzo. He was about to grasp my arm and explain, "I—"

The very next second, Simona gasped and leaned against his shoulder. Tears welled up in her eyes and made her look like a frightened little bird. "I've been running on empty ever since I got off the plane, Renzo. I don't think my body can take it anymore."

Gazing at the heavy dark circles beneath my eyes, he hesitated for a moment and ultimately chose to help Simona. "Mona needs to rest, so I'll take her inside first. We'll talk about this later, alright?"

I nodded and turned around indifferently. Since I had made up my mind to leave, none of this mattered anymore.

…

After lying in bed and letting the endless darkness devour me, my heart ached all over again.

Did we really reach this point solely because of Simona? Granted, every time the tension between Renzo and me started to ease, she would magically find a way to interrupt us with some "emergency".

However, Renzo was the one who kept indulging her, time and time again, giving Simona the chance to hurt me. I let out a sigh and confirmed my flight one last time. I no longer wanted this relationship.

Chapter 3

I only drifted into a light sleep when the first light of dawn broke.

The door creaked open, and Renzo tiptoed in. He walked to my bedside and tenderly tucked me in.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

Holding my hand, his gaze was gentle. "That's enough, Perina. Don't make a fuss anymore. I've already contacted a wedding planner.

"We'll hold our wedding in three months, and you'll become the Donna of the Romano famiglia. The ceremony will be decorated according to your taste, with 999 red roses as the finishing touch. How does that sound?"

Renzo rattled off all of my preferences, his eyes filled with sincerity. However, he had just forgotten our fourth anniversary.

I lowered my gaze, feeling nothing but bitter irony. I refused to look into his eyes and see the affection he pretended to have for me.

Renzo, however, assumed he had successfully made me feel better. Wrapping his arms around me, he patted my back softly. "Go to sleep, Perina."

All of a sudden, I remembered that I was someone who was deeply insecure and had always suffered from severe insomnia. In the early days of our relationship, he'd hold me in his arms every night until I drifted off.

Yet, after he became the Don of the Romano famiglia, noticing the exhaustion etched onto his face, I decided not to add to his burdens. I forced myself to face my fears and learned to handle everything on my own.

Everyone marveled at my astonishing transformation. None of them knew how many times I had broken down in tears in the middle of the night.

The memory of the man Renzo used to be made my chest tighten, and I couldn't help but feel a little reluctant to leave him. However, the very next second, I caught the scent of jasmine from his neck.

It was Simona's perfume. A wave of nausea hit me. I shoved him away and bolted into the bathroom, vomiting until I was lightheaded.

I was a fool to delude myself. Renzo was no longer the man he once was.

Footsteps gradually closed in behind me. He reached out from behind and took hold of my arm, but I forcibly broke free from his grasp.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh. "Let me get you into bed, okay?"

The overwhelming drowsiness began to cloud my thoughts. Leaning against Renzo's shoulder, before I knew it, I slipped into unconsciousness.

…

I lost track of time until the sharp ringing of my phone jolted me awake.

I answered the call, and the anxious voice of the Capo came through the line. "Don Romano suddenly had someone shut down the casinos in the dock area. However, we already have several high-profile guests who reserved VIP rooms for the night. Now, they're demanding three times their deposit back as compensation. The situation's spiraling out of control!"

"Hold on until I get there." I grabbed my coat, rushed out the door, and burned rubber to get to the casino.

On the way there, I roughly calculated the losses from that evening. It was almost equivalent to half a year of profits.

I walked into the lobby, where Renzo was sitting at a table in the VIP lounge, absently fiddling with a stack of poker chips out of sheer boredom. Simona was seated beside him, with a mountain of chips piled up in front of her.

I approached them and placed the folder in front of him. "The casino's sudden closure brought total losses—including the deposits that must be refunded to the VIP guests and the additional compensation—to a total of 32 million dollars. Should this expense be recorded under the famiglia's accounts or paid from your personal account?"

Renzo looked up, the smile on his lips fading slightly. "Can't you pick another time to discuss this, Perina?"

"When it concerns the famiglia's interests, there's no such thing as the right time or place."

Renzo frowned and was about to retort when Simona paused and leaned over to peer in our direction. "Renzo, who's here?"

He waved his hand nonchalantly. "Keep playing. I'm in charge here."

Simona beamed before turning back around, focusing on the game in front of her.

Renzo then shifted his attention back to me. "I'll cover this expense out of my own pocket. Mona just returned from abroad and wanted to go somewhere to kick back and relax. Is that so much to ask?"

I couldn't help but ask him, "Did that really have to cost us more than half a year's worth of profits?"

Renzo looked at me and sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness. "You're overstepping, Perina. I'm the Don of the Romano famiglia. Do I not even have the authority to call the shots? When will you learn to be more considerate and gentle like Mona?"

"You're overstepping." Those words hit my chest like a ton of bricks.

It brought back memories of what Renzo had once told me. "Perina, no matter when, I'll always value your input. You've never been a woman who hides behind me. We're partners who stand shoulder to shoulder and fight together!"

At that moment, it hit me that Renzo, who was now firmly seated in the position of Don, might no longer need a partner who stood beside him and fought alongside him. All he needed was Simona's admiring gaze.

Clutching my aching chest, I silently left. There was no point in dragging this out anymore.

As it turned out, when a person was hurt beyond their limits, they became numb.

Tonight, I would board a flight to Solaria. Everything here would no longer have anything to do with me.

Chapter 4

By the time I returned to the manor after cleaning up the mess at the casino, night had fallen. I walked into my bedroom and stuffed a few undergarments into my suitcase.

Just then, the door to my room abruptly swung open. Renzo marched in with a terrifying look on his face that I'd never seen on him before. Simona clung tightly to the hem of his shirt, her eyes red-rimmed, looking just like a frightened fledgling.

Renzo forced his way in front of me and made me look up at him. "Where were you this afternoon, Perina?"

I answered calmly, "I was outside, calming down the VIP clients whose reservations at the casino had been abruptly canceled."

His expression stiffened for a split second before he raised his voice. "Can anyone vouch for you?"

I shook my head.

The eyes that had once looked at me with such tenderness now held nothing but anger and suspicion.

Renzo seized my wrist with a vice grip and pulled me up from the ground. "Mona almost got into a car accident this afternoon. That car belongs to you. Did you send someone to run her over?"

I found this entire situation absurd. "Why on earth would I send someone after Simona? I'm not a total idiot, Renzo."

He was caught off guard for a moment.

Simona tugged at the hem of his shirt and choked out, "Perina didn't do it on purpose either… Don't argue with her over me. I don't want to come between you two."

Renzo cast a reassuring look at Simona, but the look he directed at me was colder than ever. "Perina, at this point, Mona's still speaking up for you. What about you? Aside from coming up with excuses, what else can you do?"

I wrenched my hand free from Renzo's grip and looked him straight in the eye. "Who do you believe? Simona, or me?"

He didn't answer me right away. Yet, his silence gave me the answer I needed.

Simona lowered her gaze and walked between Renzo and me before reaching out to grab my arm. "Perina, don't make things hard for Renzo—"

The very next second, she screamed. The moment her hand touched my arm, she tumbled backward, crashing straight into the edge of the desk.

Clutching her elbow, she collapsed onto the floor and looked up at me in disbelief, her voice trembling. "I was only trying to persuade you… Why did you push me?"

I parted my lips, intending to defend myself. Yet, I realized that any explanation I gave at that moment would only ring hollow and ridiculous.

Renzo's expression darkened in an instant. His eyes were filled with disappointment, along with a hint of anger that had reached the point of impulsiveness. "That's enough, Perina! I'm sick of you taking out your anger on Mona. I've told you countless times that I only see her as my younger sister. Not every man is like your papa, someone who would betray his family!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a twinge of guilt immediately appeared in his eyes as he looked at me. "Perina…"

My mind went completely blank, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. Renzo knew damn well that Papa's betrayal and Mamma's subsequent death from depression were scars I couldn't bring myself to touch.

Looking into his guilt-ridden, helpless eyes, a terrifying clarity hit me. There was no future for us anymore.

Renzo took a step forward, reaching out to grasp my hand. His lips parted as he attempted to explain himself.

Right then, a single tear trickled down Simona's cheek. "Renzo, it hurts…"

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately scooped Simona up into his arms and turned to leave. "I need to rush Mona to the hospital first. We'll talk this through when I come back, alright?"

I simply stood frozen in place, watching his retreating back. When I finally managed to pull myself together, I left the family crest behind in the drawer and rushed to the airport with my suitcase.

There was nothing here left for me to hold on to.

…

When I arrived at the airport, the departure announcement echoed through the terminal. "The plane's about to take off. Passengers traveling to Solaria, please proceed to the boarding gate as soon as possible."

I walked toward the gate and turned back one last time to look at the brilliant starry sky above me. Many moons ago, when Renzo took my hand and led me into the manor, he told me, "From today onward, this is your home." However, he hadn't told me that a home could also turn into ruins overnight.

Renzo would soon disappear from my world for good. Goodbye forever.