Chapter 1

The night the Famiglia is attacked, Luca Gambino abandons me, who is severely wounded, and turns to protect another woman instead.

"Wait here. Carmela was grazed by a stray bullet. I need to get her to safety first."

I press the wound on my stomach, but the bleeding just won't stop. "But I was shot too!"

Luca sighs and says, "Elena Pasquini, you are my fiancee. You need to think of the Famiglia as well. If the rest of the Famiglia learns that I abandoned my comrades in the middle of an attack just to save you, who else will still be willing to risk their lives for me next time?"

With that, he escorts Carmela—who has only suffered from a tiny scratch—off to safety and disappears into the night.

Just before my blood runs dry, I yank off the necklace symbolizing my Donna status from my neck and throw it into the pool of blood beneath me.

I no longer want a man who will always only put Famiglia loyalty before me.

Chapter 1

I was only finally discovered three hours later before being brought to the hospital, and I was unconscious for a whole day.

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was the pale and dull white ceiling above me.

The nurse on duty told me that nobody had visited me while I was there.

The next morning, I pulled the IV out of the back of my hand and got myself discharged before dragging my weary, half-dead self back to Gambino Manor, where the Famiglia headquarters were.

I changed out of my muddy, blood-soaked clothes and sat down on the couch, charging my phone that was completely drained.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Luca Gambino stood outside the door. His collar was still stained with dried blood, and his face looked tired and exhausted. His tense shoulders relaxed when he saw that I was home safe and sound.

However, he flew into a rage right after that.

"Where the hell have you been these two days? The Famiglia searched for you everywhere based on the coordinates you sent asking for help, but there was nobody there.

"When will you stop throwing a tantrum like this every time, Elena Pasquini? Don't you know that wasting the family's resources on finding you like this makes us passive and vulnerable to threats?"

I opened my mouth, my throat parched and dry.

"I never changed the coordinates. I waited for you in the alley the whole time."

"That's impossible," Luca said, interrupting me impatiently. "Carmela was the one who checked the coordinates. She tracked the signal and confirmed that you were in the West District, but we searched for you for four hours and found nobody."

I looked at him quietly. This was the same face that I'd been looking at since I was eight years old, and now, I was already 25.

I recalled the first time I touched a gun when I was eight years old. The gun barrel had felt so cold in my hands that I shivered from the fright. Yet, Luca took my hand from the back, enveloped my hand with his, and rested his chin on my shoulder.

Then, he smiled and spoke to me as gently as he could, "Don't be afraid, Elena. I'm here. I'll always protect you."

But now, there was only doubt, scrutiny, and impatience left on his face, making me look like I was a sinner and a liar.

"I'll say it again," I said quietly and calmly. "I never changed locations. The first coordinates I sent you were exactly where I was at that time."

"Carmela would never make such a rookie mistake like that," Luca said, avoiding my gaze and tugging at his collar frustratedly. "She is the core of the intelligence team, and she's handled plenty of classified operations without a single mistake. I absolutely trust her professionalism. But compared to her—"

He suddenly cut himself off abruptly.

"Compared to her, I'm nothing," I said, calmly finishing his sentence for him. "I'm not professional enough, not sensible enough, and I only ever serve as a burden to you. Am I right?"

Luca's lips moved, a fleeting hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.

"That's not what I meant."

"Then, what did you mean?"

He stayed silent for a long time. Finally, he massaged his temples wearily and said, "Just stay here and rest. Come and find me again after you've thought things through and are finally willing to tell me the truth."

He turned to leave, and I stopped him.

"Luca."

He paused.

"You'd rather trust her than me, don't you?"

His back stiffened slightly.

"Carmela is the core intelligence member of the Famiglia. I know her character the best."

Chapter 2

The door then slammed shut.

I sat alone on the couch, clutching my still-aching, wounded abdomen.

Luca never asked a single question about my injury from the moment he stepped in through the front door. All he cared about was whether I'd lied to him or caused him any trouble.

The fire in the fireplace went out, leaving only a few glowing embers behind.

I subconsciously touched my empty neck, where the necklace symbolizing my future Donna status once hung. Now, there was only a red mark from when it had been yanked off.

I got up and pulled out the dusty suitcase from the deepest part of the closet.

I had so few belongings that it was almost laughable. All I had was just a few changes of clothes and an old photo album that my parents left for me.

A black Ruisse bank card lay in the farthest corner of the bedside drawer. It contained the compensation money that the Famiglia had given me after my father, Alfonso Pasquini, took a bullet for Luca's father, Don Claudio Gambino, saving his life.

I never touched a single penny from it over the years, even in my most financially strapped times.

The moment I zipped up my suitcase, someone pushed the door open from the outside. It was Rosa Natale, Luca's mother.

She held a platter of cut fruits as she stood at the door. However, her face darkened when she saw my suitcase on the floor.

"Elena? What are you doing?"

"I'm moving out for a few days for some peace and quiet," I replied without looking at her.

"Moving out?"

Rosa slammed the platter heavily on the coffee table, nearly knocking over the vase. "You're such an ungrateful brat, Elena! Luca never slept a wink these few days because of the feud, and instead of helping him out, you're throwing a tantrum and distracting him with tricks like these?"

"I'm not throwing a tantrum," I replied.

"And you still say you're not?" Rosa demanded. She then sighed and said condemningly, "Look at Carmela! She never said a word even though she got hurt during the fight. As the future Donna, you should learn a thing or two from her and be more understanding of the men in your life!

"Your parents died early, and if it were not for the Gambino Famiglia taking you in over the years, you'd probably have ended up on the streets digging through trash for survival instead! How could you throw a temper tantrum with Luca like this over something so insignificant?"

I looked at the woman who'd maintained her appearance very well over the years before me and recalled the scene from years ago when I was eight years old.

I carried my parents' ashes as I stepped into this manor for the first time. Back then, Rosa gently embraced me and said, "This will be your home from now on."

And yet, now, she kept reminding me in a condescending manner that I was nothing but a pathetic wretch leeching off them and living under their roof.

I suddenly broke into a smile and stepped forward, gently placing the bank card containing the money from my father's compensation on the coffee table.

"Donna Gambino, I've kept a record of every penny I've spent in your household over the years, including my education, living expenses, and everything else.

"The money in this card should be more than enough to cover everything."

Her face turned dark at once.

"Are you trying to sever ties with us?"

"Not exactly," I said, lifting my suitcase and heading toward the door without looking back. "I just finally realized that this was never my home to begin with."

Chapter 3

I left the heavily guarded manor and flagged down a cab. Then, I gave the driver the address to my parents' old house that they'd left behind.

Dad used to be Don Gambino's most loyal Underboss. However, during the bloody battle that determined the fate of the Gambino Famiglia, Dad got shot three times in the chest while covering for the Don and died on the spot.

Not long after that, Mom also passed away.

I was only eight years old then, two years younger than Luca.

When the Gambino Famiglia took me in, Rosa gathered me in her arms and cried with me, promising that she would treat me as her own daughter.

However, as time passed, the kindness began to sour, and to quote in her words, "The Gambino Famiglia took you in. You should be grateful to us for that."

It was true that the Famiglia had given me a safe haven when I had nowhere to go. However, the price was that I had to be obedient and compliant at all times just to be worthy of taking up space in their household.

Luca was the only one who never saw me like that back then. He would sneak into my room on long, dark nights filled with the sounds of gunfire and whisper words of comfort into my ear.

He would also stand up for me when I was bullied by the other people in the Famiglia, telling everyone that I belonged to him.

Some time after that, I became his fiancee.

And then, this fiancee of his eventually became a burden that only caused him trouble during critical moments.

I walked through the gates of the old house, and my phone rang just as I set my suitcase down.

Luca's name appeared on the screen as the caller ID. I answered the call.

"Elena."

Luca's voice was laced with barely suppressed frustration. "Did you talk back to Mama? And you even moved out?

"You're not a kid anymore, for god's sake. Can you stop making me worry all the time?"

Carmela Coppola's voice came faintly from the other end of the line, sounding soft and innocent, "Is it because of me, Luca? Has Elena misunderstood us? Should I go explain myself to her and apologize—"

"No."

Luca's voice softened at once. "This has nothing to do with you. Don't overthink things."

I gripped my phone tightly.

Then, Luca's commanding voice reappeared next to my ear.

"Elena, you will return this instant and apologize to Mom. Then, I will forgive you.

"Do you not know how busy the Famiglia is right now? We're cleaning up our territory, comforting the people, replenishing supplies, and more, and I'd barely even slept a wink. And this is the time you choose to cause trouble for me?"

"I'm not going back," I said.

There was a moment of silence on the phone.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'm not going back. I never did anything wrong, so I don't owe anyone an apology. Also, I'm already home. Your place is not my home."

"Elena, I'm giving you one more chance to repeat what you just said to me," Luca said, his voice as chilling as ice.

"I don't need it," I said, interrupting him. "I was the one always giving you chances, Luca. I gave you chances to remember the promises you made to me. I gave you chances to prove that you still loved me. I gave you chances to prioritize me in your life again.

"But this time, I'm not giving you any more chances."

Chapter 4

There was a pregnant silence on the phone this time.

A long while later, Luca said, "Are you serious right now, Elena?"

"Yes."

"Just because I saved Carmela first the other day?"

I didn't respond.

However, my silence seemed to ignite his fury as he roared, "How many times do I have to explain things to you? She is just the core of the intelligence team! The entire operation would be paralyzed if anything happened to her, so her situation was far more urgent than yours!

"Besides, you're my fiancee! I couldn't prioritize saving you first before anyone else. What would the others think of me if they found out? How did you think I was supposed to maintain my authority next time?"

"Then, what do you take me for?" I retorted.

"What?"

"You'd rather have everyone think you were a selfless hero than care about me dying in the alley."

I sighed and continued, "Luca, who am I in your heart? Am I just a burden you can sacrifice and replace at any time for the greater good? Or, am I your partner whom you're prepared to spend the rest of your life with and fight side by side?"

He didn't say a word after that.

"Your silence is the answer, isn't it?" I asked with a soft chuckle. "Go ahead and deal with your important matters. You don't have to come looking for me anymore."

Just before the call was disconnected, I clearly heard Carmela's gentle, comforting voice on the other end, saying, "Don't worry, Luca. Elena's just being impulsive. She's always been the most understanding, and she also loves you the most, doesn't she?

"How could she ever bear to truly leave you? She'll be back in a few days after she's thought things through."

I hung up on the call first.

The word "understanding" had been repeated to me millions of times over the past decade or so. It was such a simple word, and yet, it felt like a chain wrapping itself tightly around me until I couldn't breathe.

It didn't allow me to show any emotions like anger, fear, or resentment. Instead, I was forced to be perfect and always show my perpetually smiling and positive side, never causing any trouble for anyone.

However, I was done being "understanding" from today onward.

I felt for a black satellite phone in the compartment of my suitcase and turned it on. Then, I sent out a text message to one of the saved numbers in it.

"Help me look something up, Bianca. My SOS coordinates were tampered with on the night the Famiglia was attacked. Find out who did it."

Bianca Gatti replied almost instantly.

"I'm on it."

I then set the phone back down, got up, and began cleaning the dusty old house.

Chapter 5

One hour later, there was a sudden knock on the door. I thought it was Bianca, so I opened the door for her. However, I realized that it was Luca standing there instead.

Carmela was right behind him. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she looked as though she had been thoroughly wronged.

"Elena, Carmela is here to explain the location error that night," Luca said with a frown.

Carmela took a step forward and hung her head.

"It was due to interference from a signal jammer, Elena. I really didn't mean to give any wrong directions deliberately…"

However, my gaze was drawn to a striking glint of gold on her wrist. It was an intricately crafted gold bracelet, inlaid with a beautiful pigeon-egg ruby.

I recognized that bracelet. It was a design that Luca had personally drafted up three months ago. He once told me that he would get the rarest ruby in the world to craft this unique wedding gift for me once the feud was over.

And yet, now, it was openly displayed on Carmela's wrist.

Carmela noticed my gaze and hurriedly tried to cover the bracelet with her sleeve.

"Please don't misunderstand, Elena. Luca just asked me to help him coordinate the wedding dress to make sure that the colors and design matched… He wanted to see how it looked."

She then made a move to undo the bracelet from her wrist. "I'll return it to you right now."

I took a step back.

"Forget it. I refuse to touch anything secondhand. It's unclean."

Carmela froze, her expression immediately turning embarrassed and awkward. She then looked pitifully at Luca next to her.

Luca immediately shielded her behind him and frowned at me. "Where are your manners, Elena Pasquini? Must you be so harsh with your words?"

I cocked an eyebrow at him and smirked.

"What, did I say anything wrong? She came to my door talking bullshit about some signal jam while wearing the wedding gift originally intended for me on her wrist.

"Did you think at all, Luca? Did you expect me to give you my blessings with a huge smile on my face?"

"It's my fault for overlooking the bracelet," Luca said, yanking at his collar frustratedly. "But regarding the coordinates, Carmela has already re-checked them, and the signal had indeed been severely interfered with that night. The location was off by a whole block.

"So, why are you still being so hostile and unforgiving when it wasn't even her fault to start with?"

Carmela tugged at Luca's sleeve and said, "Don't get mad, Luca. It's all my fault. I don't want your relationship to sour just because of me…"

"You did nothing wrong," Luca said at once, patting the back of her hand reassuringly. Then, he turned to me with an icy gaze and said, "Elena, Carmela has already apologized to you.

"Now, you will come back with me and officially apologize to Mama. Then, this matter will end right here. Once the storm has passed, we will proceed with our wedding as planned, and I will give you the title you should receive."

He said it proudly and arrogantly, as though he were being lenient and merciful toward me with this compromise.

I stared at him quietly.

He was leaning against the doorframe, his suit impeccably tailored and his facial features handsome and deep-set. Every gesture he made exuded authority and nobility.

In the past, I would always back down whenever he spoke to me in such a commanding tone, simply because he was Luca.

He was the man who silently held my trembling hands at my parents' funerals, who took off his coat and wrapped me in his arms on cold, rainy nights, and who rescued me single-handedly when I was kidnapped by the Famiglia's enemies.

Unfortunately, the Luca who used to only have eyes for me had long since died in the face of power and authority.

I replied calmly, "I will break off our engagement. From this day forward, kindly get out of my life and stop disgusting me like this."

Chapter 6

Luca froze on the spot.

Carmela gently patted him and whispered, "Luca, there are still urgent matters back at the headquarters that need your attention. Why don't we go back first and let Elena calm down in the meantime?"

Luca glared at me for a long while. Some time later, he gritted through his teeth, "Fine."

He cast me a final glance and said, "You're emotionally unstable right now, so I won't hold it against you. I'll return in a few days to bring you back."

Just as the door closed, I saw Carmela turning around and giving me a challenging, contemptuous grin.

Later that night, a glaring rumor began spreading wildly through the secret communication network within the Gambino Famiglia.

The anonymous post said, "The orphan of a former elder threw a tantrum and deliberately faked their SOS location after the attack in an attempt to blackmail the future Don and nearly caused the entire operations team to be attacked in the West District."

The post even included photos of the team's disheveled state with wounds and injuries after their failed rescue attempt in the West District.

My phone then began buzzing nonstop with notifications as countless messages and emails from the Gambino Famiglia filled with swears and insults flooded my inbox.

"How could you do this after the Gambino Famiglia raised you for so many years? You're nothing but a traitor!"

"You don't deserve to inherit your father's name! Get lost from the Gambino Famiglia!"

"Future Donna? You're not even worthy to lick the mud off Signorina Coppola's shoes!"

I saved every single message and forwarded them all to Bianca.

…

The next day, Bianca called me. She sounded angry on the phone.

"We found it. Your SOS coordinates were indeed tampered with and forcibly modified that night. Data traces show that the modification command came from the Famiglia's intelligence office server.

"The Famiglia Arbitration Tribunal indictment and the statement announcing the dissolution of the engagement have been drafted. We can convene a trial anytime as long as you agree to it. Are you ready, Elena?"

Bianca's voice was laced with concern.

"Submit them immediately," I said icily as I gripped my phone.

"Okay."

Bianca sighed softly on the other end of the line. "Can you handle it all, Elena?"

I pushed the window open and watched the sunlight stream onto the old, dusty streets. A gentle breeze brushed my cheek, and I felt a sense of freedom with it.

"I've never felt this relaxed," I said with a curve of my lips before hanging up.

…

The tides in the Famiglia dramatically shifted that very night.

Bianca uploaded the system log of Carmela's location modification to the Elders Council group chat, and all Famiglia members who'd been criticizing me previously instantly took my side and began pointing fingers at Carmela instead.

Just as I was about to take a closer look, the door was suddenly kicked open, and Luca appeared at the door with a dark look on his face.

"Elena! What the hell were you thinking? The Elders Council is now launching an investigation on Carmela! You were the one who instigated this, weren't you?

"Carmela would never have done anything of the sort! Go and clarify everything with the Elders Council at once and say that you were the one who slandered her!"

I questioned him coldly, "You said she wouldn't have done anything of the sort, but did you think I would risk my own life to make such a pathetic joke like this?"

My voice began trembling. "So, in your eyes, I'm nothing but an idiot who would allow myself to die in a pool of my own blood all because of jealousy?

"You've never trusted me once, Luca. Not even once."

Luca swallowed thickly. Yet, he still stubbornly claimed, "So what if Carmela really did something wrong? You could have just told me about it privately instead of taking it straight to the Elders Council! How do you think the rest of the Famiglia are going to look at me, their future Don, now?"

I stared straight into his eyes.

"I clearly told you about it last time. I said that my coordinates had been tampered with, but you insisted that she would never have made a mistake like that."

Tears then gushed from my eyes and streamed down my face silently.

"Did you know, Luca? When I was lying in the alley in a pool of my blood that night, pressing a hand to my wound, I swore that I would forgive you and forget about all this as long as you gave me a backward glance. Just one."

I then chuckled self-deprecatingly. "But you never did. You held her in your arms and vanished without even giving me another look."

The house was quiet, the silence only perforated with the sounds of our heavy breathing.

Just then, footsteps appeared at the door. I turned and saw a handsome young man in a dark, bespoke suit approaching us.

"Good day, Signorina Pasquini. My name is Antonio Zani. Signorino Gatti personally appointed me to help you."

He smiled and nodded at me, his actions smooth and elegant. Then, he cast Luca an icy gaze.

"I already have everything prepared, Signorina. It includes your request to dissolve the engagement with the Gambino Famiglia and submitting the lawsuit against Signorina Coppola for premeditated murder to the Famiglia court."