Chapter 1

Leo Lovera was a capo, and he always thought I was just a housewife who couldn’t survive without him.

He brought a woman, Sophia Costa, back to the estate. He dressed her in my silk robes, doused her in my perfume, and then pretended like he was being thoughtful by offering me a bowl of stew with only a few slices of meat.

Leo scowled at me and snapped, “Sophia’s kind-hearted. Don’t be ungrateful. If it weren’t for the fact that you have no family, I’d have thrown you into the sea to feed the fish a long time ago.”

No family? I laughed.

He had no idea I was the daughter of the Orlen Family's Don, a Mafia princess in every sense.

To honor a five-year agreement with the Don, I had been living under a hidden identity, keeping all my sharp edges carefully tucked away.

He had said that for five years, I had to live as a normal woman and protect the Family’s territory. I couldn't ever truly inherit his empire without doing so.

Five years. And today was the last day.

Leo had just shattered that agreement with his own hands. In doing so, he freed me.

I pulled out the satellite phone and dialed a number.

Ten minutes later, the Family’s legal counsel arrived, flanked by men in black suits. They knocked on the door, and Bruce Sinclair bowed to me the moment he stepped inside.

“Principessa Anna, the Don has entrusted the estate to you.”

Chapter 1

The silver fork slipped from Leo Lovera's hand and clattered to the floor. Sophia Costa's smile froze.

I sat in the antique chair she had complained was too hard, my fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

"Go tell my father I'll take care of the annoying rats in the estate soon."

My eyes swept over the fork on the floor and the woman in the revealing robe.

"Understood, Principessa." Bruce didn't spare Leo so much as a glance. He simply bent slightly at the waist, waiting for my reply.

The air of authority made Leo's heart skip, but he quickly dismissed the thought forming in his mind. He shot to his feet, the chair scraping harshly against the floor.

"What? We've been living in this estate for five years. What do you mean by illegal occupation? And what did you just call her? Principessa?"

Bruce straightened, his smile fading.

"Mr. Lovera, the estate's deed has always listed only Principessa Anna as the owner."

Sophia shrank behind Leo, tugging at his sleeve. "Leo, what's going on? Isn't Anna an orphan?"

Leo's expression twisted, cycling through shock and panic. He jabbed a finger at me and shouted, his voice cracking.

"Don't let her fool you. She's a fraud. When she married me, she didn't have a cent to her name. Nothing! This estate was just some rundown trash left behind by her family. How could it have anything to do with the Don? She must have hired people to put on an act. You're being played."

I watched the vein throbbing in his neck and couldn't help laughing.

I laughed coldly. "Played? You'll see how much of a performance it is when a bullet is in your throat."

Bruce immediately drew his gun, chambered a round, and leveled the black muzzle at Leo.

I watched Leo freeze in terror, fascinated, and then I raised a hand to stop Bruce.

"Killing him would be too easy. I want to do this myself. I want him to suffer the punishment he deserves."

The gun pressed to Leo's temple was pulled away. His body swayed.

He stared at Bruce in disbelief as Bruce stepped back with a respectful nod and left quietly.

The door closed.

Silence filled the room.

Leo turned his gaze on me, his eyes bloodshot.

Sophia dropped the fragile act at once, and her voice turned shrill. "Leo, she must have paid them off. I've seen tricks like this before. This woman is way too calculating. She's just trying to scare us and drive us out!"

Leo stormed toward me and grabbed my wrist, squeezing hard enough to crush bone.

"Anna, you've gotten bold. How dare you team up with outsiders to scheme against me? Talk. How much did you pay them? Where did the money come from? Did you steal it from my company?"

I looked at him coldly. "Let go."

"And if I don't, what are you going to do?" Leo spat, spraying my face.

"Listen here, I don't care whose name is on the deed. Once we're married, it's marital property. You think you can take it all for yourself? Dream on. And Sophia is pregnant with my first son. If you know what's good for you, you'll take care of her properly. Otherwise, you'll be sorry."

At that, Sophia immediately covered her still-flat stomach and leaned back against the couch, smug satisfaction all over her face.

"Anna, don't be mad at Leo. The doctor said I need to rest. If you keep bringing people into the house to cause trouble and scare the baby, can you afford the consequences?"

Chapter 2

I wrenched my hand free from Leo's grip and slapped him across the face.

Smack!

The sharp sound echoed through the living room.

Leo clutched his cheek, stunned.

"How dare you hit me?!"

"This is my house."

I pulled out a wet wipe and cleaned my hand slowly, deliberately. "If you don't want to get out, then shut up. And since you keep calling her a maid, let's settle the math properly. Sophia lives here on my dime. She eats my food, uses my things, and I never charged rent. Starting today, the cleaning in this house is her responsibility."

"You're insane!" Sophia shrieked. "I'm pregnant!"

"Then get out." I tossed the wipe into the trash. "You have two options. Choose now."

Leo raised his hand, about to strike me back.

"Touch me and see what happens." I met his eyes, my voice calm. "You should think carefully. Over the past five years, how many weapons have you skimmed from the Orlen Family's external deals? Do you really think an audit wouldn't uncover it?"

Leo's hand froze midair.

Disbelief flickered across his face. He clearly never imagined I would know any of that. His jaw tightened. Slowly, he lowered his hand.

"Fine, Anna. You think you're clever. Wait right there. I'll get to the bottom of this. If I find out you're bluffing, you'll regret it!"

With that, he grabbed Sophia and dragged her toward the bedroom.

"Come on, Sophia. Let's go inside. Don't waste time on this crazy woman."

Sophia followed unwillingly. Just before the door closed, she shot me a vicious glare.

I stared at the shut door, then pulled out my phone and sent a message to my father.

[The fish has taken the bait. It's time to pull in the net.]

-

Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by someone pounding on my door.

The moment I opened it, a black card flew at my face.

Leo stood in the doorway. He was dressed in a tailored suit, his expression hard and vicious.

"Go buy breakfast. Sophia wants the caviar crepes from that place in the city. And coffee. Hand-ground. If you don't bring it back, don't bother eating."

The card hit the floor with a sharp clatter.

I glanced down. It was my secondary card, the one loaded with two thousand euros a month for living expenses.

I didn't pick it up. I leaned against the doorframe and looked at him calmly. "Mr. Lovera, are you still half asleep? Or did you not understand a word I said yesterday?"

Leo let out a cold laugh and straightened his tie. "Anna, I thought about it all night. I don't care who you hired to put on that little show. As long as we're not divorced, you answer to me. If you don't go, I'll freeze every card you have. I know you don't have money of your own. Without me, you won't even be able to eat."

From inside the room came Sophia's sugary voice. "Leo, don't waste time arguing with her. I'm starving. And the baby is kicking me again."

Leo immediately called back, "Coming, sweetheart. I'll make her go right now."

Then he turned back to me, his face dark again. "You heard her. Move."

I nudged the card on the floor with my foot and kicked it out the door.

"If she wants to eat, she can buy it herself. And since we're being clear, I've frozen your cards too."

Leo scoffed in disbelief.

"You froze my cards? Have you lost your mind? That's my company and money. Who do you think you are?"

"Your company?" I smiled. "Did you forget whose name was listed as the legal owner when the company was registered?"

He froze.

Five years ago, he had a criminal record. I was the one who used my identity to register the company for him.

"So what if it's in your name?" Leo snapped, his voice rising. "I run the company. I make the money."

"Do you?" I pulled out my phone and held up the screen.

"Ten minutes ago, as the legal owner, I froze all liquid funds in the company accounts. The reason given was suspicion of embezzlement and money laundering by the CEO."

The color drained from Leo's face.

"What?!"

Chapter 3

Just then, Leo's phone rang.

It was the company's finance director.

Leo answered with shaking hands. The moment he put it on speaker, a panicked voice burst through.

"Mr. Lovera, something's wrong. Swiss Bank just called, saying they've frozen the company accounts! We're supposed to pay ten million dollars today to the Colombian arms dealers. If that money doesn't clear, they're going to dump us in the ocean."

Leo's hand jerked, and the phone nearly slipped from his grip.

He lunged at me, trying to snatch my phone. "Anna, you witch! Unfreeze the money right now. Are you trying to kill me?"

I stepped aside and kicked his knee in one smooth motion.

He hit the floor with a dull thud, landing on his knees.

"Kill you?" I looked down at him. "We're not even close to that yet."

I stared at him from above, my voice calm. "Over the past few years, you've been selling the Family's weapons on the side. You used that money to buy Sophia jewelry, luxury cars, and even a seaside villa. Every single transaction is being investigated. You misappropriated company funds on a grand scale. How many years in prison do you think that'll buy you?"

Leo knelt there, all his arrogance gone.

"A-Anna, listen to me. This is all a misunderstanding. There's nothing between Sophia and me. She seduced me. I swear."

When Sophia heard him, she rushed out barefoot.

"Leo! Just yesterday you said you were going to divorce this old hag and marry me. Now you're backing out?" Sophia shrieked. "I'm carrying your child!"

Leo did not even look at her before shoving her aside. "Get lost. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this mess!"

Sophia fell to the floor and broke into loud sobs. "Fine. I'm calling the police. I'll report all of you!"

I watched the scene unfold, completely unmoved.

"Go ahead." I walked over and sat on the couch. "While the police are here, they can also check the receipts in that Hermès bag of yours. Let's see whose card you used to pay for it."

Sophia's crying stopped instantly.

Just then, a rapid knocking came from the gates of the estate. Then, a sharp, shrill voice followed.

"Open the door! Where is everyone? Leo! Your mother is here and you're not coming out to greet me?"

Leo looked like he'd spotted salvation. He scrambled to the door, nearly tripping in his haste.

"Mom! You actually came! I can't take this life anymore!"

The door opened, revealing an older woman draped in a gaudy fur coat.

It was Leo's mother, Rosa Moretti.

She stepped inside and let her eyes sweep the room, finally settling on me.

"If Leo hadn't pulled you off the streets back then, you wouldn't be alive today!"

I said nothing. Meeting Leo that day had been an accident.

A bomb had been planted along my usual route. After barely escaping it, a group of young thugs mistook me for a beggar and beat me up mercilessly.

Leo happened to be the only passerby I could grab.

I begged him, as an ordinary woman named Anna, to take me home and marry me.

I had lived under that identity for five years. Five years during which I managed his company and let him live in my estate.

That was more than enough to repay the tiny favor of saving my life.

Leo leaned in close to whisper something in Rosa's ear.

She spat on the floor, scratched at her hair that hadn't been washed in days, and dandruff snowed onto my expensive Persian rug.

"Since my son lives here, this estate belongs to us!"

She strutted over and plopped herself down right next to me.

Chapter 4

I shifted away in disgust.

Seeing me retreat only riled Rosa up more. "Have you lost your mind?"

Rosa slammed her palm on the table. "Anna. Now that I'm here, this house answers to me. Starting today, you're moving into the basement. The master bedroom goes to Sophia so she can rest during her pregnancy. And from now on, all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and everything else is your job. If you don't do it right, you get out."

Leo stood to the side, his back straightening again.

"You hear that?"

I looked at the circus in front of me and almost laughed.

"Rosa," I said flatly, calling her by name. "This is my home. Spit on my floor one more time, and I'll make you lick it clean."

The room went dead silent.

Rosa froze for a few seconds, then grabbed the crystal ashtray off the table and hurled it at me. "You little witch. I'll kill you!"

I tilted my head and dodged. The ashtray smashed into the wall, shattering into pieces.

Rosa charged at me and slapped me twice across the face.

"You ungrateful bitch. How dare you talk back to me? I'll teach you a lesson today on behalf of your dead parents!

Sophia clapped her hands from the side, delighted. "That's right, Mom. Hit her. Women like her only learn when they're beaten!"

I was forced to the floor, and I struggled with everything I had. However, I was pinned down so tightly I could barely breathe.

Leo crouched in front of me, grabbed my hair, and forced my head up.

"Anna, don't blame me for being heartless. Sign a share transfer agreement right now. Every share under your name goes to me. Then, sign a property gift deed and transfer this estate to my mother. If you sign, I'll let you go and give you some money to disappear. If you don't..."

His voice dropped.

"You'll rot in the basement for the rest of your life."

I spat out a mouthful of blood and glared at him. "In your dreams."

Leo seemed to remember something. He turned and lifted a necklace from the mantel.

It was my mother's keepsake.

"You always loved this necklace, didn't you? If you don't sign, I'll destroy it."

"No!" I screamed, my voice raw and hoarse.

"Leo, why are you wasting time talking to her?" Sophia urged from the side. "Just throw it into the fireplace already."

Leo tossed the necklace toward the hearth. He lit a sheet of newspaper and moved to throw it in after.

"Leo! Rosa! Sophia!" I roared each name, my throat filled with the taste of blood.

"If you burn it, I swear I'll tear your limbs apart and feed you to the sharks!"

Leo's hand jerked. The newspaper slipped from the edge of the mantel. Flames licked up instantly, catching the necklace.

I used the moment to break free and lunged for the hearth.

I grabbed the necklace with my bare hand.

The fire scorched the back of my hand, but I felt nothing.

I crushed the necklace against my chest and smothered the flames with my body.

Luckily, only a small part of it was blackened.

I collapsed to the floor, curled around what I was protecting. My hair was a mess, my clothes torn, the back of my hand burned black.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

Leo had been about to kick me, but the look in my eyes made him freeze in place.

It was pure, murderous hatred.

"Leo," I said, my voice hoarse but steady. "You just tried to burn my necklace."

Leo stepped back, then pointed a finger at me and yelled, "So what? It's just a dead woman's necklace. If you care so much, sign the papers and get out with that worthless thing!"

A furious shout thundered from the entrance.

"Try touching her again. I dare you!"

The front doors were kicked open.

Seven or eight men in black suits poured in, taking control of the room in seconds.

Then, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit stepped inside.

It was my father, Fritz Orlen, the Don of the Orlen Family.

My father saw me, disheveled and clutching the necklace, and his face darkened. He strode forward, draping his coat over my shoulders.

"Who dared lay a hand on my daughter?"