Chapter 1

The day of the gang shootout, while I was cleaning up the mess, I realized our marriage certificate was missing.

My husband Victor Rosso tried to comfort me. Said the whole family only recognized me as their Donna. No need to bother replacing it.

I mulled it over for a few days, then still brought my ID to city hall to get a duplicate.

The clerk tapped at her keyboard for a minute, then looked up at me.

"Ma'am, your marital status shows as single."

I froze. Then I wrote down Victor's name and mine again and handed it back to her.

She checked once more. Her expression turned strange. "The system says you're single, but your husband is listed as married..."

She paused. "The spouse's name is Anna Martin. Do you know her?"

My mind went blank.

Victor and I were each other's first love.

He'd always treated me like I was the moon, the stars, everything.

And Anna—my sister, his savior, the woman he personally shipped off to Milan because she wouldn't stop chasing him.

Turns out, while he was calling her reckless to my face, he'd already given her his legal name on paper.

I pulled out my phone and called my mentor.

"Mentor, I need to get back to my jewelry studio. What's the soonest you can get me in?"

"Flora. Three days. Just give me three days."

Chapter 1

Coming back from city hall, I was completely out of it.

Before getting in the car, I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes first. Only when my eyes weren't red anymore did I tell the driver to take me home.

Victor couldn't stand seeing me cry. He'd given orders to everyone around him—anytime, anywhere, if they saw me upset, they had to report it.

Now wasn't the right time to blow things open.

I got a call from Victor.

"Baby, what made you think of going to city hall today? Did you make it?"

Hearing the careful, almost tiptoeing tone in his voice, I almost laughed.

He'd always been the type to panic the second he heard I'd left the house. This time, though, he was asking about errands.

So even he had a guilty conscience.

"I think I ate something bad today. Had to rest for a while as soon as I got to city hall."

"Still didn't get the certificate replaced. I'm so unlucky."

The moment those words left my mouth, I heard him let out a quiet breath on the other end.

"Flora, let me worry about the certificate. Just get back to the estate and have the family doctor check you out thoroughly."

And just like that, my Don husband started ordering the best gastroenterologists from the entire West Coast to be summoned.

He always freaked out this much over my health.

I thought about it, thought about it—and the tears started falling before I could stop them. I quickly turned my gaze out the window.

A love forged through gunfire and bloodshed—turns out even that could fade without you noticing.

We first met at the West Coast delivery dock. I was an exchange student fresh off the plane; he was the Black Hand's first-in-line heir, running from a rival family's hit.

I threw him a dry-ice bomb to buy him an escape window. No reason, no fear—I just thought those deep sapphire eyes were beautiful.

After we got together, he put his West Coast operations on hold for my studies and moved to an apartment near my school. Every day like a regular guy, showing up at the campus gate right on time to pick up his girlfriend. Every morning riding a bicycle down the big streets to the bakery half an hour away to get my favorite blueberry bread.

Every time the bullets started flying, he'd throw himself over me before the first shot even cracked the air.

The day my exchange program ended, I asked him to wait two years for me.

He cried so hard he could barely breathe—but he still dropped to one knee and proposed.

That night, my ring finger threaded through his soft hair, over and over, as I told him I'd come back, I'd love him forever.

The two years apart, our contact was spotty. His father's health was failing, and rival factions kept circling closer.

One day I was in the lab doing gem identification when a news alert popped up on my phone.

He'd been shot three times. His father was dead.

The day I rushed back to the West Coast, I'd braced myself for everything—paralyzed, wheelchair-bound, vegetative state—I didn't care.

I was marrying him right then and there.

Chapter 2

Victor woke up that day and nearly jumped off the hospital bed when he saw me. His arms locked around my waist like he'd never let go.

His eyes were full of longing and something darker—possessiveness.

"You're not leaving this time. Not allowed."

"Flora, you're the only family I have left."

His voice cracked on the word family.

I held him just as tight. Told him I wasn't going anywhere. Never again.

Then my sister Anna burst in like a madwoman and shoved me aside.

Victor explained it to me later—during those two years apart, he missed me so much he'd brought Anna, who looked so much like me, to stay by his side. She'd confessed her feelings to him. He'd turned her down flat. Nothing ever happened between them.

But when his life hung by a thread, Anna was the one who pulled him back.

He'd promised her one wish. She wished to marry him.

I didn't want to agree. But a debt of life—you can't just walk away from that.

In the end, he sent her to Milan with five hundred million euros in property and jewels. He didn't marry her. He married me. A grand wedding, the whole show.

He promised he'd never see Anna again. Yet here he was, legally tied to her on paper.

He said he only loved me. But he wouldn't let her go either.

The car rolled through the estate gates. My tears had already dried.

Ever since marrying Victor, I'd taken on Donna duties, helping run his empire. But they never really respected me—they preferred Anna, the one who'd saved their Don's life.

I took a deep breath and reached for the door—then heard voices from the living room. Victor and Consigliere Damon.

"Just sent Miss Anna this season's couture collection. She was thrilled."

"Don, are you really not considering making Miss Anna official? Donna's competent, no question. But inside the family, people follow those who show loyalty and heart."

Victor ground his cigar into the ashtray, his cold stare cutting straight through Damon.

"You're overstepping. Anna and I—it's just a life-debt. She wants a little marriage certificate, fine. I'll give her that."

"The only one I've ever loved is Flora."

"But you keep making exceptions for Anna. Over and over. The wedding photos. The honeymoon. The northern lights trip—"

Damon wouldn't back down.

A few seconds of silence.

Then Victor's low voice cut through—

"Enough. Anna said if I didn't marry her, she'd kill herself. I could give her the love she wanted—but only as long as Flora stayed by my side."

Damon pressed on.

"And what if it all comes out someday?"

"Donna's not the type to forgive being lied to."

Victor paused. His throat moved as he swallowed.

"Then she never finds out. Ever."

I stood there outside the door, my blood running cold.

My heart felt like it was being pierced inch by inch with a red-hot needle—shrinking, aching, over and over.

So this is what true pain feels like.

Too bad, Victor. I already know.

Since you can't love just me—then I don't want you anymore.

I booked a flight for three days from now, turned around, and walked away.

Chapter 3

The next day, Victor whisked me off to a presidential suite downtown with that mysterious little smile of his.

He dropped to his knees at my feet like a devoted worshipper and opened the box in his hands. Inside lay our marriage certificate—replaced—and a set of sapphire jewelry.

"Baby, the certificate's all taken care of."

"This set is the newest piece from the most famous jeweler alive. Consider it my apology."

His arms wrapped around my waist, his face tilting up toward mine with that same earnest look, those blue eyes swimming in adoration.

If I hadn't known that the master jeweler had designed two identical sets this season—and that both had been bought by the same buyer—I might've actually believed the love in his eyes.

"Tonight, you're mine, Flora."

I stared at Victor's still-handsome face and suddenly felt like everything in front of me was just foam—pretty, hollow, about to pop.

And he was still standing there, puffing that fake bubble bigger and bigger.

Pinocchio never got a happy ending. Neither would Victor.

He didn't catch anything off in my mood. He leaned up toward my lips, his eyes clouded with raw want.

I was about to turn my head away when a cat's meow drifted over from the room next door.

Sweet, lingering, teasing—and the man in my arms actually stopped mid-kiss.

He pulled out his phone like it was urgent, made a call, and started apologizing.

Victor was always perfectly put together—couldn't even stand a crooked cuff link. But this time he was rushing out without his tie, that hunger in his eyes narrowing his gaze, his breathing just a little too quick.

He pulled me into a deep hug, his face painted with guilt.

"Baby, you know how it is. Being a Don means putting out fires all the time. My Donna—you understand, don't you?"

"Can you tell me what's going on?"

Even knowing that so-called cat was Anna, even knowing what came next—I still wanted to give him one more chance.

"Baby, I can handle it. Just take the certificate and head back to the estate. If you're late, I'll worry."

He slipped his own sidearm into my purse.

"If anyone gives you trouble, use this, baby."

Before I could ask anything else, he was gone.

And then my sister—finally—sent me a voice call.

"Anna, did you like the sapphires I just sent you?"

"And coming to Milan every month to see you—that's not enough, baby?"

Through the receiver came the rustle of fabric, the soft shift of clothing, and Anna's reply.

"Tonight, I want all of you. Hmph."

"Jealous little thing. Needs a lesson."

Then their breathing—mixing, quickening, tangling.

I calmly pressed record.

So this was what my "happy" life really looked like—him giving another woman everything he was supposed to give me.

On our wedding day, he'd blindfolded me, led me down the aisle, and told me with such excitement that he'd be faithful to me forever.

Turns out one little Anna was all it took to shatter every vow he made.

And I'd actually believed it. Made a complete fool of myself.

I wrapped my arms around myself, leaned back against the headboard, and told myself to hold on. Three more days. That's all.

An hour later, Victor came back to the estate with horses.

Anna showed up ten minutes after him.

I loved riding. But over the years, he'd always said it was too dangerous, too risky.

Watching him gently introduce each horse to Anna, explaining their temperaments in that soft voice—I caught the flash of hatred in her eyes.

I was so tired.

I swung onto a golden-brown stallion and was about to ride out when Anna spoke up.

"Flora, it's so rare that Victor and I are both here with you in the same room. How about a toast to celebrate?" She held up a bottle of high-proof whiskey, her tone defiant.

"Want some?"

"No—don't!" the stable master yelled. But it was too late.

The horses caught the scent of hard liquor and went berserk.

Every single one of them bolted—wild, desperate runs—throwing riders left and right.

In that chaos, Victor threw himself over Anna.

Meanwhile, I was alone, fighting to stay on my stallion as it bucked and thrashed—and then I was thrown.

"Oh, God—Donna!"

In my last blurry second of consciousness, I saw Victor screaming my name while still holding Anna tight in his arms.

But no matter how loud he shouted, he never let her go.

That night, Victor stayed by my bedside the whole night.

But all I gave him was my back—silent, still.

I didn't want to see his loving eyes or his tender gestures anymore. Fake was fake.

Chapter 4

On the third day, I picked up a freshly compiled property list and headed for the law firm.

Anna grabbed my arm before I could get out the door.

"Sister, you came to my room last night, didn't you."

"I'm pregnant, sister. Just found out."

"You think getting there first means you've got Victor locked down? He's been bored of your stiff, boring act for a long time."

I shook her hand off and looked at her belly with something close to pity.

"After all this, he still won't acknowledge you publicly."

"Anna. Is it really worth it?"

"As your sister, I don't get why you'd betray me. But in the end—"

"I hope you'll be a good mother, Anna."

Then I turned and walked away.

"Ahhh—"

A scream ripped through the air behind me. Then two splashes—*thump, thump*—into the water.

The next thing I knew, Victor had shoved me into a razor-wire fence. Within thirty seconds, my back was a bloody mess.

"Flora, why did you push her? Her right arm's damaged—she can't swim!"

I stared at him, speechless.

"She fell in, so I must've pushed her?"

"Why the hell would I push her?"

Victor looked at me with disappointment.

"Still playing innocent? I've already bent over backward for you. What more do you want?"

"It wasn't me."

I cut him off and kept walking.

"Don—Miss Anna's spiking a fever. It won't come down."

Victor shot me one last glare and rushed toward Anna's room without a backward glance.

I moved carefully, trying not to press my back against the spikes again.

Blood soaked through my white shirt. But in Victor's eyes, there was only Anna.

I looked around the estate I'd called home for years. Felt like a dream. A bad one.

I gripped my phone, pulled out my suitcase, and started throwing things in like a madwoman.

This place made me sick.

Everything in this house that belonged to me—I was taking it all.

Except two things.

First—the necklace Victor gave me when we got together. Blue Tears.

The main stone was the exact shade of blue as Victor's eyes. I couldn't look away the first time I saw it. He'd bid through the night at an auction to bring it home for me.

Second—the love letters he wrote when he was chasing me.

Every vow that once made my heart race so hard I couldn't sleep—now every word was a joke.

I left the necklace and the letters on the coffee table. Then turned and walked out without looking back.

Before I left, I tossed my phone into the trash. Buried it along with everything else.

At my friend's law firm, I went over the property list one final time. Everything was ready.

After I picked up what was in the Swiss safety deposit box the day after tomorrow, I would be gone from Victor's world completely.

Standing outside the firm, watching the scattered neon lights paint smiles on every passerby—I realized the wounds on my back didn't hurt so much anymore.

From today on, there was no Flora left in this world who'd break her heart over Victor.