Chapter 4

He gently brushed my hair behind my ear.

“I'm sorry. I really didn't have another choice. If I hadn't done it, the Mafia Council would've demanded something far worse, and I couldn't let that happen to you.”

I looked at him for a long time.

Before... I would've believed every word. I would've cried in his arms and thanked him for protecting me.

Now... I knew every expression on his face was another lie.

I slowly closed my eyes. I didn't have the strength to argue anymore. Didn't have the strength to expose him.

I was simply too tired.

…

For the next few days, Jerome never left my side.

He canceled meetings, ignored business calls from Partridge Consolidated, and even left matters involving the family's captains and hidden operations to his most trusted capos. He stayed with me every day, trying everything he could to make me smile.

But nothing worked.

The woman he loved wasn't me.

The children I buried were murdered by him.

How was I supposed to smile after knowing that?

One morning, he suddenly took my hand. “Lori, let's go out today. You've been staying inside for too long, and I'm worried about you.”

I looked at him without saying anything.

“I know you've been thinking about our babies,” he continued gently. “The family yacht is ready. We'll sail out into the open ocean and scatter white flower petals for them. We'll pray for them together and ask the sea to carry them somewhere peaceful. I know it won't erase your pain, but maybe it'll bring you a little comfort.”

For a second, my heart tightened.

There was an old belief among some mafia families that children who died too soon would find peace if white flowers were scattered into the sea.

Maybe...

Maybe my babies would hear me.

So I agreed.

...

The Partridge family's superyacht slowly sailed across the endless blue ocean. It was beautiful, elegant, the kind of luxury only one of the world's richest mafia families could afford.

The sea breeze gently brushed against my face. Jerome stood beside me the whole time. Whenever the wind became too strong, he quietly moved closer to shield me. He even held my hand while we walked across the deck.

Anyone watching would've thought he was the perfect husband.

He handed me a basket filled with white flower petals. “Ready? Let's send them off together. I believe they'll know their parents are thinking of them.”

Together, we scattered the petals into the ocean. Thousands of white petals floated across the waves.

I closed my eyes.

My babies...

I hope you're somewhere warm. Somewhere safe.

Somewhere your father can never hurt you again.

When I opened my eyes, I almost laughed.

What a joke.

The man standing beside me looked so gentle. So loving. Who would've believed he was also the man who murdered every child I carried?

Half an hour later, the sea breeze became colder.

I shivered.

Jerome noticed immediately. “You're freezing. Wait here, alright? Don't move. I'll go inside and bring your coat. I'll be back in just a minute.”

I gave a small nod.

He walked toward the cabin.

Soon, I was standing alone near the railing. The ocean stretched endlessly before me.

Then I heard the one voice I never wanted to hear again.

“My dear cousin,” Vivienne said with a smile as she walked toward me. “It looks like Jerome really knows how to comfort you.”

I slowly turned around.

She stood a few feet away, smiling as if she hadn't destroyed my entire life.

“So romantic,” she said with a laugh. “Your baby has barely been gone, and you're already out here holding a memorial. Jerome really does spoil you, doesn't he?”

I looked at her coldly and turned to leave.

She stepped in front of me.

“Don't ignore me. We finally have a chance to talk without Jerome standing between us.”

Her smile grew wider.

“You know... sometimes I almost feel sorry for you. You lost Linux because of me.” She laughed softly. “Then you married Jerome, and look what happened. Even after becoming Mrs. Partridge, you're still losing to me.”

She folded her arms.

“Linux chose me. Jerome loves me. You've spent your whole life losing, Lori.”

She tilted her head, her smile growing even crueler.

“If I were you, I would've ended my life a long time ago. I don't think I'd have the courage to keep living after failing this badly.”

Something inside me snapped.

“Move,” I said coldly. “I'm not interested in talking to you. I don't even want to look at your face.”

“Oh?” She smiled even brighter. “You're angry now? Good. I like seeing you like this because it reminds me that no matter what you do, you'll never win against me.”

She reached for my wrist.

“Come on. Let's stop fighting. We're family, aren't we?”

“Don't touch me!” I yanked my arm away.

The next second, Vivienne suddenly threw herself backward.

“Ah!”

She screamed as her body toppled over the railing.

Splash!

She fell straight into the ocean.

I instinctively reached forward but I lost my balance too.

“No!”

The railing slipped through my fingers then I fell.

The freezing ocean swallowed me whole.

Cold water rushed into my ears as my body sank beneath the waves. I couldn't breathe. I struggled desperately to reach the surface.

Then...

Splash!

Someone jumped into the water. It's Jerome!

For one foolish second, I thought he'd come for me.

I looked toward him but Jerome swam past me without even slowing down.

He swam straight to Vivienne.

He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her tightly against him. “It's alright, Vivi. I've got you now. You're safe. Don't be afraid.”

Then he swam back toward the yacht with her and never looked at me.

Something inside me finally died.

Using every bit of strength I had left, I forced myself toward the yacht. One of the crew members finally noticed me and threw me a life ring. I barely managed to climb back onboard before collapsing onto the deck, coughing up seawater.

My entire body shook from the cold.

My lips had already turned purple.

Jerome had wrapped his coat around Vivienne. He kept checking her face.

“Vivi, are you hurt? Can you hear me? Tell me where you're injured. Don't scare me like this.”

Only after making sure she was safe did he finally look at me.

His brows slowly pulled together.

“Lori...” He walked over, guilt flickering in his eyes. “Are you alright? The water was so dark, and everything happened so fast. I... I thought you were Vivi. I made a mistake.”

A mistake?

I stared at him. Even in a life or death moment… He still chose her first.

I didn't answer him.

There was nothing left to say. I'd already seen who he would choose when it mattered most.

And it was never me.

Since both Vivienne and I had fallen into the ocean, Jerome ordered the convoy to head back to the Partridge estate immediately.

I sat quietly in the backseat of the armored SUV, soaked from head to toe. Vivienne sat beside Jerome, wrapped in his coat. He kept asking if she was cold, if she was scared, if she needed anything. Not once did he ask how I was feeling. Not once.

As we stopped near a traffic light on the edge of downtown Los Angeles, a group of homeless addicts and street junkies surrounded our SUV. They looked exhausted, dirty, and some were clearly high. They knocked on the windows, begging for money.

“Please...”

“Anything helps...”

“Boss, spare some cash...”

The security SUV behind us was delayed by traffic, leaving only our vehicle surrounded by the growing crowd.

Vivienne suddenly lowered her window. “Poor things. They must be starving. I can't just ignore them.” She pulled out a thick stack of cash from her designer handbag before smiling. “Here. Take it. There's enough for everyone.”

At first, everyone froze.

Then chaos erupted.

People shoved each other, punched each other, screamed, and fought over the money like wild animals. Someone shouted that there was more cash inside the SUV, and several addicts rushed toward us.

Bang!

A fist slammed against the window.

Another kicked the door.

Someone grabbed a broken pipe and started smashing the glass.

The entire SUV shook violently.