Chapter 2

Behind her stood a group of her usual cronies. They immediately crowded around, spitting venom.

"Useless trash! You can't even get your own man to come back. If Cassian loses his inheritance, we will skin you alive!"

I knew why they were losing their minds.

Carmela wasn't the Don's legal wife. She started out as a stripper and used her pregnancy to climb the ladder, giving birth to his firstborn, Cassian. Years ago, when the Don's actual wife was heavily pregnant, Carmela showed up at the estate with her baby, spitting such vicious insults that the wife went into premature labor and bled to death on the operating table.

The legitimate son, Matteo, who was born without a mother, was treated like a thorn in their side. Cassian and Carmela abused him, beat him, and eventually found an excuse to exile him to Sicily, keeping him far away from the family's core business.

Though the Don let Carmela live in the manor, he always thought she was too low-class to actually marry. That meant if the Don died and Cassian didn't take the throne, family rules dictated Carmela would be thrown out on the streets.

If she goes down, her crew goes down with her. That's why they're all looking sick with worry.

Her eyes were totally red now. "Are you deaf?! Call his lackey! Tell him to drag Cassian here right now!"

I looked at her coldly, didn't argue, and obediently dialed Jax's number.

He answered quickly. The background was still filled with party music and ocean waves.

"Valerie, are you physically incapable of taking a hint?" Jax's voice dripped with impatience. "Can't you give it a rest? Stop clinging to the boss like a desperate loser."

He kept going, getting more pumped up. "Honestly, if you were my woman, I would tie you up and beat some sense into you first. Women need to learn to shut up and stay out of family business."

His blatant disrespect left everyone in the room stunned.

But I remained perfectly calm, even slowing my words down deliberately. "Jax, I don't care if you believe me. The Don is fading fast. He gave his word: between Cassian and Matteo, whoever puts on the ring first gets the empire."

A sudden, eerie silence fell over the line.

Jax's tone shifted, sounding hesitant. "Are... are you serious?"

Hearing this, Carmela grabbed onto the phone like a lifeline, crying tears of joy. "It is true! It is true! I am Cassian's mother, you need to tell him to come back! This is about the inheritance!"

"Oh... well, if it's true, I'll go tell the boss right now," Jax said slowly.

Carmela let out a huge breath of relief, patting her chest. "Thank God... as long as Cassian gets back—"

Suddenly, a burst of hysterical laughter erupted from the phone.

Jax sounded like he just heard the funniest joke in the world, laughing so hard he could barely breathe. "Jesus Christ... Valerie, you really don't know when to quit, do you? I already busted your little scam, and you are still bringing the actors back for a second act?"

He sneered proudly. "Let me tell you something. The boss said even if the FBI raids this boat tonight, nobody is ruining his alone time with my sister. Your little mind games are useless!"

"If you know what's good for you, get lost. The boss is filing for divorce tomorrow. He is only going to love my sister for the rest of his life, and I am going to be the Don's brother-in-law! As for you, get ready to pack your bags and go beg on the streets!"

The call hung up mercilessly.

The desperate hope on Carmela's face froze, slowly turning into sheer horror.

I made my eyes well up with tears, looking extremely wronged, while laughing inside.

I had been married to Cassian for three years. To secure his position in the family, I spent countless sleepless nights cooking the books, hiding his dirty money, and cleaning up his messes.

And what did he do? He took the money I made him and bought a ten-million-dollar yacht for Julia.

He even had the nerve to tell me: "Valerie, you already have the title of the Russo family's eldest wife. Julia has nothing. What is wrong with spending some money to make it up to her?"

And Carmela had casually brushed it off too: "All men stray. As long as he comes home to you, why do you care how many girls he keeps on the side?"

Yeah. Exactly.

So tonight, let Cassian be with the woman he truly loves.

As for the Godfather's seat? You can kiss it goodbye.