Chapter 1

I was the sole heir to the Moretti crime family, yet Lorenzo Vitale kept me waiting for three miserable years before he finally agreed to marry me.

Before our fourth engagement party, he promised me over the phone:

“Tonight, I’ll put the ring on your finger myself.”

By Moretti tradition, an heir sealed an alliance by placing the family ring on their chosen partner’s hand.

Two hours later, I stood in the ballroom before the Dons, consiglieres, and capos of both families and held out the Moretti family ring to him.

But he threw it straight out the window, then turned and took Viola’s hand.

“Viola is going to South America to track down a missing shipment of weapons. It’s dangerous there. I promised I’d go with her.”

I looked at him. “If you leave with her tonight, we’re finished for good.”

Lorenzo scoffed.

“Whatever. You could pick up a homeless man and marry him, and I still wouldn’t come back.”

With that, he escorted Viola out without another glance at me.

Under everyone’s gaze, I removed the matching ring from my own finger.

My father’s North Harbor docks, covert warehouses, and underground freight routes had all been meant to join the Vitale family’s operations through this marriage.

Not anymore.

I left the hotel and found the ring in the back alley below.

The man who had picked it up was a stranger in tattered clothes, his body covered in injuries.

“My name is Serafina Moretti. Will you marry me?”

Lorenzo, you were the one who told me to marry a homeless man.

Once you find out who he really is, I hope you can still stand when you speak to me.

...

Three years later, I saw Lorenzo again outside the Moretti family’s private hospital.

I was carrying the medication my doctor had prescribed to protect my pregnancy, and my cashmere coat concealed the slight curve of my stomach.

Several black SUVs suddenly pulled up in front of me.

Lorenzo stepped out, the Vitale family’s silver-wolf pin fastened to his suit lapel.

The rear window lowered, revealing half of Viola’s face and her gentle smile.

“Well, if it isn’t Serafina.”

She paused deliberately.

“The poor girl who was abandoned at her own engagement party three years ago.”

She stressed the word poor girl, waiting for me to be humiliated. I only found it amusing.

I had certainly been humiliated that night three years ago, but now I was grateful he had abandoned me. If he hadn’t, I would never have the life I had today.

Lorenzo looked me over from head to toe, then glanced behind me.

When he saw no man there, a knowing smile tugged at his lips.

“Three years apart, and you’ve finally learned to behave.”

My stomach turned.

“Mr. Vitale, we’re not close enough for you to speak to me that way.”

His smile stiffened.

“Why are you pretending we’re strangers?”

I stepped around him, but he blocked my path with his cane.

Viola got out of the car and sighed softly.

“Serafina, don’t blame Lorenzo. If you truly can’t let him go, I’m willing to compromise and let him keep taking care of you.”

Taking his cue from her, Lorenzo said:

“Forget about a wedding.”

He paused, his tone softening.

“I promised Viola I would marry her. As for you, if you still want to stay with me, you can be my mistress.”

He said it as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world, as though I should be grateful to accept this humiliation simply because he was willing to take me back.

When had the boy I once loved become so ugly inside?

I laughed.

“Three years ago, you said you wouldn’t come back even if I married a homeless man.”

His expression darkened.

“I said it in anger. You didn’t actually take me seriously, did you?”

My lips curved without humor. “Of course I did.”

He gave a cold laugh.

“If you were really married, would you be standing here alone today?”

Viola lowered her eyes.

“Serafina, stop using marriage to spite him. Lorenzo is still willing to take care of you. You should accept.”

I looked at her.

“You stole my fiancé, and now you’re advising me to become his mistress. Viola, do you think I’m as shameless as you are?”

Viola went pale.

Lorenzo immediately stepped in front of her.

“You’re still as vicious as ever, Serafina.”

I couldn’t be bothered to explain. I turned to leave.

Behind me, Lorenzo lowered his voice.

“Check her marriage records. I want to know if she’s really married.”

Viola asked softly, “What if she is?”

Lorenzo scoffed.

“Everyone in North Harbor knows she loved me for more than a decade. Other than some lunatic off the street, who would dare marry a shameless woman like her?”