Chapter 1

For five years, Julian and I had been a secret. We had our own hidden apartment where, night after night, he could not get enough of me, leaving his insanely possessive marks all over my body.

Tonight was no different.

But the difference today was that before I could even catch my breath, he suddenly asked for the number of Essa, my family's gorgeous maid.

"Darling, don't you think it is too boring to stick to just one woman for the rest of your life?"

"She has a killer body. I do not want to give up all the thrills out there just for you."

I stared into his eyes for a few seconds, then pushed his hand off my chest.

I gave a calm nod.

Later, when someone asked me who I was into, I casually dropped the name of my sworn enemy: Kian, the heir to the Santoro family.

Julian's face instantly darkened, but I could not care less.

However, I ended up bringing unexpected trouble to my doorstep.

Kian blocked my doorway, a smirk playing on his lips as he asked, "Didn't you say you were into me?"

"What a coincidence. I am into you, too."

Chapter 1

I could not understand how a man who was fiercely tangled up with me just a second ago could casually ask for another woman's number.

Let alone my family's maid.

It suddenly hit me, the last time Julian came over to my estate, Essa accidentally spilled his tea.

As she scrambled to clean it up, her hand brushed against his lower abdomen.

They exchanged a look.

I guess that was when she caught his eye.

Like a puppet, I gave Julian her number.

He was in a great mood. He hooked an arm around my waist, trying to pull me back into his embrace.

I put a hand against his chest. Feeling sick to my stomach, I shoved him away.

I got out of bed, picked up my scattered shirt from the floor, and pulled it on.

My head was buzzing, filled entirely with those careless words he had just thrown at me.

My fingertips were shaking so badly I messed up the buttons a few times.

Julian leaned back against the headboard, watching me with a raised eyebrow.

"What is wrong?"

The thin sheet had slipped off him, putting his tattooed abs and sharp V-line on full display.

The fresh marks I had just left on his shoulder glared under the dim bedside lamp.

I looked away.

"I am heading back to the estate."

"Valentina, do not throw a tantrum. It is late."

"I have a family meeting tomorrow morning."

Julian clicked his tongue.

He sat up, reaching out a long arm to grab my wrist.

"Be a good girl. It is not like you haven't spent the night here before. I will have someone drive you back in the morning."

I pressed my lips into a tight line. Without a word, I forcefully yanked my hand free.

I walked over to the nightstand, swept my lipstick and phone into my bag, and zipped it up.

Julian never had much patience.

He was only coaxing me because he was satisfied and in a good mood.

Seeing that I was shutting him out, his face turned ice-cold.

He leaned back against the headboard and lit a cigar.

"Suit yourself."

"I am not sending anyone to escort you. You are being a brat, so if anything happens to you on the road, that is on you."

I felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head.

I was freezing from the inside out.

Clenching my jaw tight, I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my throat and forced my body to stop trembling.

"Do not worry. I do not need you to care."

I grabbed my bag and stormed out.

When I got back to the estate, I caught Essa aggressively typing on her phone.

The text bubbles were popping up fast.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and she kept covering her mouth, giggling uncontrollably.

It felt like a needle pricking my heart, a dull, suffocating ache.

I did not even have to guess who she was texting.

"Miss Valentina, you are back?" She finally noticed me.

"I thought you weren't coming home tonight."

I just gave a vague nod.

In the past, whenever I did not come home, my men assumed I was staying at my best friend's place.

In reality, most of those nights were spent tangled up in Julian's penthouse.

Essa smiled, pressing her lips together.

"That gentleman who visited the other day... so he is just a friend of yours? I thought..."

My fingers paused as I set my things down.

Just a friend.

So that is what he called me.

The Marinos and the Russos were the top Mafia families in New York, and longtime allies.

Julian and I had known each other since we were kids.

We started dating in secret when we were teenagers. It had been exactly five years.

He used to promise that as soon as he fully took over his family's syndicate, we would officially get married.

I never expected his heart to change so quickly. He was already bored of me, reducing me to just a friend.

This was not the first time he had messed around with other women.

I had seen flirty texts on his phone before.

I cried, I screamed, I threw things.

Every time, he would sweet-talk me, swearing those women meant nothing, that they were just temporary distractions and I was the only one in his heart.

I had begged him to make our relationship public.

He never agreed.

He claimed that if we went public now, our parents would hijack our relationship and force us into an arranged marriage, ruining the purity of what we had.

I could not bear to throw away years of love, so I swallowed my pride time and time again.

But this time, I was truly done waiting for him.

"Miss Valentina? Is everything okay?" Essa tilted her head, looking at me with wide, innocent eyes.

I snapped back to reality and forced a smile. "Nothing. Just a little tired."

She did not suspect a thing and excitedly shoved her phone in my face.

"He asked me to go to the street races with him tomorrow! He is going to let me sit in the passenger seat!"

"Which outfit do you think I should wear? You definitely know what kind of style he likes, right?"

Julian always said the racetrack was his second kingdom.

For five years, I was the only one allowed in his passenger seat.

Now, just to please Essa, he was giving that spot to her.

The loyalty I thought we had was nothing but a joke.

Looking at the unconcealed ambition in Essa's eyes, I suddenly felt incredibly light.

It was as if the crushing boulder on my chest had finally shattered.

"Wear this one," I said.

I pulled a custom dark-red corset from my walk-in closet and tossed it to her.

"He likes girls who play wild."

Chapter 2

Julian's inner circle group chat was blowing up all night.

Someone posted a picture of him at the track.

He was in the driver's seat, and Essa was sitting provocatively on his lap. Their pose left nothing to the imagination.

The group chat went insane:

[Holy shit, Julian actually brought a girl to the race? Isn't that seat strictly reserved for the Marino princess?]

[Did he and Valentina have a falling out?]

[Right? They were fine at the exchange meeting last time!]

I stared at the screen, about to close the app, when Julian suddenly sent a text to the chat.

[Do not talk trash. Valentina is just a childhood friend.]

Immediately after, a notification popped up saying someone was invited to the group.

Essa's profile picture appeared in the member list.

[Show her some respect,] Julian demanded.

Those few short words made my chest tighten all over again.

By the time I snapped out of it, the chat was flooded with people kissing up to Essa.

Expressionless, I typed out a single message:

[Looks good. You two suit each other. Have fun.]

Then I placed my phone face-down on the table.

Even though I had decided to draw the line, my heart still ached.

It was like someone accidentally brushing against a scabbed-over wound, it was not bleeding anymore, but the soreness was still there.

Essa came back late.

She had Julian's suit jacket draped over her shoulders.

Her lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed, and her shirt collar was messy, revealing faint red marks on her collarbone.

She shyly covered her face and announced:

"Julian confessed his feelings to me... I said yes."

The other young maids in the estate instantly swarmed her, chattering excitedly.

"Oh my god! That is Julian! The heir to the Russo family! Girls wanting to climb into his bed could line up from the East Side to the West Side!"

"He has never claimed a woman publicly before! He must be obsessed with you!"

"He told me I am the first woman he has ever wanted to go public with..."

Essa's voice was soft and sweet, carrying an undeniable smugness.

Another small piece of my heart caved in.

Essa suddenly turned to me.

Her tone carried a cautious, probing edge:

"Miss Valentina, it was only after I said yes to him that I saw them talking in the group chat... They said you kind of had a thing for him."

She bit her lip, hesitating.

"I am so sorry. If it bothers you, I can just..."

"Not at all," I cut her off, forcing a casual smile. "They were just messing around."

Essa looked at me, clearly not buying it.

I paused. "I already have someone I like."

"Who is it?! Who?!" The maids instantly went crazy. "We knew you weren't single! Who is he?"

Right on cue, my phone screen lit up with a news notification about Kian, heir to the Santoro family, securing another billion-dollar project.

The man in the photo was wearing a black trench coat. His eyes were cold and arrogant, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass.

The comment section was full of thirsty remarks.

[Kian could ruin my life and I would thank him!]

[I could stare at this face all year!]

If Julian was my childhood sweetheart, then Kian was my lifelong nemesis.

From fighting over games as kids, to battling for grades as teens, to fighting over turf and deals as adults in the underworld.

We had been at each other's throats for over a decade. Neither of us ever backed down.

The only reason we had been quiet lately was because I had been too busy maintaining my relationship with Julian to deal with him.

"Him."

I casually pointed at the photo on the screen.

"I have always had a secret crush on Kian."

Chapter 3

The next day, while Julian was dealing with syndicate business, I slipped back into our secret apartment.

I spent two hours packing my clothes and belongings into my suitcase, piece by piece.

I did not stop until there was not a single trace of me left in the room.

Just as I dragged my suitcase to the entryway, Julian walked in.

He glanced at the luggage behind me, a dark shadow of impatience crossing his eyes.

"Valentina, what are you doing?"

"It is not appropriate for outsiders to see my things here."

Julian slammed his hand down on my suitcase.

"There are no outsiders."

"Valentina, this is our place. I am not bringing anyone else here."

I gave a dry laugh, completely ignoring his nonsense, and tried to walk around him.

He aggressively grabbed my wrist.

"Valentina." His voice dropped, thick with irritation. "What is with the attitude now? We didn't break up. We are just getting some space to test the waters."

I stopped and slowly looked up at him.

Those gorgeous eyes that used to make me melt now held nothing but sickening arrogance.

I calmly pulled my hand out of his grip.

"No thanks. I am traditional. I cannot accept you breaking the rules of our relationship."

"I have spent years walking on eggshells for you, and I am exhausted. Let's just end it here."

Julian's eyes narrowed dangerously, like he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

"End it here?"

He leaned in close, his breath brushing against my ear.

"Then what the hell is going on with Kian?"

"Valentina, the rumor that you are crushing on him and chasing him has already spread across the entire underworld."

I froze for a second before meeting his gaze.

"So what?"

"Heh." He let out a dark chuckle.

"Valentina, even if you want to make me jealous, you didn't have to use Kian as a shield. Everyone knows he has hated you since you were kids."

"Did you forget how he smashed that bottle of vintage wine you gave him?"

Of course I remembered. That was exactly why I dared to use his name.

"My business has nothing to do with you."

"Enough." He frowned, his tone shifting into a condescending warning. "Kian is not someone you can mess with. Do not play with fire."

I did not waste another breath. I grabbed my suitcase and walked toward the door.

He did not stop me this time. He just stood there, his cold voice hitting my back.

"Do you honestly think Kian would want you? Others might not know, but you think he doesn't know you have already been ruined by me?"

"If you go to him, he will just use you as a pawn to humiliate you and laugh at you. Once he is done playing you, you will come crawling right back to me."

The air instantly froze.

I stood completely still. The blood rushed to my head, then drained away a second later.

In this world, only Julian knew exactly where to slide the knife into my most vulnerable spot.

I turned around, looked at his entitled, mocking face, and raised my hand.

Smack!

I slapped him hard across the face.

Julian's head whipped to the side, red marks instantly blooming on his pale skin.

He stood frozen for a few seconds before slowly turning back to me, running his tongue over the inside of his cheek. His eyes were terrifyingly dark.

"Fine. You've got guts." He gritted his teeth. "I am telling you, Valentina, you will be begging me to take you back soon enough."

I did not look at him again. Gripping my suitcase tight, I shoved past him without looking back.

Chapter 4

My coming-of-age gift from my mother, an antique revolver engraved with my name, was destroyed.

It was now sitting in pieces on my bedroom floor.

I immediately checked the security footage. It showed that Essa was the only one who had sneaked into my room last night.

I grabbed my car keys, floored the gas pedal, and headed straight to the nightclub Julian owned.

I kicked open the door to the VIP lounge.

Julian was lounging on a leather sofa, looking thoroughly relaxed.

His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing fresh love bites.

Essa was pressed against his chest, holding a glass of wine and giggling.

I marched over, grabbed the ice bucket from the table, and dumped the freezing water and ice right over Essa's head.

"Ahhhh!" Essa shrieked.

Julian frowned and waved off the bodyguards stepping forward. "Valentina, what the hell is wrong with you?"

I glared coldly at the pathetic-looking Essa.

"You broke the gun in my room, didn't you? Who gave you the right to touch my things?"

Essa wiped the ice water from her face, her eyes instantly welling with tears.

She threw herself into Julian's arms, trembling violently. "Julian, I didn't! I didn't do anything!"

She cried perfectly, looking like a total victim. "Miss Valentina, you cannot just frame me like this because I am a maid! I only went in there to clean!"

I let out a cold laugh.

"You were the only one who went in. Who else could it be?"

Essa stiffened, crying even harder.

She gripped Julian's shirt tightly. "Julian, she has never liked me. Back at the estate, she used to hit me and abuse me for no reason! I endured it all, but now she is framing me for this. She wants me dead!"

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeve to show off some purple bruises.

I watched her spew pure nonsense with a cold stare.

Then I turned my eyes to Julian.

His face was dark, and he did not say a word.

We had known each other for fifteen years and dated for five.

He knew how much that gun meant to me. He also knew I was above using cheap tricks to frame a maid.

His silence actually brought a sliver of relief to my heart.

He believes me, right?

Essa gritted her teeth and suddenly spoke again.

"And... the reason Valentina is so mad is probably because I accidentally saw all the photos of Kian in her room. I even saw her diary. She wrote that she has always been in love with Kian, and that Julian was just a distraction..."

I was so furious I almost laughed.

I raised my hand, ready to slap this wretched woman across the face.

Who would believe such a ridiculous lie?

But Julian's face instantly turned to ice. He caught my wrist mid-air and glared at me.

"What, angry because the truth came out?"

"As the heir to the Marino family, what kind of boss bullies an innocent civilian?"

"Today, I will teach you some manners on behalf of Don Marino."

He turned to his bodyguards, his voice freezing cold.

"Lock her in the underground storage room. No one lets her out without my orders."

"Let her reflect on how to treat her subordinates, and how to be an obedient woman."

My body went completely rigid.

Storage room. Underground.

I have severe claustrophobia.

It was the trauma left behind from when I was kidnapped by a rival cartel and locked in a shipping container for three days and nights.

Julian knew this better than anyone.

He was intentionally using the cruelest method to break me and force me to beg for mercy.

Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward and grabbed my arms.

"Julian! Do not you dare?!"

"Take her down."

He turned his back to me, pulling Essa back into his arms without giving me a single glance.

I was dragged roughly into the underground room.

The heavy iron door slammed shut with a loud bang, and the lock clicked.

Darkness instantly swallowed me whole.

There were no windows, no light. Just the nauseating smell of mold.

Fear coiled around my neck like a cold, poisonous snake, tightening its grip.

I slid down the iron door and collapsed on the floor, gasping desperately for air.

Breathing became harder and harder. Cold sweat instantly soaked through my back.

That suffocating feeling of waiting to die in the shipping container crashed down on me.

Trembling, I pulled my phone from my bag.

The screen lit up with a weak glow. One percent battery left.

In my sheer panic, my brain stopped working.

Acting purely on instinct, my fingers dialed the most familiar number.

Ring, Ring.

It connected.

If Julian just picked up.

If he just heard my trembling voice...

"Sorry, the number you dialed has been disconnected."

The screen flickered once, then went completely black.

He hung up.

Knowing full well I was having a claustrophobic panic attack, he hung up on me without mercy.

I bit my jaw so hard I tasted blood.

No one was coming to save me.

The love I was so proud of, the man I desperately protected, he had personally pushed me into hell.

I hugged my knees to my chest, curling into a ball, shivering helplessly in the dark.

Time stretched on forever.

The lack of oxygen made me dizzy, and my consciousness began to slip away.

Just as I thought I was going to die down there,

Bang!

A deafening crash echoed as the door was kicked open from the outside.

The blinding hallway lights poured in.

I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut, greedily inhaling the fresh air rushing in.

Standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the light, was a tall, broad-shouldered figure.

His chest was heaving; he had obviously sprinted all the way here.

The familiar scent of gunpowder mixed with aggressive, cold cologne boldly pushed the darkness away.

It was Kian.

He looked down at me. For once, that face that was always at odds with me held a look of undeniable heartbreak.

His voice was hoarse, carrying an almost imperceptible tremble.

"Valentina, I thought you were tough."

"Why do you look so pathetic?"