Leaving the Don, Crowning Myself

Every single pair of eyes in the room snapped toward me.

Vincent's warning made my blood run cold.

I forced a smile,my voice incredibly light."No,I'm just a little tired."

His eyes remained icy,but he at least withdrew his gaze,going back to laughing and chatting with the guests.

I sat back down,staring at the steak on my plate,unable to swallow a single bite.Every heartbeat throbbed with pain.

After the banquet ended,I stopped him in the hallway outside the study. "Vincent,we need to talk.It's really important."

"No time right now,"he didn't stop walking."Lila needs me."

"This is about my future—and the medical supply lines for the entire Family!"I slammed the offer for the closed-off medical program onto the table.

"I said,not right now!"He whipped his head around,his eyes full of irritation."Elena,can't you be understanding for once?Act more like Lila!Her father took a bullet for me,and I owe her!"

That same line again.I was sick of hearing it.

My heart went completely cold.Is it that no matter what happened,Lila would always come before me?

I quietly picked up the envelope and turned around.

"Fine.I'm going back to my room."

He was already looking down at the ledgers,acting as if I didn't even exist.

Back in the bedroom,I sat on the edge of the bed,feeling overwhelmingly alone. That black diamond pendant that was supposed to be mine was now hanging around Lila's neck.

The next morning,I knocked on his study door again.

"Come in."

Vincent was sitting in his massive executive leather chair,seemingly in a good mood.

"About last night—"I started.

"Elena,hold that thought.I have some news for you,"he interrupted me,his expression treating the matter as a given."The Commission had a meeting last night.They decided to hand over the West Coast docks under your name to Lila."

I froze."What did you say?"

"Lila needs a proper title to help her step out of the shadow of losing her father."He stood up,his tone entirely casual."The import and export smuggling operations at the docks are perfect for her to practice on."

"Those are my docks!"I finally lost control and screamed."I carried a gun for the Family for two years!I dodged three assassination attempts to rip that territory from a rival syndicate!That's my lifeblood!"

"Now it's hers."He frowned,clearly annoyed by my outburst."Elena,as the Don's wife,you should be happy for Lila's growth."

"I absolutely refuse to accept this!"I was shaking with anger."Unless I'm dead,no one is touching my territory!"

Vincent's face darkened,and he closed the distance between us in a few strides. "You're being completely unreasonable."

"I'm being unreasonable?I risked my life for that!"I couldn't believe my own ears.

"So you acting understanding last night was all fake?Back to throwing tantrums again,huh?"He sneered.

The words felt like a harsh backhand across my face.I stumbled backward, struggling to catch my breath.

"You know what,Vincent?"My voice was trembling."I should have seen right through you a year ago."

A year ago,I caught Lila kissing Marcus in an alleyway—he was the son of the boss of a rival syndicate.

I ran back to the estate to warn Vincent we had a rat.

But Lila ran faster than me.

"Vincent!Help!"She rushed into the grand hall,crying hysterically."Elena is saying I'm colluding with an outside family!She threatened me,saying she'd tell everyone I'm a traitor!"

"I only said—"I tried to explain.

"I can't take it!"Lila suddenly pulled out a gun and pressed it to her own head,acting completely insane."If everyone believes it,I have no choice but to die!"

Faced with the erratic gun,Vincent immediately snatched the weapon away and pinned her down on the couch.

Then he turned to glare at me,his eyes blazing with fury.

"What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything!I just—"

Smack!

A vicious slap landed across my face,and the hall fell dead silent.

"Apologize to her!"His voice was a lethal command that left no room for argument."Right now!"

I slumped to the floor,tears blurring my vision.That slap shattered every ounce of dignity I had left.

"I'm sorry,"I said to Lila,my head bowed.

Lila nodded weakly,leaning into Vincent's chest."I forgive you,Elena.I know you're just too stressed about the Family."

From that day on,our marriage was dead in all but name.

"Seen right through what a year ago?"Vincent's impatient scoff pulled me back to the present.

I shook my head,a bitter taste in my mouth.Speaking even one more word felt sickening.

"Nothing."

"The handover of the docks is settled.It's non-negotiable."He sat back in his chair,his voice cold and cruel."Don't disappoint me,Elena."

I just stood there,staring hard at the man I had once loved with my life.His face was still as captivating as ever,but his eyes were terrifyingly foreign.

"Fine."I turned on my heel,walking numbly toward the door."Do whatever you want."

Back in the bedroom,I dragged out a dusty suitcase.

If my love,my sacrifices,and my blood and tears were worthless to him,then there was no need for me to stay in this hellhole anymore.

I was going to accept the offer for the medical institute's closed-off program.

Not for five years anymore.

But forever.

Just as I was throwing piece after piece of clothing filled with memories into the suitcase,the bedroom door was kicked open.

Vincent stormed in.His gaze was nailed to the open suitcase on the bed,his jaw clenched tight.

"Elena,what the fuck are you doing?"