My Eight Years as the Don’s Substitute

Lucian just watched me, his gaze like that of a man observing a foolish pet trying to run away from home.

"Vera, don't be stupid."

He slowly lit the cigar.

"Without the Mercer family's protection, you won't survive three days in New York. Our enemies will tear you to pieces, and the loan sharks will sell you to the highest bidder."

"And that family of leeches, the Rossis, will eat you alive."

He tapped the ash from his cigar, his tone dripping with condescending charity.

"For old times' sake, I'll make an exception. Stay. You can live here with Vivian."

"During the day, you can care for Axel together. At night..." He smirked, his eyes sweeping over my body, "you can both serve me. This is the greatest honor you could ever hope for."

My stomach churned.

I had fallen for him at first sight. How could I have been such an idiot?

I once thought he felt the same way about me.

All the sweet nothings this man once whispered to me vanished the moment Vivian appeared, all because she looked more like my sister and knew how to be more submissive.

Only then did I understand that I was just another piece in his sordid collection.

"Lucian, you disgust me."

My refusal exhausted the last of his patience.

"You don't know what's good for you."

Vivian seized the moment, feigning the look of a frightened rabbit as she nestled against Lucian's arm.

"Don Mercer, is Miss Vera still angry? I don't mind. Even though I graduated from a prestigious university, I can learn..."

Lucian sneered and pulled a black velvet box from his pocket.

I recognized it from the document I had labeled "Account Ledgers." It was originally intended to be my severance pay for eight years of "service."

Now, he opened the box right in front of me.

The brilliant diamond glittered under the light with an ironic gleam.

He personally fastened the necklace around Vivian's pale throat.

"Beautiful jewels are only for obedient women."

Lucian wrapped his arm around Vivian's waist, but his gaze remained locked on me, as if he was eagerly awaiting my reaction.

He waited a moment, then finally realized my only response was silence.

I didn't throw a tantrum like I used to.

"Let's go, Vivian. Come with me to the private cinema, a place Vera was never worthy of entering." There was a sharp edge to Lucian's voice, a clear attempt to spite me.

As they walked away arm in arm, Vivian glanced back, giving me a victor's smile.

Only Axel and I were left in the hall.

"See? This is what happens to fakes."

He walked up to me, toying with a folding knife.

"The old-timers in the Family all say you're a jinx."

"Ever since you came here, the Mercer family has been plagued with trouble. You're a jinx."

But over these eight years, I had done everything a mother would do.

I stayed up all night when he had his asthma attacks. I once took a bullet for him during a firefight.

I had given all my love to this child who was not my own.

My heart was utterly dead. I couldn't even feel the pain anymore.

So, after all those days and nights, after eight years of pouring out my love, all I earned was this absurd curse.

"Fine." I nodded, my voice terrifyingly calm. "If I'm bad luck, then I'll give you back your good luck."

Without another glance at him, I turned and walked into the adjacent service corridor.

I should probably thank Vivian for showing up at the right time and taking Lucian off my hands.

Everyone assumed that with the gates locked, I couldn't get out.

But they forgot that over these eight years, fetching late-night snacks for Lucian and medicine for a sick Axel, I had learned every secret passage in this estate better than anyone.

I made my way through the dark, damp wine cellar and pushed open a dusty, hidden door.

The exit was on the hill behind the estate, where an unmarked black car was already waiting.

It was the ride I had arranged, paid for with private funds from my paintings and booked through an old acquaintance.

The driver was a silent man. Seeing me emerge, he immediately started the engine.

I pulled open the door and got in. Through the window, the Mercer estate looked like a giant tomb, one that had buried eight years of my youth.

"Drive," I said in a low voice.

The car started moving slowly, its tires crunching over the gravel.

The taste of freedom was so close.

Through the rear window, I took one last look at the colossal, luxurious tomb that had consumed my youth.

But in all my calculations, I had forgotten one thing: Axel, like his father, was exceptionally clever.

"Don't even think about escaping!"

Just as the car was about to turn onto the main road, Axel came chasing after us, a gun in his hand.

Down below, the bodyguards were shouting, "Young master! Those are live rounds!"

But Axel paid them no mind.

He cocked the gun as if it were a common air rifle.

The muzzle was aimed directly at my rear right tire.