The Don Was Only a Smoke Screen

While Carlos and Anna saw the guests off, I slipped into the study and inserted the decryption USB drive Leo had given me earlier.

The computer screen showed the encrypted data being transmitted point-to-point to the Carozza Famiglia's server at an astonishing speed. The progress bar shot forward, going from 0% to 78%, then 85%, then 92% within seconds.

Just as it was about to complete the transfer, I suddenly heard the sound of the doorknob turning.

My heart stopped, and I quickly yanked the USB drive out just a split second before the door was pushed open.

Carlos and Anna then walked in.

"You're here, babe. We've been looking everywhere for you," Carlos said, his voice full of concern.

Anna spoke up right after him in a tearful voice. "I'm sorry, Donna. Whatever happened at the banquet was all my fault… Carlos has already told me off for it. Please don't be angry at him anymore."

Carlos echoed, "I'm sorry too, Sofia. I never should have lost my temper with you in front of the guests. Look, I even brought Anna here to personally apologize to you."

I subtly hid the USB in my hand behind my back and said, "It's nothing. I just felt a slight headache and thought of coming up to find some pills. But it's all over now. I won't hold anything against you."

However, Anna suddenly chuckled knowingly. "But Donna, the medicine cabinet is in the living room downstairs."

Carlos took menacing steps toward me, the smile on his face vanishing. "Hand over the thing you're hiding behind your back."

I took a step back. Just as he reached out to grab me, I slipped the USB drive into the vase next to his desk.

"You're out of your mind!" I chided him angrily as I shook him off.

Carlos' face turned purple with anger.

"Search her."

Anna immediately began roughly searching my pockets and handbag in an extremely ruthless and deranged manner.

"That's enough!" I exclaimed, shoving her off.

Anna just grinned coldly and said, "Why are you acting so guiltily, Donna? Is it because you're scared?"

Carlos then shoved me away and sat down in front of the laptop.

A few seconds later, he pulled up the system's backend log.

A line of data stood out to him at once.

"Unknown device access. Port 3. High-bandwidth data upload. Duration: 58 seconds."

Carlos immediately whirled around and demanded, "What did you do?"

He then shoved me roughly into a secret room in the study, hidden behind a secret door. Then, he grabbed me by my neck and yelled, "Where is the USB drive? Who did you transmit the data to?"

I feigned extreme fear.

"I just… I just sent it to a lawyer friend of mine! I just wanted a backup plan for myself!"

Carlos tightened his grip around my neck, and I could barely breathe.

"Carlos! Carlos, I was wrong!"

I gripped his wrist tightly and screamed, "That payment is due tomorrow! I'm the chairperson of the company—you can't do anything without me!"

He released his hold on me at that moment.

I'd played my cards correctly after all.

He wouldn't dare to touch me for now because I was still of value to him now. This was more than enough for me to buy Leo crucial time.

However, Anna just chuckled coldly next to him and said, "Don't get fooled by her, Carlos. She definitely has someone working with her as well."

He let go of me, and I began coughing and choking severely as I gasped for air.

He then turned and walked out of the secret room, locking it behind him.

"You'd better have thought of a clear explanation for all this by tomorrow morning," Carlos said, his voice coming through the door. "Otherwise, I'm going to make you regret ever being born."

Suddenly, the power to the entire manor was cut off.

"What's going on?" Anna cried.

Carlos' expression changed drastically. He immediately rushed to the window and looked out.

Dozens of dark figures were rapidly approaching from all around the manor, and Carlos immediately turned around, charging toward the secret door in the study.

Ten minutes later, the door to the secret room was violently broken open from the outside, and Leo appeared in the doorway with a whole squad of armed Soldati from the Carozza Famiglia.

I walked out of the secret room calmly, ignoring Carlos and Anna who were firmly pinned to the ground.

I then walked over to the vase, retrieved the USB drive, and placed it in front of Carlos' face.

"You're right. I was nothing but a smokescreen—a scapegoat, if you will."

My voice sent shivers down his stiffened spine.

"However, it was never to shield you. Rather, I was the perfect smokescreen to shield the Carozza Famiglia from all legal risks in their takeover of the Zappa Famiglia."

Anna stopped struggling on the ground as her voice shook in disbelief.

"That's… That's impossible…"

I stood up and looked at them again.

"The game was already over from the moment you both decided to take advantage of me."