Chapter 4

“Don't call her that, Addy.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Then what should I call her, Favio? Your surgeon? Your protected little fucking sister? Or the woman you're sleeping with?”

“Bitch!” His voice dropped. “Don't push me today.”

I shook my head. “I'm not doing this.”

His jaw tightened. “You're still refusing?”

“Yes.”

He studied me for several seconds before his expression became colder. “You may be the eldest daughter of the De Santis family, Addy, but you're also my wife. You're living under my roof, protected by my name, and your family's assets have been under my management for years. Don't forget that after your parents died, I was the one who took care of everything. I handled the De Santis businesses while you were dealing with your grief and Angelica's treatment. I merged the companies, protected the assets, and built them into something stronger.”

“I never asked you to take them!”

“No, you didn't,” he said calmly. “But I did it because you couldn't.”

That hurt because there was some truth in it.

After my parents died, I could barely function. Then Angelica became sick, and my entire world revolved around her. Favio stepped in and took control of the De Santis businesses, eventually merging them with his own empire. He expanded Guerrero Corporation into an even greater force in mining and jewelry, and at the time, I had been grateful. I trusted him to protect what my parents had left me.

I never imagined he would one day use those same things to control me.

“You're my only family now,” Favio said. “I'm the one who calls the shots in this house.”

My only family.

The words brought back the memory of my parents' funeral, of Favio kneeling beside me in front of their coffins and holding me while I cried. He had promised them he would take care of me, that he would love me and protect me for the rest of his life.

Now he was using that promise to corner me.

I forced myself to breathe. “So that's what I am now? Someone you can control because I have no one left?”

Favio stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “If you refuse to go with Isabella, I'll have Angelica's ashes removed from the family mausoleum.”

My head lifted slowly.

His eyes stayed on mine.

“I'll have them thrown into the lake.”

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

He knew exactly what he was doing. Angelica's ashes were the only thing I had left of my daughter.

“You wouldn't!”

“I would,” he replied without hesitation. “If you refuse to cooperate, the ashes will be taken out tomorrow.”

My fingers began to shake, so I clasped my hands together and lowered my eyes.

He was using our daughter against me.

“Fine. I'll go.”

The tension in Favio's face eased immediately. “That's all I wanted.”

I nodded, keeping my eyes down.

Isabella came closer, her voice sweet again. “Thank you, Adeline. I'll send you my schedule tomorrow.”

I looked at her once, then turned away without answering.

…

The next morning, I was already waiting outside when Isabella came downstairs.

My side still hurt badly. The kidney surgery had taken a lot out of me, and after being dragged behind Favio's convoy on the Blood Road, even walking for a few minutes made the wound ache. But I went anyway. I didn't have a choice.

Favio came out a few minutes later in a dark suit, his phone already in his hand. He looked exactly like the ruthless Don everyone in Italy feared. He was about to get into his car when Isabella stopped him.

“Favio, you should go to work. You're the president of Guerrero Corporation, and you make millions sitting in that office. Why waste your time coming to a mining site with us?” She smiled and touched his arm. “I'll take care of Adeline. You don't have to worry about her.”

Favio glanced at me before looking back at her. “Addy, Isabella just recovered. Don't let her overdo anything. Stay close to her and help whenever she needs you.”

I looked at him. “I'm the one who was dragged down the Blood Road.”

Silence followed.

I didn't say anything else.

Isabella simply smiled. “Don't worry, Favio. I'll keep an eye on her.”

Favio kissed her forehead before turning toward his car. Just before he left, he looked at me. “Be good, Addy.”

I almost laughed.

Be good.

After everything he'd done to me, that was what he had left to say. I turned away and watched his car disappear down the road.

Isabella waited until it was gone before her sweet expression vanished.

The drive to one of Guerrero Corporation's mining sites outside the city was quiet. When we arrived, several employees immediately came toward us.

“Donna Adeline, welcome to the site,” one of the supervisors said respectfully. “You should have told us you were coming. We'll prepare a proper—”

“She isn't Donna anymore.”

Isabella's voice cut him off.

Everyone went silent.

She slowly lifted her hand, deliberately displaying the ring on her finger.

My breath caught.

I knew that ring!

It had belonged to my mother.

My father had given it to her years ago, and after she died, it became one of the few things I had left of her. I had once told Favio that I would never give it to anyone.

Now Isabella was wearing it.

She smiled when she saw my eyes on it. “I'm the one you should be calling Donna now.” Isabella turned toward the supervisor. “From today onward, Adeline will be helping me with the work here. Give her something useful to do.”

The man hesitated. “But Donna Adeline is still the—”

“I said she's helping me.” Her smile disappeared. “Give her something to do.”

The supervisor reluctantly pointed toward a heavy metal cart.

“T-take that to the storage area.”

I stared at the cart.

“My side still hurts.”

Isabella shrugged. “So?”

I said nothing.

“Move it.”

I walked over and grabbed the handle.

The cart was heavier than I expected. The moment I pushed it, pain shot through my side, but I kept going.

Behind me, Isabella walked toward the supervisor's office as if she owned the entire site.

“I want iced water and coffee,” she said. “Fresh coffee. And don't make me wait.”

“Yes, Miss Pierno.”

I kept pushing.

I heard the employees whispering behind me.

“Isn't that Donna Adeline?”

“She's the Don's wife.”

“Then why is she doing manual work?”

“Didn't you hear? Miss Pierno is Don Favio's mistress.”

“She's wearing the Don's engagement ring.”

“Isn't that Donna's mother's ring?”

“I wouldn't talk so loudly if I were you.”

I pretended not to hear them.

Then gunfire erupted.

“Get down!”

The first shots sent everyone running.