After a long night of work, Serina was just about to rest when Valerio pushed the door open, whisking her off to the casino.
She sat at the table, her eyes cold and detached, watching the couple entwined nearby.
Seeing them flirt with each other once again, she felt nothing—not a flicker of anger, not a pang of jealousy—just icy emptiness.
The man nicknamed "Fox" swayed over with a glass in hand, his gaze roaming her body.
"Madam, did you make the boss angry?" he said with a wicked grin, suddenly lunging forward, pressing her down beneath him.
Laughter erupted around them, meaningless and mocking. Valerio frowned, ready to intervene—but Danica wrapped an arm around his neck.
"Val, don't worry about her. Let's continue," she purred, her voice sultry, and just like that, Valerio's attention shifted away.
A bone-chilling cold washed over Serina as she caught sight of Danica's proud smirk.
Emboldened by the boss's indulgence, Fox became even more brazen, shamelessly reaching for her chest.
The mafia revered family honor above all; no one had the right to violate the boss's wife or her dignity.
In the past, someone had dared to grope her thigh while drunk. The next day, Valerio had that man drown in cement.
And now, for a few words from Danica, Valerio allowed his subordinate to tear at her clothes?
The sound of the camera shutter stabbed at her heart like knives, each snap twisting her blood into ice.
No matter how she struggled or shouted, Valerio didn't spare her a glance.
One hand clutched the gun hidden at her waist, the other pressed firmly over her chest. Her eyes met Fox's, hard and ruthless.
If he dared another step, she wouldn't hesitate to take them both down.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest. Serina gritted her teeth, about to draw her gun and reveal her identity, when a sharp voice cut through the chaos:
"Fox!"
Startled, he immediately retreated.
Valerio, a dark mark of a kiss still on his neck, glared at her with shadowed eyes.
Serina's grip on her gun slowly relaxed, and she gasped for air, hastily adjusting her clothes.
She struggled to her feet, staring at the smug Danica beside her. Her voice trembled with cold fury, "Is that enough?"
Without waiting for an answer, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Watching her resolute back, Valerio felt a pang deep in his chest, a sour, inexplicable ache.
He wanted to chase her, but a glance at Danica clinging to him made him stop.
"Val, is Sister angry with me?" Danica sniffled, nestling into his embrace.
Valerio's Adam's apple bobbed, unusually slow to respond. After a moment, he said hoarsely, "It's not your fault. She made a mistake and deserved punishment."
That very night, Fox was assassinated at the docks. His body remained there overnight and was only discovered the next day.
Valerio was completely unaware of this. He was busy dressing Serina in a stunning deep-red gown.
"Happy birthday, my love," he said.
Only then did she remember—it was her birthday. She followed him into the banquet hall in a daze.
Valerio had spared no expense: the walls were inlaid with mother-of-pearl and gilded reliefs, and every detail screamed opulence.
Officials and politicians cast envious glances at her.
"The Mafia Lord Salvatore is truly devoted to his wife," someone murmured.
But to Serina, the words rang hollow, dripping with bitter irony.
Halfway through the banquet, a sudden gunshot shattered the lavish atmosphere.
The banquet hall erupted into chaos. Serina stumbled through the confusion, forcing her way toward the exit. Through her blurred vision, she caught sight of Valerio rushing out. Her heart leapt, clinging to him like a final lifeline.
But his path wasn’t toward her—it veered in the opposite direction.
Following his gaze, she wasn’t surprised to see Danica, shielded on all sides by bodyguards.
In the midst of danger, no one protected her—even though she was the one who bore the title of Valerio’s wife.
Her heart plummeted again.
"Bang!"
Another gunshot rang out, striking the chandelier above.
The massive crystal fixture crashed down, hitting her back with a crushing force, pinning her to the floor.
Bloodied and battered, she lifted her eyes to see Valerio in the distance, cradling the terrified Danica, not sparing her a single glance.
