After Alexander left with Elena, he vanished for a full week.
For that entire week, the rumor mill in Sicily’s underworld was buzzing. They said the Don had taken his beloved new mistress to the high seas for the annual yacht party, and that she would soon be the new donna.
My phone kept buzzing with private photos sent by Elena.
The first was of her sunbathing on the deck of a luxury yacht, wearing a barely-there bikini. The caption read: [The Don says only the ocean blue matches my eyes.]
The second was a photo of a man’s hand applying ointment to her inner thigh. The pinky ring, symbolizing the Don’s absolute power, stung my eyes.
The caption read: [I bumped into something, and the Don insisted on applying the medicine himself. He’s so nervous about me.]
I looked at the photos and felt no heartbreak, only a dead, ashen numbness.
I had finished packing. All that was left was to deliver the documents for the transfer of the family's core power and get them signed. After that, I would have no ties to this family.
I tracked the yacht to its dock and drove straight there.
The bodyguards on the deck recognized me and didn't dare stop me. Holding the documents, I walked straight to the main cabin and pushed open the slightly ajar door.
Inside, Elena, wearing that skimpy bikini, was straddling Alexander’s lap, her arms wrapped around his neck in an incredibly suggestive pose.
Hearing the door open, Elena screamed, scrambled off him in a panic, and grabbed a shirt to cover her body, her face flushing red as she explained:
"Ivy! Don't... don't misunderstand! The Don is injured. I... I was just helping him dress the wound on his chest!"
Alexander frowned. He hadn't even bothered to push Elena away.
He looked up at me, his eyes showing the annoyance of being interrupted. "Aren't you in the middle of a divorce tantrum? Why did you chase me all the way to the boat?"
I let out a cold laugh and threw the file onto the table. "What? If I didn't come, how would I know that treating the Don’s wound requires a bikini?"
Elena hid behind Alexander, biting her lip aggrievedly. "Ivy, how can you say that... I was just trying to help..."
Alexander’s face darkened. He stood up abruptly, shielding Elena behind him, and interrupted me impatiently:
"Ivy, enough! How long are you going to keep this up?"
He lit a cigar. Through the swirling smoke, his expression was indifferent and entitled.
"Look at yourself right now. You’re acting like a shrew. In my position, what Godfather doesn't have a few women on the side? It’s just physical; why do you care so much?"
He took a step closer, looking down at me with charitable arrogance.
"No matter who I play with outside, you will always be my only donna. That was the glory you wanted most, wasn't it? Is that not enough?"
I looked at the man I had loved for years and suddenly felt he was a complete stranger.
"Glory?" I repeated softly, then laughed mockingly. "Alexander, I don't want that glory anymore."
"This is the division of assets and the transfer of power. Sign it. Once you sign, I’ll get the hell out and stop disturbing you two while you 'treat wounds'."
Alexander’s hand paused on his cigar, a flash of irritation in his eyes. "Fine. Great. Since you want to play hardball, I'll play along."
He didn't even look at the s of the document and signed his name directly.
"Take your things and get out. But I bet you won't last three days before you come crying and begging me to let you back."
I left the marina with the freshly signed power transfer documents and returned to the estate to pack my final belongings.
I had lived in this house for three years, yet the things that truly belonged to me were pitifully few.
I took only a few old clothes and a photo album. I didn't touch a single piece of jewelry.
Just as I snapped the suitcase shut, the bedroom door was kicked open.
Alexander stormed in, his face twisted with rage. He crumbled a piece of paper in his hand and smashed it into my face.
"Ivy! What the hell did you do to Elena?!"
The sharp edge of the paper sliced across my cheek, leaving a stinging pain.
I looked down. It was a handwritten letter from Elena:
[ Don, I’m leaving. Ivy warned me that if I don't disappear, she’ll kill my parents. I don't want to put you in a difficult position, and I don't want my parents to die... Please take care of yourself. Love, Elena. ]
After reading it, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "You actually believe this clumsy lie?"
Alexander grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the wall, his eyes bloodshot.
"A lie? She was willing to die for me; what reason does she have to lie to me? But you, Ivy—how did I never realize you were this venomous?"
"You know she has no one to rely on. Without the Family's protection, she’s dead meat! You are forcing her to her death!"
I didn't bother to explain. I squeezed a few words out of my constricted throat: "Whether she lives or dies is none of my damn business."
"You—!"
Alexander tightened his grip. Just then, the phone in his pocket began to vibrate violently.
He let go of me and answered the call.
From the other end came Elena’s bloodcurdling screams and the sound of gunshots.
"Don! Help me! There are so many hitmen... it’s Ivy’s people! They said they’re going to kill me... Ah! My leg!"
The call cut off abruptly.
Alexander’s face went deadly pale, then transformed into a monstrous rage.
He stared at me, his eyes radiating a chilling murderous intent.
"Did you leak her location?"
"Ivy, you’ve crossed the line. If she dies, I will make you wish you were never born."
With that, he rushed out like a hurricane.
I slumped to the floor, touching the finger marks on my neck, laughing until tears came out.
Alexander, you are incurably stupid.
If I really wanted to kill her, she wouldn't have had the chance to make a phone call.
My family never leaves witnesses.
