Chapter 1

Elvira never expected that on her birthday, her daughter, Sophia, would walk towards her, beaming, holding a carefully crafted walnut meringue cocktail.

"Happy birthday, Mom! I made this just for you."

Elvira was severely allergic to walnuts. Everyone in the family knew that.

As her consciousness faded, she heard Lucas's icy voice, heavy with unquestionable authority:

"Sophia. Do you understand what you're doing?"

Sophia's voice remained sweet, yet carried a chilling calmness beyond her years:

"Of course, Papa. Aunt Chloe said a true woman of the Rossi family should be able to face any challenge, including... a little allergy test. Besides, Papa," she turned to Lucas, asking with innocent cruelty, "don't you also think Aunt Chloe is more suited to stand by your side?"

"You..." Lucas's words were cut off by Elvira's violent gasps.

Before blacking out completely, only one thought burned in Elvira's mind: If she survived, she would no longer be Lucas Rossi's wife or Sophia Rossi's mother.

...

Outside the ER, Lucas's men stood solemnly.

When Elvira woke, the hospital room was empty.

A nurse, still shaken, handed her a phone. "Signora Rossi, it's a miracle you're alive."

Her gaze fell on her body, hooked up to machines. She struggled to speak.

"Where are they?"

She couldn't bring herself to call Lucas and Sophia 'husband' or 'daughter' or 'family' anymore.

The nurse thought for a second, then understood.

"You mean your husband and daughter? They rushed off after admitting you and paying the bill. Said there was urgent business. Maybe call them?"

The nurse then muttered under her breath, "Don't know what's more important than one's wife and mother. Heartless, really."

The words stabbed deep into Elvira's heart.

Only one person could make that father-daughter pair leave in such a hurry.

She opened her phone. Chloe's encrypted social media latest post was:

['Grateful for the Little Princess and the Don's 'protection'. Some pesky flies have been taken care of.' (Photo: Sophia playing with a jewel-encrusted miniature pistol, Lucas's figure in the background, standing near blurred bloodstains.)]

They had abandoned her while her life hung in the balance, to go perform a "clean-up" for Chloe.

Elvira put the phone down, staring at the hospital's harsh fluorescent lights. Memories flooded her.

Six years ago, Chloe's family betrayed Lucas for greater power. Humiliated and furious, he proposed to Elvira—a simple girl who had always loved him.

She thought it was salvation. It was just being a stand-in.

Until a month ago, when Chloe's husband's family fell, and she returned to Sicily with her remaining forces, immediately recapturing Lucas's attention and... winning over the daughter Elvira had raised.

Only today did Elvira finally wake from the beautiful lie she'd built.

Six years, and she'd never managed to warm Lucas's heart.

Even her own daughter, just like her father, held no place for her as a mother.

Thud!

The door swinging open interrupted Elvira's thoughts.

She instinctively looked towards the entrance. A large and a small figure stood there.

Lucas entered with Sophia. Bodyguards silently closed the door behind them.

"Apologize to your mother," Lucas commanded, his gaze sharp.

Sophia, dressed in expensive custom-made children's wear, gave a small, ladylike bow, but her eyes held no remorse:

"Sorry, Mama. I didn't know the drink would be so serious."

Lucas added, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Sophia was just influenced by some of Chloe's dangerous talk. The maid who provided the walnut powder has... disappeared."

He offered a velvet box. Inside was a necklace with a rare black diamond pendant. "Birthday gift. I hope you like it."

Elvira recognized it. Black diamonds were Chloe's latest obsession.

She spoke softly, "I have a gift for you both, too."

Lucas frowned.

A strange smile touched Elvira's pale lips:

"Don't worry. It's a gift you'll receive in a few days. I'm sure you'll... appreciate it."

A signed divorce agreement.