Blue Blood in My Veins

Chase and Lucille exchanged another passionate kiss before he released her and watched her leave.

He turned and entered the house, his entire body reeking of alcohol and the familiar scent of Lucille's fragrance.

His expression froze as soon as he saw me, but he quickly recomposed himself.

"I'm tired," he said indifferently before heading straight to his room.

Standing in the living room after watching him shut the door in my face, I felt as though my heart had been repeatedly stabbed.

I didn't say anything. Instead, I booked a reservation for a surgical abortion tomorrow.

Then, I called my father, Frank Gambino.

"Papà, I'm coming home."

"Sweetheart, you've finally decided to come back! Are you taking your boyfriend with you this time?" Dad asked, chuckling.

His voice was dripping with joy. After all, he had been yearning for me to go back.

The moment I heard his words, I burst into tears. I sacrificed everything for Chase, even to the point of almost betraying my family—yet this was what I got.

Hearing my sobs, Dad was clearly alarmed. "Who made my princess cry?"

More tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Wait there. I'll go pick you up now," Dad said, his voice turning cold.

I immediately straightened up. "It's fine!"

I declined his offer. I knew how much he cherished me—he would kill Chase if he found out that he betrayed me.

Sucking in a deep breath, I tried to recompose myself before saying, "I will settle everything before going back to find you."

I packed my things after hanging up and prepared to leave.

I wanted to see Chase one last time. When I walked into his bedroom, my gaze fell onto his phone, which sat on the nightstand.

Chase never set a password for his phone. He said there was nothing to hide from me. But was that really the truth?

I opened his phone and froze. The picture on his lock screen was no longer me—it was a picture of Lucille.

Golden locks cascaded down her shoulders as she beamed at the camera.

A shiver raced down my spine as I clicked on the photo album, flipping to the date of my birthday.

That night, Chase told me he was busy. He was so occupied with dealing with a batch of arms that he couldn't call me—and I believed in him.

But the photo before me said otherwise. He was with Lucille at the most prestigious private club in Montagne, picking out a diamond necklace and holding a glass of champagne for her.

I had never seen this side of him.

What was even more ridiculous was that his subordinates were also there too. The very same men who called me "Mrs. McGregor" sat at the table, witnessing the sweet moment between their boss and Lucille.

I closed his phone. My fingers trembled slightly, yet I didn't cry at all.

Gazing at Chase's sleeping face, I removed the diamond ring he gave me and placed it on the bedside table before leaving.

The next day, under the sympathetic looks the nurses gave me, I ended everything.

By the time the anesthesia effects wore out, I had received several calls from Chase.

My phone buzzed again, and I picked it up.

"Daphne Gambino, where the fuck did you go?" he demanded, his voice tinged with fury. "What's with the ring you left behind? Are you breaking up with me?"

Hearing this, I chuckled and said, "Chase, isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

A brief silence followed. Then, his labored breathing echoed through the phone as he rasped, "What on earth are you talking about?"

The unease in his tone was unmistakable.

"You've already chosen Lucille Gervais, haven't you?"

The other end of the line went dead silent.

"How did you find out about Lucille?" he asked in a hushed tone. "Daphne, it's not what you think!"

I smiled and simply hung up. The last thing I wanted was to be involved with him anymore.