For His True Love, He Lost His Throne

"Divorce?" Matteo frowned deeply. "We're talking about you betraying the Famiglia right now. Don't change the subject, and tell me how much you have revealed to the Castellis."

I let out a self-mocking laugh. "I haven't told them a single thing."

He impatiently rubbed the bridge of his nose and said, "My patience has its limits, Bianca."

Isabella soothingly patted his back. "Don Rossini, the Donna probably doesn't know many inside details anyway, so she couldn't have leaked anything important.

"If she refuses to confess, I'll find a way to extract the truth from the Castellis myself. Trust me."

Matteo's expression eased slightly, but the way he looked at me was still cold.

He called Fabio over. "Lock her up. No one lets her out without my permission."

As Fabio strode toward me with a smug look, my first reaction wasn't anger. Instead, it was relief.

This was the final nail in the coffin that killed any lingering feelings I had for Matteo.

"Don't bother. I'll go myself."

Matteo stiffened slightly, but said nothing. He watched in silence as the guards escorted me to the car.

After my phone and earrings were confiscated, he looked over my belongings and asked, "Where's your wedding ring?"

"I left it at the hospital."

With that, I stepped into the cell and shut the iron door myself.

He stared at me for a deep, long beat before turning around and walking away.

…

That night, Isabella came to my cell, looking all proud and unbearably smug.

"Look at you, the once-admired Donna. Now, you're as pathetic as a stray dog.

"I was wondering how to get rid of you for good, but thankfully, the damned Matteo did me the perfect favor."

At the mention of his name, her face twisted. "I covered my tracks so well, yet he still suspected me.

"But it doesn't matter now. You're the scapegoat, so even if I never deliver another piece of intel, Don Rossini will never blame me…"

She laughed wildly until I grabbed her and slammed her to the ground in one swift move.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "How do you know how to fight?"

I gave a cold laugh. "I know a lot more than that."

Then, I slapped her hard across the face.

She howled in pain and shrieked, "Bitch! How dare you lay a hand on me!"

"Damn right I did."

All the anger I had been suppressing finally erupted.

"This slap is for breaking the rules and seducing the Don!

"This slap is for betraying the Famiglia, spreading lies, and creating rumors!"

Holding her down with one hand, I tore the keys from her belt with the other and unlocked the cell door. Then, I took out my phone and called Papa.

"Papa, I'm in the basement of Tenuta Ombra. Bring plenty of men and guns…"

I looked at the guards rushing toward me and let out a cold laugh. "Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to beat them all."