His Ruin, Her Coronation

My blood ran cold.

The port smuggling operations? That was a responsibility Julian had handed to me four years ago.

I had planned the routes, negotiated the deals, led the men to carve out new channels.

I had bled for every dollar of profit from that dark enterprise.

And now, in front of everyone, he was handing all the credit to Isabella?

The Made Men shot me looks of confusion and pity. They knew who had actually bled for this family.

I swallowed the feeling of my heart being torn apart and nodded. "Of course."

My voice was terrifyingly calm.

"Excellent!" Julian said with a brittle smile. "Tonight, we'll throw a party to celebrate!"

I never made it to see the Elders.

At the party, I was seated in the furthest corner. Like a piece of trash he'd tossed aside.

I watched Julian dote on Isabella, carefully serving her food, gently wiping the corner of her mouth.

I had never received that kind of tenderness from him.

"The Don is so attentive to the future Donna!"

"They're a match made in heaven!"

"The Donna will surely bear us a powerful heir!"

Every compliment was a knife in my heart.

I chewed my food mechanically. Every bite was like swallowing broken glass.

Suddenly, Julian cornered me on the balcony.

"Scarlett, don't look at me like that," his voice slid into my ear. "This is purely political. Isabella's family brings an alliance. You know you're the only one I truly want."

His shamelessness almost made me gag.

A political alliance?

Was the ecstatic expression on his face at the pier last night an act too?

"I know you're hurt, but please understand my position," his voice was laced with false tenderness. "Once the family is stable, I'll give you a proper place."

Lies.

All of it. Utter lies.

I pushed him away, stood up, and walked toward the door.

"Where are you going, Scarlett?" a familiar member asked with concern.

"I'm tired. Going to rest."

In reality, I walked straight to the Elders' office.

I pushed open the door to find the three white-haired Elders mid-discussion.

"Scarlett? So late..."

"I'm applying to leave the Thorne family."

I slapped the documents on the table.

The three Elders looked at me in shock. "Child, what happened..."

Before I could explain, an alarm blared throughout the headquarters.

"We're under attack from a rival family!"

"All Soldato, to arms!"

I looked at my departure application, then at the panicked Elders.

"I'll handle it."

One last time.

In the war room, all the Capos had already gathered.

I walked straight to the seat at the Don's right hand. My seat for the past four years.

"Hold it." Isabella walked in, her heels clicking, and sat directly in my chair. "The future Donna belongs here, doesn't she?"

She looked at me with open provocation.

Nico immediately jumped to his feet. "Scarlett has always sat there!"

"Think of how much blood she's shed for this family!"

"Why should she give it up for an outsider!"

Several other Capos chimed in with their agreement.

Isabella's eyes welled with tears. She looked at Julian, her expression crumbling into one of pitiful weakness.

"Did I do something wrong? They all hate me... Did Scarlett say bad things about me behind my back because she's jealous?"

She covered her face and sobbed, her acting impeccable.

Julian's face darkened. He glared at me, and the absolute authority of the Don settled over the room, heavy and suffocating.

"Scarlett!"

The pressure pressed down on me like a mountain. My knees nearly buckled.