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That was it.

Four words, and somehow they hurt more than the bullet inside my body.

Memories flooded my head instantly.

Years ago during a hunting trip, I scratched my finger slightly on a broken branch and Xander nearly lost his mind. He carried me all the way back home. Forced three doctors to stay overnight just to monitor me.

Another time I got a fever and he sat beside me for two straight days without sleeping.

“Lory,” he whispered back then while kissing my forehead, “if something ever happens to you, I’ll fucking lose my mind.”

Now I was dying. And he picked someone else without hesitation.

The poison spreading from the bullet wound started hitting harder after that. My body curled up painfully against the bed while agony ripped through me. It felt like knives were tearing through my veins. Blood spilled from my mouth onto the sheets while I gripped the blanket so tightly my fingers cramped.

Was this death?

Honestly, maybe dying would finally let me rest. Maybe I wouldn’t have to hurt anymore.

Just as my consciousness started fading again, I heard footsteps rushing inside.

“The second antidote’s ready!”

Someone immediately lifted my head and forced the bitter medicine down my throat. Slowly, the pain began easing enough for me to breathe again.

When I finally opened my eyes properly, Xander was standing beside my bed.

For once, he actually looked guilty.

“Lory...” His voice sounded rough. “I...”

“No.” My voice came out hoarse and weak, “There’s nothing left to explain.”

Xander stared at me silently.

And for the first time since we got married, I saw uncertainty in his eyes. Like he suddenly realized something was slipping away from him.

“I had no choice,” he muttered quietly. “Claudia was in worse condition and I thought you could hold on longer.”

I looked at him blankly. Did he even hear himself?

“You thought I could survive,” I whispered. “So you abandoned me first.”

His face tightened immediately. “Don’t say it like that.”

“Then how should I say it?”

Silence.

Finally, I turned my face away from him. “I’m tired, Xander.” And I meant it.

Tired of crying, tired of begging, tired of loving someone who kept choosing another woman over me.

Xander stood there for a long time.

Then eventually, he sighed quietly and left the room.

The moment the door closed, I slowly touched my chest. It was strange. I thought it would hurt more.

But honestly, my heart was starting to feel numb now.

...

The next few days passed quietly.

My shoulder slowly healed, but whatever was left inside me kept dying little by little.

The staff whispered outside my room constantly because everyone knew Xander stayed beside Claudia day and night. Feeding her personally. Helping her shower. Sleeping beside her hospital bed. He barely left her room.

Anna came in one morning carrying my medicine with swollen red eyes. “Mrs. Moretti,” she whispered softly. “It’s time.”

I took the medicine silently and drank it in one go.

It tasted disgusting but it still wasn’t as bitter as my life.

...

A few days later, the annual Mafia Oath Ceremony finally arrived. It was one of the biggest events inside the Golden Lion Empire.

Every major mafia family attended. The heads of syndicates. International partners. Politicians secretly tied to the underworld.

It was tradition for Xander and his wife to stand together during the ceremony as the king and queen of the empire.

Anna helped me dress slowly because my shoulder still hurt badly.

When I finally arrived at the grand hall, my footsteps stopped cold.

Claudia was already standing beside Xander.

Wearing the black diamond dress reserved for me.

My place.

One of the older mafia advisors immediately looked horrified. “Boss... this breaks tradition,” he said carefully. “Mrs. Moretti is supposed to stand beside you during the oath.”

Xander didn’t even look bothered.

His cold eyes swept toward the man. “Since when do I need permission for who stands beside me?”

The entire hall instantly fell silent. Nobody dared speak again because everyone knew Xander Moretti could destroy entire bloodlines with one order.

“Xander,” Claudia said excitedly while looking around the massive hall, “can I light more candles? This place looks kinda dark.”

Xander looked down at her with that soft expression I hated seeing now. “Do whatever you want, baby.”

She laughed happily and grabbed several long ceremonial candles from the altar table. The older mafia bosses looked uncomfortable but nobody dared speak.

Then suddenly Claudia bumped one of the giant oil lamps by accident.

Crash!

Fire exploded onto the black curtains instantly.

People started shouting.

“Fire!”

“Move!”

The flames spread across the wall terrifyingly fast while guards rushed in with extinguishers. Thankfully the fire got controlled quickly, but part of the ceremonial hall was already burned black.

Smoke still filled the air while everyone stared in horror.

One of the senior mafia advisors immediately stepped forward angrily. “Boss, this hall represents the entire Golden Lion Empire. Somebody has to answer for this.”

Another leader nodded. “This can’t go unpunished.”

The pressure in the room shifted immediately.

Everyone knew Claudia caused the fire. Everyone saw it but nobody dared say her name.

Xander stayed silent for a long moment then slowly, his cold eyes turned toward me. Suddenly I understood everything.

No.

No way!

“Lorraine caused the accident,” Xander said calmly. “She’ll take responsibility for it.”

My entire body went cold. I stared at him in disbelief. “What...?”

The room became dead silent.

Xander walked toward me and grabbed my wrist tightly before lowering his voice enough that only I could hear. “Claudia can’t handle punishment like this,” he muttered. “She’s emotional already and if I blame her now, she’ll pull away from me again.”

I actually felt my heart crack hearing those words.

He continued quietly, almost patiently. “Lory, just help me this once more, alright?”

Once more.

How many times had I already sacrificed myself for him?

My voice shook violently. “Aren’t you scared I’ll completely give up on you someday?”

Xander smiled faintly like my words meant nothing. “You won’t.” The confidence in his voice hurt worse than screaming would’ve. “We grew up together,” he said softly. “You love me too much to leave me. You won't even last a day. Just wait a little longer until I’m done with Claudia and everything’ll go back to normal.”

Normal?

What part of this was normal anymore?

I looked at the man standing in front of me and suddenly felt exhausted.

...

That night, Xander publicly announced my punishment.

Three days.

I was chained outside the Golden Lion headquarters as a warning to everyone.

And nobody dared object. The heavy chains wrapped tightly around my wrists and body, locking me against the massive front gates of Golden Lion headquarters while icy wind hit me nonstop.

A giant black sign hung above my head.

I DESERVE PUNISHMENT.

People gathered constantly outside the gates staring at me like I was some criminal.

“Isn’t that Mrs. Moretti?”

“I heard she almost burned down the oath hall.”

“Boss Moretti personally ordered the punishment.”

The humiliation was unbearable and it only got worse. Some people started throwing trash at me.

Rotten fruit, alcohol bottles, food scraps and even human pee.

One man threw a rock so hard it slammed against my forehead. The pain exploded instantly and warm blood ran down my face. I bit my lip hard to stop myself from crying out.

By the third night, my body finally gave up. My vision blurred heavily while voices echoed around me.

Then I heard Anna screaming desperately. “Mrs. Moretti!”