The Lottery of Fate

Half an hour later, Adrian returned to the restaurant, Sera trailing behind him.

He spoke to me as if nothing had happened, his tone soft and deceptively gentle.

“Irene, I just gave her a proper lesson. Now she’s going to apologize to you in person.”

Sera immediately lowered her head, acting submissive.

“I’m sorry, Irene. It was all my whim. I hope you can forgive me, at least seeing that Don already ‘taught me a lesson.’”

She deliberately emphasized the words ‘taught me a lesson.’

Adrian’s expression stiffened for a moment, then he scowled and barked sharply:

“Apologized and still standing here? Get out of my sight!”

I watched Sera silently. Behind her eyes, where the pretended grievance lingered, there was an undeniable thrill.

She left swiftly, almost running.

Adrian’s gaze followed her, his throat still swallowing hard.

Then he turned back to me, clearing his voice with a couple of coughs.

“Let her go reflect on herself. No one’s going to disturb your birthday now. I’ll be with you all day.”

I hesitated. “Adrian… I wanted to tell you...”

His phone rang. The caller ID read: Sera.

He answered awkwardly.

Over the phone, Sera’s voice was urgency:

“The gangs are fighting over a crate of weapons. We need to go see.”

Adrian immediately refused.

“Worth me showing up personally? Let my lieutenants handle it. I’m staying with my principessa.”

Sera shot back:

“You don’t go? Someone will use it against you! Everyone will see you’re unfit.”

Adrian let out a cold laugh.

I stepped in:

“Go. This is more important than me.”

I gently pushed him toward the door. He kissed my forehead.

“I’ll come by your place tonight.”

“Earlier… what were you about to say to me?” he asked.

“Just… stay safe,” I said.

All these years, I always let him handle the gang business first. I trained myself every day, shaping myself to be a good Donna, waiting for the day he’d finally draw my name.

Once, I trusted him completely.

Now, I doubted him just as completely.

I followed him secretly, taking a taxi to see how he would handle the weapons dispute.

What I saw made my heart clench hard.

He and Sera were sitting across from the other gang leader in a fancy restaurant. Laughing. Talking. Like nothing had happened.

The New Year lights glittered outside. Inside, the restaurant was warm, festive, full of food. They were completely at ease.

Of course—the big boss solves things with a meal. No firefights, no chaos.

Meanwhile, I hadn’t eaten lunch.

Once home, I began packing my things for Miami.

Then a message from Adrian came:

The situation’s bad. I’m not coming back tonight.

I called him immediately. He picked up.

The soft sound of a violin floated in the background.

I didn’t say a word. Just hung up.

Yeah. I remembered—while they were having dinner, I saw him glance at a concert program from across the room. That’s where they were going next.

Adrian never called back.

I wanted to cry, but all I could do was laugh.

I just tossed my phone aside and kept packing.

The next morning, Adrian rushed in.

The moment he saw me, he pinched my nose, a mischievous grin on his face.

“My principessa… checking up on me? Found something?”

I know him. He’s nervous—afraid I’ll ask how yesterday went from stopping a weapons fight to attending a concert.

He’s probably played a hundred “what-if” conversations in his head.

But I just said, flat:

“Not checking up. I pressed the wrong button.”

He finally noticed the pile of packed luggage in the middle of the living room.

Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around my waist like he used to.

“You’re packing? Going somewhere?”

I gently pushed his hands away. “I’m going to Miami.”

Hearing this, he relaxed, letting out a breath.

“Going to see your mum and dad? When do you leave? I’ll have my assistant prepare some gifts for you to bring, and say hi from me.”

“This afternoon,” I said.

“Good. I’ll drive you to the airport. But come back early—I’ll miss you.”

I smiled silently.

Once I left, I had no plans to return to Chicago.

But even as the plane was about to take off, he still didn’t come.

All he left me was a message: ‘Something came up at the port. I’ll have the driver take you to the airport.’

Later, Sera’s Instagram posted a photo of the Great Lakes port.

They were inspecting the docks with another gang leader.

She was arm-in-arm with a man—only his back was visible—but I knew. That was Adrian.

And Sera… she looked every bit the Donna.

I let out a soundless laugh and called a cab myself.

In the airport.

My phone buzzed. A message from my mother:

“Boarded yet?”

I replied immediately, “Mom, I’m on my way!”

Once the boarding was done, I slipped into my seat.

My phone chimed, and there it was a message from Adrian.

He sent me a screenshot of an invitation:

Groom: Julian Monroe

Bride: Irene Cast

He texted, “What is this?”

I ignored.

The plane’s announcement instructed us to turn off our phones.

I pulled the SIM card out and tore it in half.

Adrian… to me, you are like that draw. Blank. Empty.