The Mafia Don Left Me To Die, But Now Regrets It

On the night of the birthday party, the villa was ablaze with light.

Mia wore an expensive custom gown, like a porcelain doll without a soul, tightly held by James at her side.

He was unusually patient and gentle today. His gestures were intimate, as though they were a perfectly loving couple.

Only Mia could feel the iron grip of control in the hand resting on her waist.

“Tired?” James noticed her stiffness and leaned down, asking in a low voice, “Just a little longer. Once we cut the cake, it’ll be over. I ordered it specially for you. You’ll love it.”

Cake?

Mia had long since stopped expecting surprises from James.

This so-called birthday celebration felt more like a corporate meeting.

The enormous three-tiered cake was rolled out, extravagantly decorated with delicate sugar roses.

James grabbed her hand, guiding her over the knife as they cut the cake together.

At that moment, the guests barely forced out their congratulations to Mia.

Suddenly, a scream echoed from a corner of the hall, followed by the shrill crash of broken porcelain.

A middle-aged guest clutched his mouth. There was crimson bleeding between his fingers. He staggered backward and knocked over a champagne tower behind him.

From the other direction came more gagging sounds, and a noblewoman, whose face was ghostly pale, fell to her knees, spewing pieces of cake.

“Something’s… something’s wrong with the cake!

“It’s poisoned! Someone poisoned it!”

“Quiet! Stay calm!” James’s voice cut through the chaos. He yanked Mia behind him, eyes sharp as a hawk, scanning the room.

His face was stone. His gaze moved through the panicked crowd until it landed on Zinnia’s instantly pale face.

He remembered clearly that all the arrangements for this birthday, especially the cake, had been volunteered by Zinnia herself.

Still, only for a moment did his eyes linger.

Then, they shifted slowly to Mia.

Mia felt as though she had fallen into an ice pit.

“My apologies, everyone, for the scare.” James's calm voice was steady and commanding, carrying an authority that brooked no opposition. “Tonight’s incident will be thoroughly investigated. The Yorick family will compensate tenfold for any medical expenses and damages.

“As for this cake…” His tone turned cold.

“It was Mia’s responsibility.”

Mia felt like she was struck by lightning. She looked up at him in disbelief.

“No… it wasn’t me…” rasped Mia. Her voice was dry and hoarse.

However, no one cared for her explanation.

“So, it was her…”

“How could Don Yorick marry such a venomous woman?”

Each whisper and murmur was like a poisoned arrow striking her heart.

She looked at James.

He knew! He knew Zinnia was responsible!

Yet he chose to sacrifice her, to protect Zinnia.

“James…” Her lips trembled, forcing out words with all her strength. “It was clear…”

“Shut your mouth!” James’s voice cut through sharply. He turned to his waiting aides and said in an icy tone, “Take her to the basement holding room and let her calm down. No one lets her out without my order.”

The words basement holding room struck Mia like a thunderclap.

She had severe claustrophobia, and James knew it!

The memory of being locked and tortured in an abandoned restroom years ago had left deep psychological scars.

Yet he intended to lock her in there?!

“No! James! Don’t put me in there! I’m scared! I swear I’m not lying! There’s something in the cake! It’s Zinnia! She did this!”

Mia completely panicked. “I don’t want to go there! I’ll die! Please!”

James bent down and peeled her fingers away one by one. His gaze was ice cold, stripped of even a trace of warmth. “Babe, listen. You need to calm down.

“Take her away!”

Two black-clad aides advanced, showing no mercy as they hoisted Mia off the ground and dragged her from the hall.

James loosened his tie irritably as he watched her disappear down the corridor.

Zinnia approached. Her voice was soft, tinged with guilt. “James, it’s my fault. If it weren’t for me…”

“It’s none of your business, Zinnia.” James patted her hand. His tone softened. “She was just too reckless. Come on, let’s go calm the guests.”

He put his composed, polite smile back on and, together with Zinnia, walked toward the whispering crowd, as though the earlier incident had never happened.