I'd been married to Mateo Craige, the head of a crime syndicate, for ten years.

Through blood and bullets, I stood by his side.

My hands, once graceful on the piano keys, were now calloused from clutching a gun and stained with blood.

But at twenty-eight, he fell head over heels for Mandy Rastell, a girl with nothing to her name.

He said she was pure and innocent—like a daisy.

He managed to keep this a secret until I caught him taking her to a prenatal checkup.

I lost it and demanded answers, but he calmly handed me a divorce agreement.

"Mandy's pregnant. I want our baby to be born into a proper family.

"Sign it, and you'll receive 40% of my shares."

I refused.

So he forced my hand and pushed me into a corner.

He even went as far as abducting my paraplegic brother and placing him beneath a hydraulic press.

"Lina Glakin, sign it—or watch your brother get crushed to a pulp. Your choice."

I dropped to my knees and begged him to stop.

But the machine roared to life, and my brother's blood and body parts splattered all over me.

Clutching my cramping belly, I screamed and passed out.

When I regained consciousness, I was back at the moment I saw him taking that woman to her prenatal appointment.

This time, I stayed silent.

I moved my brother to a private care facility overseas, divorced Mateo, and disappeared.

However, when I was out of his life, he went crazy.

***

I curled up behind the wall, hand over my mouth, shaking uncontrollably.

The image of my brother's gruesome death remained vivid in my mind.

Not far off, Mateo was murmuring to Mandy, "Once the baby's stable, we'll register the marriage."

Hearing that again, I didn't lose my mind.

In my previous life, when I hurried out to question him, he was terrified that Mandy would find out she was just a kept woman. He smashed my jaw with the butt of his gun.

Remembering that, I pressed myself deeper into the shadows.

Meanwhile, Mateo wrapped his arm around Mandy and walked away.

Once I was sure they wouldn't return, I entered the consulting room with the report.

The doctor said, "Ms. Glakin, the wall of your uterus is quite thin. It will be challenging for you to conceive again after this pregnancy is terminated."

I silently stared at the report confirming I was two months pregnant.

My mind drifted to Mateo's loving eyes when he pressed his ear to Mandy's belly.

Ten years ago, it was this very gaze that captured my heart.

I gave up the chance to study overseas and let go of my dream of being a pianist for him.

Gradually, I learned to shoot with hands meant to play piano, getting used to living on the brink of danger.

But the moment Mandy appeared, everything I'd sacrificed became a joke.

As I remained silent, the doctor went on, "Ms. Glakin, your case is quite unique. Is your husband aware of this?"

I looked up, meeting his eyes, and replied calmly, "My husband is dead."

An hour later, I walked out of the hospital, pale and unsteady, one hand braced against the wall.

Once I felt a bit better, I called my brother's caregiver.

"Cooper, arrange for my brother to be moved to a private care facility in London this week. Keep it discreet and make sure Mr. Craige doesn't find out."

Then I had one of my most trusted men draft a divorce agreement.

As soon as that was handled, my subordinate sent over everything they could find on Mandy.

In my past life, I hated her so much I couldn't even bear to see a photo of her. However, with a second chance at life, I found myself in a much calmer state.

For the first time, I was curious about the woman who had Mateo so utterly obsessed. After all, he'd been surrounded by beautiful women all his life.

I unzipped the file and then hit play on the video.

Inside a run-down church, a girl was playing "Wedding in a Dream" on an old piano. Sunlight fell on her faded dress. She looked as pure as a daisy after a rain shower.

Mateo, with only half of his face visible, smiled softly, his eyes brimming with admiration.

I paused the video and ran to the bathroom, dry-heaving.

It was ridiculous.

What he had fallen for was the version of me from a decade ago.

As dusk approached, I exited the hospital and drove away, feeling disoriented. Just after making a turn, an out-of-control truck came barreling toward me.

I yanked the steering wheel sharply, yet it was impossible to evade the collision. After a disorienting spin, I found myself trapped in the driver's seat, unable to move.

I didn't need to think much to know it was Mateo's enemies seeking revenge.

My phone was broken and refused to turn on.

Just then, a recognizable black Maybach cruised through the intersection.

It was Mateo's vehicle!

"Mateo!" I yelled as loudly as I could, trying desperately to catch his attention.

The car briefly slowed, and my heart skipped a beat. He had noticed me.

However, in the very next moment, the car sped up again and left the intersection decisively.

Through the window, I watched as Mateo lifted his hand to shield Mandy's eyes.

In a flash, I lost the strength to speak. Mandy was in the car—he wouldn't stop. The thought of revenge and a crash scene filled me with dread. He couldn't let Mandy witness any of it.

The last of my energy slipped away, and my awareness wavered.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself gazing at the pristine white ceiling of a hospital room.

The door was slightly open, and I overheard one of Mateo's men asking him, "Mr. Craige, what if Mrs. Craige finds out about Ms. Rastell? If she starts digging, we might not be able to keep it hidden."

Mateo flicked his cigarette away and crushed it under his shoe.

"That's not your concern. Your only job is to keep Mandy safe.

"She's too pure—nothing like us.

"Lina's got a lot of sneaky tactics. Mandy's too naive. She can't beat her.

"If it comes down to it, we can exploit Lina's disabled brother. He's her only family left. She can't ignore that."

I gripped the bedsheet firmly, biting down on the inside of my cheek.

When he proposed to me back then, he promised, "I'll always protect you and never let you get hurt."

Now, those protective instincts and words are directed toward Mandy. I, who was once kept safe and protected by him, am now considered the source of danger and dirtiness in his eyes.

As footsteps drew nearer, I shut my eyes once more before gradually opening them again.

"You're awake? I had someone investigate. It was the Harlan family who was behind this."

"Here's a settlement agreement. Sign it, and they'll give up on the land in the western part of the city."

He approached me. Our eyes locked, and I was left speechless.

I nearly lost my life, only to be used as leverage in his business negotiation.

My heart froze entirely.

"Mateo, when did you decide on this?"

Was it when he witnessed my car accident, or when he learned that the Harlan family was planning to take action against me?

Mateo's slight frown showed his dissatisfaction with my questioning.

I realized it was best not to press on. Explaining things wouldn't benefit me at all.

To perhaps comfort me, Mateo spent the last two days working in my hospital room.

He constantly had earphones on, and occasionally, his lips curled into a familiar smile I used to know intimately.

Seizing the opportunity while he was on a call with Mandy, I directly gave him the divorce papers.

I assumed he'd notice, as they were quite obvious. However, he didn't even look at them.

He simply turned to the last page and signed his name, his eyes never straying from the computer screen.

With shaking hands, I accepted it, my gaze fixed on his newly inked signature. In that moment, memories of our first encounter a decade ago flooded back.

He had been on the run from his enemies, lying bloodied beneath a deserted iron bridge. At 18, Mateo's eyes blazed with the intensity of a hurt young lion.

I was meant to be practicing the piano, but the instant our eyes locked, a surge of compassion compelled me. I turned and walked toward him, never imagining that this single step would plunge me into the depths of an abyss.

Later on, he was shot in the chest while trying to protect me. During those 18 tense hours in the operating room, I understood for the first time that in his world, innocence and kindness offered no protection.

For a decade, I transformed from a young girl who quaked at the sight of blood into Mrs. Craige, a woman who could tackle grim tasks without flinching.

I believed we could be equals, but he simply saw me as just as impure as everyone else.

I traced the calluses on my hands, a result of gripping guns. The thought of Mandy at the piano crossed my mind. In that moment, everything seemed meaningless. All the reluctance and bitterness in my heart felt like they were sinking into a cushion, soft and ineffective.

After leaving the hospital, Mateo used a business trip as a reason to stay away during the entire one-month divorce cooling-off period.

However, I never anticipated meeting Mandy.

I visited the church with the sole intention of requesting the priest to conduct a mass in memory of my deceased child. Although I lack religious belief, I wish for my child to reach heaven.

As I opened the door, I noticed Mandy was with the choir children.

The final chord ended on a jarring wrong note. Almost instinctively, I moved forward and played the correct key.

"This is how it should be played." Meeting her for the first time, I found myself surprisingly composed.

Mandy's eyes brightened. "You play the piano? I've been practicing for ages but always stumble over this section."

I gave a cool smile, but she continued to chat with me as if we were old friends.

When she discovered I was there for my late child, she knelt before the statue of the Virgin Mary and prayed devoutly for my child. "Lord, please bring this innocent soul back to heaven and console the grieving mother."

I was taken aback. She looked so much like me that it left me feeling a bit dizzy.

I even felt a hint of sympathy and a strong desire to warn my past self—advising her to stay away from Mateo, as being involved with him would only lead to trouble.

However, I glanced at Mandy's pregnant belly and decided to remain silent.

If Mandy discovered my relationship with Mateo, she'd surely be devastated and end things with him. In turn, Mateo would likely lose it and seek vengeance against me. My mind was overwhelmed with violent memories from my past.

I came up with a reason to seek confession and slipped into the confessional booth.

I switched on the surveillance feed from my brother's private care facility. Only when I witnessed him peacefully drawing did I find some peace of mind. Since our parents' deaths, he had been my sole family. This time, I swore to keep him out of the chaos between Mateo and me.

Once I had composed myself and stepped out of the confessional, I felt the cold barrel of a gun against my forehead.

Every nerve in my body instantly went on high alert, and I quickly looked over at Mandy. She had already fallen limply to the floor.

I silently cursed my misfortune, and before I knew it, the butt of a gun sent me into unconsciousness.

When I woke up again, I found myself in an abandoned warehouse, bound alongside Mandy.

Mandy's voice quivered with tears as she said, "We settled the debt ages ago! What more do you want? Mateo warned..."

Her words were abruptly silenced by a sharp slap, and the scar-faced man, Ryan Emott, leading the group, seized her by the hair.

"The debt may be cleared, but he fractured three of our boss's ribs. In our business, how could we overlook that?

"He adores you so much, so today I plan to make you suffer slowly until you die!"

So, it was just some minor loan sharks. That explained why they didn't know who I was.

I inhaled deeply a few times, extended the blade concealed in my ring, and began slicing through the ropes. This wasn't my first experience with being restrained—I had learned a trick or two over time.

When Ryan noticed I was awake, he rummaged through my Hermès wallet and said, "Ms. Glakin, you're just out of luck. 500 thousand dollars—tell your family to send it over."

"Lina, I'm sorry, I got you caught up in this. But don't be scared. My boyfriend is really capable, and he'll come to rescue us." Her eyes shone with admiration, as if she saw Mateo as a hero.

I paused and didn't reply to her.

All of a sudden, Ryan shouted a curse, waved his phone angrily, and growled, "He doesn't believe it? Seems like I need to send him a little message."

He threw a knife down in front of Mandy and me. "Someone, cut the baby out of her and deliver it to him."

My eyes widened in shock. If Mandy were to die here today, he would surely unleash his fury on me.

Terrified, Mandy began to cry and retreat.

"Please, don't do this to me, don't harm my baby."

Her white dress was marked with stains, her nose reddened from crying, resembling a small white rabbit lost in a den of wolves. Her tears only fueled the violent urges of these maniacs.

"Come on, Ryan, why not enjoy ourselves first? This woman is so hot."

As they moved to grab Mandy, I swiftly sliced through the rope and lunged forward. I collided with Ryan, positioning myself as a barrier between Mandy and them.

"Damn it, why are you just standing there? Grab her!" yelled the yellow-haired guy, clutching his nose as he barked orders. The other thugs rushed forward. "Rough her up! Break her limbs, and we'll take our time with her."

With too many of them, I had no choice but to protect Mandy by covering her as best I could.

"Lina, Lina... stop hitting her... stop hitting her..." she cried, trying to push me away while pleading for them to stop. She felt hopeless.

Just then, the iron gate was forcefully smashed open with a loud crash by an off-road vehicle. Gunfire erupted, drawing everyone's attention to the entrance.

Mateo rushed over to Mandy, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"I'm so relieved you're safe."

Overcome with emotion, Mandy cried until her voice faded, and with the abrupt release of stress, she immediately fainted.

He carried Mandy into the ambulance, carefully smoothing her tangled hair. I got up from the ground and faced Mateo's icy stare. My heart dropped.

"Lina," he said softly, though his words chilled me. "Why were you with her?"

I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my throat and managed a forced smile. "We just happened to meet. Can you believe that?"

A sudden slap struck my face, sending me crashing to the floor.

"Lina, when did you start believing in religion?"

I coughed up blood. But ultimately, I didn't reveal that it was for our child's service.

He crushed my fingers under his foot, intensifying the pain to the point where I couldn't help but scream.

"When did you begin planning this?"

"I didn't."

Mateo spun around and fired at Ryan's thigh, then aimed the gun at his head. "She didn't?"

Ryan howled in agony, his hand shaking as he pointed at me.

"It... it was Ms. Glakin who came to me first. She offered me money to get revenge on Mandy."

"You're lying!" I shouted, but his men held my shoulders firmly.

Mateo laughed icily and shot Ryan in the head without a second thought.

"Lina," he said, crouching down and gripping my hand tighter.

"If you damage what's dear to me, you must offer something equally precious in return."

There was a "crack"—he broke my index finger.

"Ah!" The agony caused my vision to blur, and my entire body trembled. "Mateo! How could you do this to me? I'm your wife!"

He rose and adjusted his cuffs, speaking with calmness, "Finish the rest."

"Go ahead." The two words were spoken softly.

I was shoved harshly against an oil barrel, my hands pried open.

"Mateo!" I shouted frantically, "I hate you! I should have never saved you a decade ago!"

He paused for a moment as he turned to go, but ultimately never glanced back.

Before the intense pain set in, I recalled the first song I played for him. He had knelt beside me, lifted my hands, and softly said, "Lina, I really love you like this."

A decade ago, I saved him and unknowingly plunged myself into a living hell.

Now, ten years later, he had cut the final tie between us himself.

It was three in the morning.

I lay helpless in the abandoned factory, my fingers contorted in unnatural angles. Several people rushed in with medical supplies. Behind me, the factory erupted in flames.

I reclined in the chair and contacted the person assisting me.

"Inform the ship to remain at the dock. Obtain new identity details for me.

"I need the name Lina to be erased entirely from existence."