I was the Mafia boss Alaric's woman for ten years. I helped him claim every piece of turf, and fight by his side through blood and fire.

And in the end? He chose to marry some college girl over keeping the promise he once made to me.

His men couldn't wrap their heads around it. One after another, they started speaking up for me.

"Nicole fought with you to build everything from the ground up; she's the sharpest blade at your side. Didn't you used to spoil her like crazy? Now you're gonna marry someone else?"

Alaric Wynn stubbed out his cigerette, running his fingers over the couple's silver rings he shared with Amara Wren.

"Nicole? That woman's got blood on her hands. Just thinking about sleeping with her gives me the creeps. How could she ever compare to my precious girl?"

"But Nicole's smart. What if she finds out and turns against you?"

Alaric frowned and let out a cold laugh. "I already own the whole dam Seattle. So what if she's not in the picture? You think the turf's gonna grow legs and run off?"

Little did he know, I'd been standing outside the door the whole time, hearing every word.

I tossed the medicine I'd brought for his injuries straight into the trash and messaged his biggest rival, Damian Vale.

"Want Alaric's turf and life? They're all yours."

I was preparing to take a speedboat off the island when Alaric arrived.

"There's a big shipment coming in the day after tomorrow. You handle it personally. Bring some men. And clear out your place, I need it."

His voice was cold and commanding, but I could only laugh inside.

All this was to bring Amara back safely, even if it meant risking my life when Damian could strike at any moment.

He really was lovesick to the point of madness. That house? Obviously, it was for Amara to move into.

I just gave him a flat, "Oh."

Seeing my nonchalant reaction, Alaric scowled.

"What's your deal now? I didn't make our relationship public because the situation was unstable. Damian's watching us like a hawk. I can't let my men lower their guard just for you.

"Your top priority right now is helping me get Damian off my back."

Alaric always had a way of gaslighting me.

I used to think it meant he cared, so I gave it everything I had, fighting and scheming for him. But now? It all just feels like a sick joke.

I handed him the boat requisition form and said calmly, "No attitude. I'm used to it."

Alaric felt something was off. His eyes flashed with annoyance, and he pressed the pen so hard it ripped through the paper.

"Nicole! What's with the attitude now? All I asked for was your house! I own everything on this island, including your life! And I can't even give you orders?"

He flung the paper in my face. "From now on, don't come to me about dumb crap like getting off the island. I don't have time for your drama."

I knew he'd misunderstood, but I didn't bother explaining.

I nodded lazily, walked out the door, and smiled as I looked at the speedboat I was about to claim.

I'd been at Alaric's side, fighting to take over territories for ten years.

We were raised on the same streets and spoke the same dreams—brothers not by blood, but by choice. And when love came, it felt inevitable, as if we'd always been meant to belong to each other.

I'd always hoped I'd end up his bride. He even hinted once. He'd give me what I wanted once he took over all of Seattle.

But now I see the truth.

It was all just me, blindly in love, and him, manipulating that love to build a lie.

Now he's marrying someone else.

That night, heavily armed mercenaries esscorted Amara onto the island.

She floated in like some fairy in a white dress, eyes full of clueless innocence and shameless pride.

"Nicole, you've been busting your ess for Alaric for over ten years. You've earned it.

"I'll make sure he gives you a nice promotion. Maybe even throw in a few hot male models while we're at it. Can't let your love life get neglected, right?

"And Alaric... He just can't wait any longer. He's marrying me tomorrow. Ugh, it's just so."

I tightened my grip on the gun in my hand, barely holding back the urge to blow her away right there.

"Move," I said coldly, shooting her a glare as I turned to leave.

But Amara blocked my path, pulling a little journal from her bag. Her voice was syrupy sweet, her eyes full of mischief. "This is a collection of love notes Alaric wrote for me over the years whenever he missed me. It's kinda heavy in my purse. Nicole, can you toss it for me?"

With that, she gave a twirl and walked off, her dress swaying like dancing on my grave. I stood in the cold wind, facing the crashing waves, hands trembling as I opened the journal.

"April 12, 2024. The night I helped him break out of an ambush. He said, 'Amara, if I survive this, I'll marry you.'

"August 5, 2023. When I found out Damian had ambushed him on a business trip, I grabbed two machetes. I stormed into enemy territory to save him.

"He said, 'Baby, you smelled so dam good today.'

"January 24, 2021.When he got arrested, I offered to take the fall for him. He said, 'If you were in my shoes, I'd never let you endure this pain'."

Every word in that diary hit me right in the heart, like a blade digging through my chest.

I begged Alaric to marry me so many times. He'd always kiss my forehead and say, "Nicole, just wait a little longer.

"I've made too many enemies. I need to clear a path for you. I'll marry you once I have all of Seattle in my hands. Okay?"

But every time I brought it up again, he brushed me off.

Then, finally, a reply popped up on WhatsApp. One short word. Firm. Final.

"Deal!"

I tapped my phone screen, but I couldn't help myself. I had to ask. "August 5, 2024. You were the sniper who went after Alaric, right?"

The response came instantly, full of righteous fury.

"Hel no! I was framed!

"You serious? That's why you chased me with two dam machetes through nine streets? I swear, it wasn't me!"

I let out a dry, bitter laugh.

So in Alaric's eyes, I was just a clown. A toy he could mess with whenever he felt like it.

If that's all I was, why should I stick around to be their joke?

After locking down the details for our escape plan with Damian, I started heading back. That's when I heard voices by the yacht—Alaric was talking with his men.

"Alaric, the wedding dress has arrived. It's the one you requested, the billion-dollar gown from the Ardent Crown Auctions."

"But what if Nicole makes a scene? If she blows our cover, we could all get wiped out."

Alaric didn't even flinch. "I love Amara. She's the only woman I'll marry. Tomorrow's wedding has to go smoothly. I won't tolerate any surprises.

"Not even from Nicole. I'll make sure she stays quiet.

"And keep your men's mouths shut. If anyone leaks a word, I'll feed them to the sharks."

Even though I'd already decided to walk away, hearing the man who once swore he'd marry me talk like I was nothing and never mattered...

It still crushed me.

Back in my room, I started packing whatever I could take with me.

I stared at the room full of weapons and realized—aside from my ID, Alaric had never given me a single thing of my own.

No gifts. No jewelry. No dresses. Just weapons. Always weapons. Things to help him survive.

I used to ask him for a pretty dress or a necklace. He'd just scoff. "Nicole, even in a dress and necklace, you still don't look like a woman. Don't embarrass yourself."

And yet Amara showed up with a dam truckload of jewelry and gowns.

Why did she get to dress up and not me?

I dug through my closet and pulled out a red dress I'd stuffed away long ago. Put on heels. Did my makeup.

Right then, Amara barged right into my room without knocking.

"Nicole, you read the diary, right? Alaric loves..."

Her words caught in her throat the moment she saw me, dressed to kill, dripping with beauty sharp enough to cut. All she could do was gape.

Once she processed what she saw, her face twisted, and she scoffed.

“I figured you had some dignity. Thought you'd slink away after realizing Alaric doesn't love you. But no, you're still here trying to seduce him? What a shameless little skank! I'll rip your face off!”

She lunged at me, aiming for my face, but her moves were weak. I slapped her clean across the cheek before she could even touch me.

"Nicole! You hit me? Alaric's gonna ruin your pretty little face!" Amara shrieked.

I crossed my arms and watched her lose her mind. "Aw, thanks. I am definitely prettier than you."

Right after I said that she dropped to her knees out of nowhere and started slapping herself.

"Nicole, call me pathetic, call me blind. I was the fool who begged to marry Alaric. Just don't ruin the wedding. You can kill me afterward if you want."

I was still trying to figure out what she was doing when... Bam! A vicious kick came flying at me.

"Nicole! Are you just ignoring everything I said? How dare you bully Amara!"

Alaric came at me, fury written all over his face. That kick could've crushed half my ribs if it landed.

So what was I to him, really?

Just a guard dog, he fed weapons to? Something to use, yell at, and beat down once I wasn't useful anymore?

I barely dodged in time, but the movement twisted my ankle in my heels. Pain shot up my leg, but I forced myself to look at him.

Alaric rushed over to lift Amara up. His eyes were cold until he saw my face.

For a split second, something lit up in his gaze. But then his voice came out cold as ever.

"Nicole, no matter how pretty you try to look, you'll never come close to Amara, not even a little."

Amara clung to his arm, sniffling.

"Alaric,Nicole forced it out of me. I didn't mean to spill the wedding secret. I'm so sorry."

Alaric pulled her into his arms like she was made of glass. His voice turned soft, warm. "It's nothing. No one's blaming you."

I let out a bitter laugh.

A second ago, he was threatening to kill anyone who leaked wedding details.

Now? She lets the whole thing slip, and suddenly it's "no big deal."

She could do no wrong in front of him. She was untouchable. Cherished. And me? I must've been the fool.

"So you're really going to marry her?" I asked, locking eyes with Alaric.

I needed to hear it from him. I needed to see how he'd try to explain.

Maybe he'd look guilty and panicked and ask me to forgive him—tell me it wasn't what it looked like.

But Alaric just frowned, totally unfazed.

"Yeah. The wedding's tomorrow. You can come if you want. But don't make a scene, Nicole. Don't make me get physical with you."

And just like that, whatever tiny hope I had left for him was gone.

Turns out it was never 'not the right time' to marry me. It was just me who wasn't the right person.

Now that it's Amara, everything magically works out, even if danger's closing in from all sides.

He didn't just forget me—he had the nerve to offer me a front-row seat to their big day.

How can someone be this cruel?

I bit down on my lip, forcing back tears, choking out a bitter word. "Get out."

But Amara just kept pushing it.

"Alaric, I don't know many people here. I was hoping Nicole could be our bridesmaid. But I didn't want to offend her."

Watching her act timidly and considerately made Alaric soften. He turned to me with that commanding tone of his. "Nicole, you already know we're getting married. Being a bridesmaid isn't a big deal. You're not gonna make a fuss over that, right?"

"I don't want to see either of you. Get. Out."

That was it. I snapped. I grabbed the nearest stick from the corner and chased them out.

"Get out!"

Bang. I slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.

A single tear slipped from the corner of my eye, one of those hopeless, bitter ones.

Still trying to pull myself together, my phone lit up. A message from Damian.

I tapped it, annoyed, but then my face turned red.

"You look stunning in red.

"Take off the heels. Put some ointment on that ankle."

"Wait, how did he know my ankle was swollen?

"Ointment?" I thought, confused.

Just as I wondered what he meant, a drone buzzed at my window, carrying a small package.

Inside? A red dress and a tube of ointment.

"So he already knew Alaric's base was here. He'd figured it out a while ago, but he just didn't make a move. Looks like I really picked the right ally," I thought to myself.

I followed the instructions and rubbed the ointment in. Just as I was about to wash up and get some sleep, Alaric came back.

He scooped me up without a word and gently laid me on the bed, holding his own bottle of pain relief cream.

"Easy. Don't be scared. I'll take care of it."

It sounded like it was raining outside. He was soaked, water dripping down his clothes. But even then, he dried his hands before carefully tending to my injury.

I've always had a low pain tolerance.

Back when I used to fight alongside Alaric, even a scraped knee would have me sobbing my lungs out.

Every time I got hurt, no matter how bruised and battered he was, he'd stay right by my side, letting me bite down on his arm so I could endure the pain.

Those years were rough. But somehow, I felt safe.

Then one day, he stopped showing up at my bedside.

After that, no matter how many times I nearly died, no matter how bad the wounds, he didn't spare me so much as a glance.

But now that I don't fear pain anymore, he suddenly wants to play caretaker again.

Is this guilt?

His voice came, low and soft, laced with regret.

"Nicole, you've lost weight. I've been ignoring you lately. I'm sorry.

"I didn't tell you about the wedding because I didn't want you to overthink it. Amara saved my life. She almost got killed because of me. I have to protect her.

"But I swear, I haven't touched her. I only love you. Once Damian's out of the picture, I'll divorce her. I'll marry you again. Okay?"

He gently massaged my ankle while I stared at the wedding ring on his left hand.

Then I looked at him, my eyes empty. "Alaric, all these years, did you ever really love me?"

He froze. Then, slowly, he dropped to one knee and wrapped me in his arms. "I did. I do. I only love you, Nicole."

He fed me warm milk by hand, eyes full of affection.

"Come on. Drink this and get some rest. Tomorrow's the wedding. If you want to come, I won't stop you."

But I tasted it. He'd spiked the milk with sleeping pills.

Enough to knock me out for an entire day.

My throat tightened like I was being strangled.

So this was his version of "Don't make a scene."

He lied to my face just so Amara could marry him in peace.

I drank every drop. A single tear fell down my cheek. And inside, I was dead.

But Alaric smiled, so bright, so gentle. He watched me close my eyes like I was the love of his life.

After everything I've gone through for him—the sleepless nights, missions, and battles—he didn't know that I'd long since developed a resistance to sleeping pills.

Later, I heard Amara's breathy voice right by my ear.

"Alaric, you were gone so long. I thought maybe you'd decided to sleep here instead."

He pulled her in and kissed her, deep and slow.

"Come on. You know she's just my human shield. Damian still has his sights on me, so I have to keep her close and use her.

"Damian's got a soft spot for her. He won't risk going all in."

Amara giggled. "Hey, watch where your hands are going. You're so bad."

"Hmm, I hate being bad." Alaric's voice dropped low and hoarse.

The rustling of clothes got louder. They kissed like they were addicted.

It felt like someone took a knife and drove it through my chest.

With Alaric, I always gave in. Always obeyed. No matter what he asked, I did it, even if it cost me everything.

"Nicole, take the blame for me.

"Nicole, I've started a war with Damian. Help me."

And I always said yes.

Now, finally, they left. But I never slept the rest of the night.

At dawn, I strapped on my backpack and headed out. The island was empty; everyone had gone to prepare for the wedding.

I handed the slip to the guard at the dock. "One speedboat. Now."