Chapter 1
Five years I’d been married to James.
Five years I’d lived in this house, treated like nothing more than hired help.
Tonight was our fifth wedding anniversary.
I’d spent three days cooking, cleaning, and arranging every single thing myself. The Thompsons never lifted a finger.
They’d hated me from day one.
Called me street trash. Said I’d trapped their precious son.
James never stood up for me. Not once. He just laughed and let them speak.
Tonight was worse than any night before.
Dinner was halfway done when the doorbell rang.
James stood up, a smug, cruel look on his face.
“I have a very special guest,” he announced.
The room went quiet.
Sophia walked in. Tall, blonde, glowing. Her dress alone cost more than everything I owned.
She walked straight to James.
Wrapped her arms around his neck.
And kissed him.
Right on the lips.
Right in front of me.
Right in front of his parents. Right in front of everyone.
His mother actually clapped.
“Finally,” she sneered. “A woman worthy of our son.”
Sophia turned to me. Her eyes were ice.
“Thank you for taking such good care of him all these years,” she said, laughing. “But I’ll take it from here.”
James put his arm around her waist. Looked me dead in the eye.
“Pack your bags, Emily,” he said. “You’re out.”
My heart shattered.
Five years of my life.
Five years of serving this family.
Five years loving a man who never loved me back.
Tears burned hot in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I stood up, hands trembling.
“Where am I supposed to go?” I whispered.
James’s father grunted, not even looking up.
“Not our problem. Get out of my house.”
Then the doorbell rang again.
His mother sighed, annoyed. “Who could that possibly be now?”
The butler hurried to answer.
He came back moments later, pale white, his voice shaking.
“Sir… there’s a man outside…” he stammered. “Says he’s here for his daughter.”
Every eye turned to me.
I was an orphan. I had no family.
“Tell him he has the wrong address,” James snapped.
The butler shook his head, terrified.
“Sir… you don’t understand. There are twenty black SUVs parked out front. And armed men everywhere.”
Silence swallowed the room.
Then a voice boomed from the doorway. Deep. Commanding. Unmistakable.
A man stood there. Silver hair, sharp suit, eyes that could freeze fire.
Everyone in Miami knew that face.
Vincent “The Viper” Gallo.
The most powerful man on the East Coast. Feared by everyone. Respected by no one who dared cross him.
He walked past the Thompsons like they didn’t exist.
Stopped right in front of me.
His cold eyes softened, just for a heartbeat.
“Hello, my daughter,” he said, his voice quiet but heavy with feeling. “I’ve been looking for you for twenty-three years.”
James turned white as a sheet. His mother swayed, ready to faint.
May you like
Vincent turned toward them. His eyes hardened into stone.
“Now,” he said, his voice cutting like a blade. “Who wants to explain to me why my little girl is crying?”
