Owned by the Don

Lucas Valeri's burning lips kissed randomly across my back.

He came home very late today, and was especially excited. But after three years of marriage, I'd gotten used to dealing with Lucas's domineering lust - wanting sex anytime, anywhere.

Half asleep, I heard him say, "We should get divorced. I've already drafted the divorce papers. Sign them as soon as possible."

I snapped awake.

But Lucas didn't even look at me. He got out of bed and walked into the bathroom.

I sat up clutching the sheets and saw a divorce agreement on the nightstand. Lucas had already signed it.

I don't know how long passed before the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Lucas came out wrapped in a towel. Seeing me sitting there in a daze, he frowned with displeasure and said coldly, "For the past three years, I've paid you five million dollars a year. Besides that fifteen million, I'll give you one more house at most as compensation. Pack your things and leave by tomorrow."

"Are you really in such a hurry to make room for another woman?" I questioned him through tears.

I knew Lucas had a precious woman in his heart. He fell for her at first sight and pursued her for years. Even after marrying me, he still went to see her every month.

Lucas was born into the Valeri family of Dawnharbor. The Valeri family was a mafia clan that had dominated Dawnharbor for hundreds of years with overwhelming power. Lucas was the grandson of this generation's Don.

However, the Valeri family had many descendants, and Lucas was just one of over twenty grandsons. Because his mother came from a minor family, Lucas had never been valued since childhood.

Now Lucas was in Starstream City, thousands of miles away from Dawnharbor. In just a few years, he had firmly grasped the steel transport, arms dealing, maritime logistics, and half the ports of Starstream City. He was ambitious, wanting to use Starstream City as a stepping stone to return to Dawnharbor and enter the family's inner circle of power.

Three years ago when Lucas and I first met, I was penniless - a homeless woman with no background. His family was pressuring him to marry and trying to force a wife on him who would spy on him.

So Lucas chose me. We had a contract marriage, a flash wedding. I became his shield.

During these three years, I survived multiple assassination attempts without complaint, diligently managing his household, taking care of his food, clothing, and daily life perfectly.

But at this moment, I felt I was just a servant in his life, a plaything in his bed.

"Don't you have any feelings for me at all?" Tears slid down my cheeks. The large teardrops fell on the divorce papers, and those few thin pages seemed unable to bear the weight, scattering from my hands onto the sheets.

"What feelings could I have for you?" Lucas asked back, casually lighting a cigarette. "Oh right, I didn't wear a condom just now. Go take the morning-after pill right away."

The curling smoke blurred my vision. Lucas's handsome face was full of coldness.

Just then his phone rang with a sweet, special ringtone.

"Amelia?" Lucas answered the call, his tone gentle and affectionate - completely different from how he spoke to me.

"You're already here? Didn't we agree I'd pick you up next week? Of course I'm happy, I'm so surprised! I'll come get you right away!"

Lucas hung up, quickly got dressed and left. Two hours later, he came back with Amelia Gambino.

Normally, I would stand in the entryway to welcome Lucas home, help him take off his coat and change his shoes, shyly accept his hugs and kisses, and tell him dinner was ready with all his favorite dishes.

But today I sat on the sofa, waiting for them to walk into the living room.

When Lucas saw me, his face darkened. "Bella, why are you still here?"

I didn't answer, just stared at Amelia.

Amelia was a bit younger than me, wearing delicate makeup and expensive clothes. Her smile was innocent and bright, but deep in her eyes lurked arrogance and contempt.

Around her neck was a dazzling sapphire necklace. I used to have one exactly like it.

"Bella!" Lucas got angry at being ignored by me.

"Lucas, is this your maid?" Amelia pointed at me and asked. "So rude!"

Lucas looked embarrassed and annoyed. "She's Bella. I told you about her."

Amelia cut him off, covering her stomach and whining pitifully, "I'm hungry."

Lucas turned and ordered me, "Bella, go make food for Amelia right now."

He spoke harshly to me, but was gentle with Amelia. "Are you very hungry? Just wait a bit. Bella's cooking is really good."

Lucas coaxed Amelia. I didn't listen anymore and went upstairs to the master bedroom.

After a while, Lucas came into the bedroom. "Stop packing. Go make food for Amelia first. She flew for over ten hours with a layover. The airport restaurants and airplane food didn't suit her taste. She's been hungry for a long time. Bella! Are you listening?"

I picked up the divorce papers and handed them to him.

The wrinkled agreement was soaked with tear stains. I had already signed my name.

Lucas took the papers, frowning deeply.

"I'll go to the kitchen," I said, picking up my handbag and walking past him.

Seeing I wasn't making a scene, Lucas seemed relieved. "Don't make things difficult for Amelia. Don't upset her."

Every sentence had Amelia's name in it. He had completely forgotten I was his wife!

I walked into the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and swallowed the morning-after pill with no expression.

Amelia somehow appeared behind me. "Have we met before? You look familiar."

I turned around, facing her suspicious gaze, and coldly curved my lips. "I find the necklace around your neck very familiar too."

This sapphire necklace was a gift from my parents for my 14th birthday.

"Bella" wasn't my real name. I was Isabella Sorelli.

The Sorelli family once held a position in Dawnharbor too, but five years ago, our vassal family, the Gambino family, betrayed us!

Over two hundred lives in the family were wiped out overnight. Only my three brothers and I managed to escape.

Amelia blinked, as if she couldn't remember where the necklace came from.

I clenched my jaw. Meeting my enemy, plus today's humiliation - I would pay it all back many times over!

Amelia said, "I don't care who you are. Get lost. Lucas paid for you for three years. You're no different from a high-class prostitute."

I threw the water from my glass in her face.

Amelia screamed in anger.

Lucas rushed over from the living room. Amelia covered her face and buried herself in Lucas's arms pitifully. "This crazy woman! She threw water at me."

"Bella!" Lucas held her, roaring in anger and disappointment. "How could you do this? Apologize to Amelia right now!"

"In your dreams!" I threw the glass at them. "Lucas, you'll regret divorcing me!"

With a crisp crash, the glass shattered into pieces at their feet.

I grabbed my only luggage - a very old handbag - and left the villa through the kitchen back door.

Lucas's bodyguards stepped forward. "Mrs. Valeri."

I looked at them coldly. They silently stepped aside.

Outside the villa was a silver-gray Rolls-Royce. A tall, handsome man got out, gazing at me tenderly and thoughtfully holding the car door open for me.

"Bella!" Lucas chased out from the villa.

I got in the car and said without any attachment, "Let's go."