Chapter 1

I had been in a secret relationship with Liam, the godfather of the Vittore family, for seven years when he was shot and fell into a coma after taking a bullet for his stepsister Violet.

After waking up, he remembered everyone except me, yet continued dating me out of a sense of responsibility.

But I never expected that on my twenty-fifth birthday, he would secretly marry his stepsister Violet behind my back.

My silent questioning meant nothing to Liam.

“Violet had a miscarriage because of domestic violence from her ex-husband. Her mental state hasn’t been good, and she’s always wanted a child.”

“I’m at the age where I should get married too. I need a child.”

“I’m not related to her by blood. Our marriage is perfectly reasonable.”

But just yesterday, from overhearing the medical staff chatting, I learned that he hadn’t lost his memory at all.

How could he possibly forget who he loved?

Violet leaned against his shoulder, her eyes full of provocation.

“Thank you, my dear brother. A wedding should be celebrated—why not right now?”

With one sentence from Violet, the dinner meant to celebrate my birthday turned into a wedding party for her and Liam.

The brothers of our Costa family took turns offering their congratulations.

When it was my turn, I neither cried nor made a scene.

Under Liam’s warning gaze, I calmly picked up my glass.

“Congratulations to the Godfather and the Godmother on your wedding. May you never be parted.”

The moment the words left my mouth, the private room fell into instant silence.

Everyone turned to look at me in unison.

Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the empty seat beside him. “Iris, come sit here.” He paused. “I’m not used to it being empty…”

The smile on Violet’s face froze for a second, and her grip on his arm tightened slightly.

As if startled awake, Liam glanced down at her, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes—one he himself did not understand.

Watching him continue to pretend to have amnesia made me feel nauseated.

I ignored him and walked straight to sit beside my brother Ethan.

Liam’s expression darkened instantly.

Under the table, Ethan gently pressed my arm, blocking Liam’s line of sight. “Don Liam, you’re newly married. Iris is immature and gets rowdy when she drinks too much. If she sits over there, she might disturb you and your wife.”

Violet clung to Liam, the two of them almost pressed together.

Liam merely said casually:

“Perhaps before I lost my memory, the one I loved was Iris?”

Ethan had never known about my secret relationship with Liam. He had always thought it was one-sided on my part, so he looked stunned.

“Don Liam, don’t joke like that. Anyone can see your feelings for Violet.”

More people joined in.

“Exactly. The most powerful mafia godfather on the East Coast spends all his time revolving around Violet.”

“Didn’t you get shot last time trying to save her? Her ex-husband Lucas secretly sent people to kill her, and you rushed over without hesitation.”

“Yeah, and once when Liam was drunk, he admitted himself that if Violet hadn’t gotten married, he would have married her. I’m not making it up—everyone who heard it that day is here.”

The people at the table all confirmed that Liam had said it.

So Violet had always been in his heart. Pretending to have amnesia was just a convenient excuse to get rid of me.

I kept my head down, drinking in silence, my heart spasming with pain.

I had followed Liam since I was eighteen.

That year, our Costa family was ambushed. Ethan fled with me, and it was Liam who saved us.

Liam had been Ethan’s childhood friend, bonded by life-and-death experiences. He gave Ethan the position of his right-hand man and kept me by his side.

At twenty-two, I wanted to go public.

But Liam said the mafia was different from anything else. Once our relationship was exposed, I would become a target for all enemy forces. He worried I was too young to bear it.

At twenty-three, he said to wait until I was older—if we were still together at twenty-five, we would make it public.

Today is my twenty-fifth birthday, yet he has married Violet.

Violet’s voice rang in my ears.

“Iris, the ring on your hand—it was from Liam before, right?” Violet’s eyes gleamed. “It’s beautiful. Can I take a look?”

Violet had always harbored a subtle malice toward me. I had no idea what she was planning now.

My fingers curled subconsciously as I looked at Liam.

He only looked at Violet, a trace of indulgence hidden in his eyes.

Suddenly, Violet let out a soft “Oh,” lifting the ring toward the light and asking innocently, “There are numbers engraved inside… Is this some special date?”

The private room fell silent again.

Liam’s body stiffened visibly.

Those numbers were the date we had confirmed our relationship.

I looked at Liam again, but he still said nothing.

Not until Violet climbed onto his lap and acted coquettishly.

“Liam, if others have it, I want it too. I really like it.”

Liam chuckled softly and pulled her closer to his side.

“It’s not like the ring is worth much. I’ll buy you a better one.”

Violet continued to pout. “No, I just like this one!”

Liam kept coaxing her.

Watching them casually discuss the ring’s value, I suddenly realized that I was the only one who had ever treasured it so deeply.

Since I was eighteen, I had followed him without asking for a title.

For seven years in the shadows, we kissed in secrecy, covered each other amid gunfire, and tangled desperately in safe houses late at night.

He liked me in slip dresses, so I put away the combat gear I had worn for years.

He craved excitement, so I kept my identity hidden, even from my own brother.

But in this moment, I realized that the sincerity I had offered for five years meant nothing in his eyes.

Still basking in Liam’s affection, Violet kissed his lips amid the crowd’s cheering.

I neither argued nor made a scene. I simply said softly, “Don Liam is right. This ring isn’t worth much. There’s no need to buy a new one. It’s yours.”