Chapter 2

Liam’s gaze locked onto me, flames of anger flickering in his pupils.

He only loosened his grip when Violet cried out in pain, then sneered:

“Since Iris is being generous, Violet, you should accept it.”

Violet examined it in her hand for a few more moments, her face full of disdain:

“Looking at it now, there’s nothing special about it. It’s not even as nice as the one on my hand.”

Then she looked at the auntie who was clearing the table and said, “Hold out your hand. Here, take this cheap thing.”

She immediately slipped the ring onto the woman’s finger.

Watching the auntie’s shining eyes and helpless expression, my blood froze instantly.

This ring, which meant everything to me, was now casually placed on a stranger’s hand.

Liam looked indifferent, until he noticed the cake on the table. “It’s your birthday today, right? Sorry, I lost my memory and didn’t prepare a gift. I’ll give it to you in a few days.”

My face was as pale as paper:

“No. Today is your wedding day. Whether there’s a gift or not doesn’t matter. Have fun. I have something to do, so I’ll leave first.”

The moment the words fell—

Liam’s face darkened instantly.

I ignored him and turned to leave the private room.

By the time I reached the parking lot of the apartment building, there was still not a single message in my phone’s notification bar.

Liam didn’t give me any explanation.

Instead, he posted photos in the family’s encrypted channel.

I tapped on it instinctively.

In the video, he and Violet shared a piece of cake, urged on by the crowd to kiss.

Everyone was celebrating the marriage of Violet and Liam, yet no one knew about Iris, hidden away for seven years.

In the video, Violet blushed and kissed his throat seductively.

Liam didn’t push her away, his gaze nearly dangerously wild.

Once, that look belonged only to me.

Now it belonged to Violet.

Liam, if this is your choice, then I’ll fulfill it for you.

I let out a self-mocking laugh.

Then I gave the post a like.

After that, I silently packed up everything in the apartment that belonged to me—several changes of clothes, a pistol he had given me, and a spare magazine.

More than once, I had pestered Liam to make our relationship public.

Acting cute, threatening him, even clinging to him in the Safe house until I fainted, still mumbling the same question.

When would we go public?

But Liam always found one excuse after another—the mafia is dangerous, you are my weakness, wait until I eliminate all hidden threats.

Until Violet got divorced, and Liam hovered around her with concern, helping her clean up the mess her ex-husband had left behind, even without hesitation taking the bullet her ex-husband fired at her.

Only then did I realize that perhaps he had never cared about me the way he cared about Violet.

Still, I told myself it was just sibling affection, that I shouldn’t be petty.

Until in the end, he married her.

Only at that moment did I finally understand.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go public with me. He simply didn’t love me enough.

For seven years, I was nothing more than a diversion kept by this mafia godfather at his side.

After finishing everything, I returned to my own home.

The moment I opened the door, my brother called on video.

“Iris, don’t hang yourself on one tree. Remember Dylan who grew up with you? He just came back from the West Coast. Find time to meet him.”

During the years I secretly dated Liam, Ethan had picked out all kinds of eligible men for me.

He was only waiting for me to nod.

But out of loyalty, I had turned them all down every single time.

I’m already twenty-five now.

It’s not too late to start another relationship.

Under Ethan’s cautious gaze, this time I didn’t refuse.

“Okay.”

After that, I sent a message to the family steward, resigning from my identity as “Shadow.”

That identity had never truly belonged to me. I was only a blade Liam kept outside, a shadow he could discard at any time.

Because I loved Liam too much, I willingly became his hidden lover. To help him secure territory, I stayed up late analyzing intelligence, personally scouting locations, even taking a bullet for him.

That bullet passed through my left shoulder, nearly hitting my heart.

Liam’s eyes were filled with heartache. He stayed by my side in a private hospital for three days and three nights, saying he would never let me get hurt again—if there were bullets, he would stand in front of me to block them.

But now, he stood in front of Violet.

Back then, even though we were in a secret relationship,

he had never hidden the way he doted on me.

From now on, that privilege would belong to Violet.

Not long after I sent my resignation, I received a call from Liam.

When I picked up, there was dead silence on both ends.

In the past, no matter who made the call, I was always the one to start the conversation.

But this time, I didn’t even have the strength to speak.

Just when I thought Liam wouldn’t say anything and was about to hang up—

his voice came through, laced with disgust.

“Iris, what do you mean by liking my post and quitting as ‘Shadow’?”

“Didn’t you say before that you would stay by my side forever? That you needed me?”

Before. Always before.

His words were full of holes.

I didn’t expose him. I only said calmly, “Liam, you lost your memory, not your mind.”

“You married Violet. Are you planning to keep sleeping with me?” I let out a cold laugh.

There was a long silence on the other end.

Then he spoke, his voice low and hoarse: “Are you breaking up with me?”

“Yes. I don’t need your so-called sense of responsibility anymore.”