The Don's Scorned Wife

My Mafia boss husband brought his late brother's widow and child back to our estate and demanded I move into the nanny's quarters..

This time, I didn't pull a gun and fight with him like I did in my past life. Instead, I brought out my suitcase to pack and make room.

Later, for our daughter's birthday, Julian gifted her a foal.

Beatrice's son cried and threw a tantrum, demanding it.

My five-year-old daughter calmly handed over the lead rope. "Daddy said Leo doesn't have a papa anymore, so from now on, my papa is his papa."

"I should learn to be generous."

At first, Julian was extremely gratified by our tolerance and maturity. But gradually, he panicked as he realized—

There was no more love in my eyes, and our daughter no longer opened her arms to ask for his hugs.

Little did he know, in our previous life, in order to protect that mother and son, he banished us to the subterranean water dungeon.

While my daughter and I contracted the plague, dying in despair amidst the stench and the gnawing of rats, he was holding that woman's hand in a brightly lit banquet hall, announcing to the entire Family that she would be under his lifelong protection.

Reborn into this life, my daughter and I no longer fought, no longer made a fuss.

But we also never needed Julian again.

......

I snapped my eyes open, my chest heaving.

My lungs still seemed to harbor the tearing sensation from my past life, that feeling of practically coughing up my internal organs after being infected with the plague.

My nose could almost catch the rotting, bloody stench of the dungeon, and my ears still echoed with the sickening sound of rats gnawing on flesh.

I looked down at my perfectly intact hands—no festering wounds, no black spots.

Only then did I realize I had been reborn. I had returned to the day Julian kicked us out of the estate for Beatrice.

Behind Julian, Beatrice stood with red-rimmed eyes. "Julian, let it go... Genevieve surely doesn't welcome me. Leo and I should just move out. Even if we end up on the streets, I can't let us ruin your marriage."

"Don't be afraid, this is your home too. No one can drive you away!" Julian immediately turned to comfort her.

When he looked back at me, his eyes returned to their icy glare. "Genevieve, when did you become so cold-blooded and selfish? My brother died in battle for the Family. Taking care of his widow and child is my honor and my duty!"

In my past life, it was on this exact day that Julian and I had a massive fight.

I demanded to know why he had to so brazenly bring a woman he had loved for years into our estate.

After all, everyone knew that back then, Beatrice had chosen his brother, leaving him to settle for me. Now that his brother was dead, he finally found a legitimate excuse to care for his sweetheart.

The result of that argument was him flying into a humiliating rage and locking me and our five-year-old daughter, Lily, into the subterranean water dungeon.

He had said, "Reflect on your actions in there. You can come out when you realize your mistake."

But he forgot that a plague outbreak was sweeping through the district that year.

Lily and I suffered with high fevers in the dungeon, our bodies covered in black spots.

I desperately beat against the iron door, crying for help, begging to get a doctor for my little girl.

Yet at that exact moment, Julian was standing in the banquet hall, holding Beatrice's hand, announcing to all the Family members that she would be under his eternal protection.

Lily took her last breath in my arms.

"Genevieve! I'm talking to you." Julian's impatient, raised voice snapped me out of my memories.

I came back to the present, my gaze slowly sweeping across his hypocritical face before finally landing on the hidden smugness in Beatrice's eyes.

"You're right, Julian," I said. "Your brother sacrificed himself for the Family. His widow deserves the best care."

Julian froze.

He clearly had a stomach full of accusations ready to hurl at me. He never expected me to agree so readily.

"Good... as long as you understand." Julian cleared his throat. "I've already had the room cleaned. You and Lily can move over there. It's a bit small, but it's quiet."

"There's no need." I opened my suitcase, tossing in a few of Lily's everyday clothes and my identification documents. "The nanny's quarters are too cold and damp, and Lily has weak lungs. Since Beatrice needs time to grieve the loss of her husband, she can have this entire mansion. Lily and I will move out."

Beatrice's expression shifted slightly. She took a step forward, her voice trembling. "Are you trying to force Julian's hand? If I'm the reason you leave home, how will the other Families look at him?"

"Outsiders will only praise Boss Julian for valuing loyalty and family above all else." I zipped up the suitcase, the sound loud and grating. "Isn't this exactly the result you wanted, Beatrice?"

"Genevieve!" Julian grabbed my wrist. "What kind of tantrum is this? Do you have to threaten me by leaving? Do you think you can survive out there for even three days without me and the Family's protection?"

I stared at the hand gripping mine. I didn't struggle.

"Julian, do you think I love you so much that I've lost my self-respect? Is that why you feel you can brazenly dress up your selfish desires as morality just to sicken me?"

His pupils contracted sharply, as if I had hit his most hidden nerve. "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"You know very well whether it's nonsense or not." I yanked my hand back. "This Matriarch's ring... I'm giving it back to you."

I slid the Family diamond ring off my ring finger.

Julian stared at the ring, his chest heaving violently.

He gritted his teeth and let out a cold laugh. "Fine. Great. Genevieve, if you walk out those doors today, don't ever think about coming back! In less than three days, you'll be on your knees at the estate gates, begging me to let you back in!"

I didn't spare him another glance.

I turned around and took the hand of Lily, who had been hiding behind the door, shivering.

"Mommy, where are we going?" Lily looked up with her pale little face, gripping my fingers tightly.

The cold, lifeless touch of her from my past life still seemed to linger on my fingertips.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled her into my arms. "We're going to our new home."