Chapter 1 Chapter 1

"Dominic…" I croaked. "If I don't tell you where Lena is, will you actually let my family die?" Dominic Caballero leaned in, then said, "You can try." I trembled uncontrollably as my tears splattered onto the table. How did it come to this? Dominic—the Don of Coastwick, New Hudson—had once loved me so deeply. Back then, I was just a woman of Ivalorian descent from Bridgemont. He, on the other hand, was the heir to the Caballero family and was born to rule. Yet somehow, he fell for me at first sight. He had pursued me relentlessly and had professed his love 99 times, each time making headlines across the city. One time, helicopters dropped giant bouquets of roses all over the pier. Another time, he rented every LED billboard in Centrum Square to display my name. On my birthday, he lit up the entire city with fireworks just for me. Just like that, I fell hard. However, my parents were dead set against it. They knew exactly what life in the mafia meant. It was full of bloodshed, betrayal, and endless danger. Therefore, they wanted me to marry a normal man. Even so, Dominic knelt outside our door for a full day and night. He cast aside all pride just to beg for a chance to marry me. In the end, my parents gave in. After we got married, Dominic spoiled me and indulged my every whim. When I had cramps, he flew back from Miramar overnight just to make me chamomile tea. When I casually said I wanted a cheese bagel from Parkridge, he drove there himself to get one. I thought I had married the right man. That was until the first time I heard the name "Lena Parker". His assistant mentioned it casually during a chat that a young woman had purposely tripped during one of Dominic's speeches. It was a cliched move, so I didn't think much of it. After all, plenty of women tried to get close to Dominic, but he had always remained faithful. However, the second time I heard the name was in bed. He was on top of me, and in the heat of the moment, he called out, "Lena." Right then and there, it felt like I had been drenched in ice-cold water. When I confronted Dominic, he held me close and admitted he had some interest in Lena. Still, he insisted she was just someone he saw on the side. "That's how things work in our world, Alyssa. But my one true love is always you. That will never change," he had said. But then, he grew bolder. He gave Lena jewelry, paid for her apartment on the east side of town, and even took her to private dinners. By then, the gossip had spread across the whole city. I cried and threw tantrums, but he never comforted me like before. Instead, he coldly warned, "Stop making a scene." Finally, I'd had enough and sent Lena away to Sicara. Yet, I didn't anticipate such an extreme reaction from Dominic. He abducted my family and strapped bombs to them, all to force me to reveal Lena's whereabouts. My voice shook uncontrollably as I said, "She's in Bellermo, Sicara, in the seaside villa under my name." Dominic stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing whether I was telling the truth. Then, he grabbed his phone and called someone. After verifying my words, he grabbed his coat and rushed off to pick Lena up. "What about my family? You promised you'd let them go!" I cried, grabbing his sleeve. He turned back with an icy gaze. "They're at an abandoned warehouse in Bridgemont. Go find them yourself." With that, I ran out the door. The engine roared as the car sped toward the warehouse. When I found my family, less than ten minutes remained on the bomb timer. They were tied to chairs, and their mouths were taped shut. As soon as they saw me, they shook their heads frantically, begging me to run. But I rushed over, my hands trembling as I tried to untie them. All the while, the countdown ticked like the grim reaper whispering in my ear. With only three minutes and 20 seconds left, I still couldn't loosen the ropes. Suddenly, my dad hurled himself forward, knocking me aside. I staggered back as he lunged toward the bomb. "Dad!" I screamed. In the next second, the explosion tore through my eardrums, and a blast of heat threw me across the room. I crashed heavily onto the ground, and my vision blurred to red.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

When I woke up, I was already in the hospital. My parents were severely injured, but thankfully, they were alive. Meanwhile, my little brother lay on the bed beside my mom. His temples were wrapped in bandages, and his face was pale. I fell to my knees beside my mom's bed, tears streaming down my cheeks as I whispered, "I'm sorry… I chose the wrong man." My mom weakly reached out and ran her fingers through my hair. "It's never too late to start over." I shook my head. "He won't let me go." After I found out about Lena, I tried to leave. But every time I drew up a divorce agreement, Dominic tore it up. He claimed he was just playing around with her. Once he got bored, he'd leave her. He insisted that I was his true love and that he would never let me go. Right then, my dad held my hand and said, "Alyssa, there's something you don't know—something even he's probably forgotten. "On the night we gave him our blessing to marry you, I made him sign a contract. If he ever betrayed you, it would take effect immediately. You could divorce him right away, but… our entire family would vanish." I froze, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. It turned out my parents had already prepared a way out for me. … The next day, I did two things. First, my parents and I brought the signed contract to a law firm. After reviewing it, the lawyer nodded. "The contract is valid. The divorce takes effect immediately." Second, we began the paperwork to erase ourselves legally. Once that was done, Alyssa Todd would no longer exist in any record, and Dominic would never be able to find me. The process would take about two weeks. After discussing it with my parents, we agreed I should return to the Caballero residence in the meantime. During those two weeks, I had to stay close to Dominic, making sure he didn't suspect a thing. Otherwise, with how ruthless he was, none of us would be able to escape. … Back in the master bedroom, I began packing. I threw every photo, all the love letters Dominic had written, and the souvenirs from our trips into the fireplace. The flames consumed it all, burning everything like a cruel joke. … The next day, I went out to the backyard, where a grove of sycamore trees stood. Dominic had planted them with his own hands. He had said the sycamore symbolized loyalty, just as his love for me would never fade. I raised a fireman's axe and began chopping down the trees one by one. The dull, harsh crack of splitting trunks echoed through the yard. As I chopped, the maids stood at a distance, too afraid to come any closer. On the third day, I went to St. John's Chapel, where a love lock engraved with our names hung. Years ago, Dominic had held me close and tossed the key into the river, saying we'd stay together forever. Now, I used a pair of bolt cutters to sever the lock. It clattered sharply to the ground, but I simply turned and walked away without a backward glance. … When I entered the living room, I saw two people on the couch. Dominic sat there with Lena leaning against him, her face pale. I walked past them, expressionless, and headed upstairs. "Stop," Dominic said coldly. I halted but didn't look back. "Do you know why I brought her back?" he asked. "I don't care." His tone was heavy with blame as he spat, "You sent Lena abroad, and she had a hard time adjusting. She hasn't slept well in days! Alyssa, apologize to her." At last, I turned to face them. Lena nervously clutched Dominic's sleeve, but a hint of triumph flickered in her eyes. "And what if I don't?" I asked calmly. "Never mind. It's fine," Lena chimed in softly. "I don't mind a little suffering. After all, you're the wife." Dominic immediately held her tight. "I told you not to be so sensible." Then, he kissed the top of her head before adding, "From now on, I'll spoil you. You can do whatever you want." A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I felt nothing but irony. Just then, a maid brought over a cup of hot chamomile tea, saying it was for Lena. At the same time, Dominic's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and said gently to Lena, "You always get headaches when I talk about work. I'll take this outside. Drink your tea, okay?" With that, he rose and left, leaving only Lena and me in the living room. The fragile look on Lena's face vanished instantly, replaced by the smugness of a victor. "See?" She chuckled. "So what if you're the Don's wife? So what if you sent me away? Dominic's heart and mind belong to me." I shot her a cold look. "If you want him, then he's yours." Lena froze momentarily, then her anger flared. "I don't need you to hand him over! Sooner or later, he'll be mine alone. Your place will be mine too!" When I didn't react, her fury only grew. Suddenly, Dominic's footsteps came from outside. A vicious gleam flickered in Lena's eyes. Without warning, she grabbed the steaming cup of chamomile tea and poured it over herself. She screamed in pain, tears streaming down her face. Upon hearing her, Dominic rushed in and saw what had happened.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Lena was a mess. Tea soaked her clothes as she cried uncontrollably. "Alyssa!" Dominic roared. "It's bad enough that you refuse to apologize! How dare you do this to her?""It wasn't me. Check the surveillance footage," I replied calmly. He sneered. "Fine. Let's check." In an instant, Lena grabbed his arm, her voice choking with sobs as she said, "Dominic, it's not Mrs. Caballero's fault. I should never have hoped I could stay by your side. I'll leave right now." She had barely taken a step when Dominic yanked her back. "I just got you back, and now you want to walk out on me again? Are you trying to break me?" Having said that, he wrapped his arms around her. It was as if he were afraid to ever lose her again. Dominic then turned to me, his icy gaze sending a shiver down my spine. "I'll see that she gets justice for this." The next moment, a bodyguard began dragging me toward the underground cold storage. I struggled with all my might, yelling, "Dominic! It wasn't me! Check the cameras!" Without so much as a glance at me, he shot back coldly, "No need. I believe her." … The heavy iron door slammed shut in my face. In an instant, darkness and cold swallowed me whole. I curled up in a corner, trembling. Yet, the chill in my chest cut deeper than the cold around me. So, this was what Dominic meant when he said I was the one he loved most? The Don of Coastwick, New Hudson, had once loved me with all his heart. Knowing I was afraid of the cold, Dominic had spent a fortune installing a temperature control system throughout the house after we married. Even the courtyard stayed like spring all year round. During winter, he'd cup my icy hands and pull my cold feet into his embrace, smiling as he promised to keep me warm for the rest of my life. Looking back now, I realized promises were only real at the moment they were spoken. … The next day, when I was on the verge of passing out from the cold, the door finally opened. A bodyguard stood there, expressionless. "Don Caballero says if there's a next time, the punishment won't be this light." I leaned against the wall for support, shivering as I staggered out. There wouldn't be a next time. Soon, I'd make sure Dominic was gone from my world for good. … That evening, Dominic's assistant arrived with a gown and a set of jewelry, saying I was expected at a charity auction gala. So, I went. But at the entrance to the ballroom, I saw Lena. She wore a couture gown and a diamond necklace. It was the very one Dominic had bid eight figures for at last month's auction. I stopped in my tracks, looked at Dominic, and asked, "If she's here, why bother having me come?""I hadn't planned on bringing her, but she's never been to an event like this. She wanted to come, so I brought her," he replied with an indifferent expression. After a pause, he added lightly, "Alyssa, don't be so petty." I trembled slightly. I wasn't being petty. He just hadn't thought about how having the Don's wife and his mistress appear together would make me the subject of gossip and ridicule. Without another word, Dominic led Lena into the ballroom. She slipped her arm through his, a sweet smile playing on her lips. Nearby, people began whispering. "Don Caballero and his wife look so perfect together!" one commented. Another quickly said, "You've got it wrong. That's Donna Caballero. The one beside him is just the mistress." The first person cast me an awkward glance before muttering, "But he treats that woman so well. She gets the designer gown, while his wife is wearing the gifted one. No wonder I mistook them." At that, I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms. … Once the auction began, I raised my paddle to bid on a few pieces. But whatever I bid on, Lena would simply add a dollar on top. Low chuckles rippled across the room at the sight. "It's my first time seeing the mistress best the man's own wife," said one. With a straight face, I made the "all in" gesture. "All in" meant I'd take that item no matter how high the bidding went, with no cap. All at once, Lena's face turned pale. She tugged on Dominic's sleeve and whined, "I really like this one!" He looked at me, frowning. "Alyssa, let her have it.""No. She can't go 'all in,' but I can. That's because I'm your wife and the lady of the Caballero family. What's yours is mine." After saying that, I turned to Lena with a mocking smile. "No matter how much you give her, she'll never measure up to me." Tears instantly welled up in Lena's eyes, and she shot to her feet. "You!" The next second, she buried her face in her hands, sobbing. "Yes, you're his wife. I'm just a disgraceful mistress. I never should've foolishly believed I could have it all. Dominic, let's end this." With that, she spun around and bolted. Dominic's expression changed drastically. He seized my wrist and snapped, "I told you. I'd get tired of her after a while. Why must you drive her away?""Whether she stays or leaves is none of my concern," I retorted, coolly meeting his gaze. His gaze darkened. Without saying another word, he flung my hand aside and strode out after Lena. Meanwhile, I stood rooted to the spot. Everyone in the room stared at me, their eyes filled with mockery and pity. But I didn't care. After all, I'd be gone soon. … The next morning, a news alert on my phone jolted me awake. The headline read, "999 Intimate Photos of Don Caballero's Wife to Be Auctioned on the Black Market!" A chill shot through me the moment I saw it. Only Dominic had those photos.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I was trembling when I called Dominic. My voice came out hoarse as I asked, "Did you leak the photos?" On the other end of the line, he let out a cold chuckle. "You always liked going 'all in,' didn't you?" His voice was laced with cruelty as he went on, "If you don't want people to see those photos, then get over there and bid on every last one of them!" In the background, Lena's syrupy voice floated through. "Dominic, is that Alyssa? I-I should go." Dominic's tone softened at once. "Don't be ridiculous. I stood up for you. Try leaving again, and see what happens." I heard the sound of a kiss, and then the line went dead. … I rushed to the auction house, shaking as I pushed open the doors. The room was full of men. Meanwhile, my intimate photos flashed across the massive screen. There was a photo of my sleeping profile. Dominic had once called it cute and saved it. Another showed my back in the shower. He had said it was charming and persuaded me to pose. And there was a picture of me in my birthday suit, covered in suggestive red marks. At the time, he had said those were proof of love. Every pair of eyes was fixed on me, their whispers slicing through me like knives. "Just look at that body. Damn! Don Caballero is a lucky man!" someone murmured. Another said, "I heard he used to love his wife. Why is he selling her photos now?""Got bored, I guess. These Dons' wives all look perfect on the outside…" Every word hit me like a punch to the gut. I remembered how possessive Dominic had been. That year in Sicara, I wore a spaghetti-strap dress. When a man looked my way a little too long, Dominic dragged me to the hotel, took me by force, and made me say, "Alyssa belongs to Dominic." But now, he was selling my intimate photos to these men, just to stand up for another woman. I placed bids on every single photo. With every press of the bid button, a chill settled in my chest. By the time I won the last one, all the love I'd had for Dominic was gone. … As I stepped out of the auction house, my phone rang. "Done bidding? Feeling satisfied now?" Dominic's voice was thick with mockery. I clenched the phone until my nails dug into my palm and asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll divorce you after this?""You can't leave, Alyssa. I won't sign the papers, so the divorce won't happen," he replied calmly, like he was trying to reason with a stubborn child. I fell silent. Just as I expected, he had forgotten that I had the divorce agreement he had signed. When I didn't respond, Dominic's tone softened. "Today was just a lesson." He paused, then added, "I told you. As long as you don't go after Lena, I'll come back eventually. Your birthday is coming up. I'll throw a party to make it up to you." I was about to say there was no need, but he had already hung up. … In the days that followed, I scrolled through Lena's Instagram feed. The latest post showed Dominic holding her on a yacht, captioned, "I told him I wanted to be by the ocean, so he bought me an island." I scrolled further down and saw another photo. Lena wrote, "He's allergic to roses, but still, he filled the garden with flowers just for me." Another caption read, "His phone is full of my photos." If this had been before, I would've felt utterly heartbroken to the point of suffocation. But now, there wasn't a flicker of emotion in me. Lately, Dominic had been living with Lena, only coming home occasionally. He hadn't even noticed things disappearing from the house. Maybe even if I vanished, he still wouldn't realize.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

On the day of my birthday party, Dominic came to pick me up. Surprisingly, he was alone in the car. "Aren't you bringing Lena?" I asked flatly. Dominic frowned. "From now on, I'll try to keep you two from crossing paths. I don't want you getting upset all the time." A faint smile curved my lips. He wasn't worried about me getting angry. Instead, he was afraid I'd lash out at Lena. In his eyes, I had long since become a cruel woman. … The party was grand. Dominic held my hand throughout, showering me with jewelry and priceless paintings. "I finally managed to make you happy this time, didn't I?" he whispered, his voice dripping with flattery. As I looked at him, memories came rushing back. Whenever he made me angry, he'd humble himself like this to win me back. Every time, I'd give in. But this time was different. He had used my family as leverage, trampled on my dignity, and auctioned off my intimate photos. Even if he gave me the world, it wouldn't make up for it. Just as I was about to speak, the doors of the ballroom swung open. Lena stood there in a white gown, looking timid. Dominic's expression hardened at the sight of her. "Didn't I tell you to stay in the apartment?" Lena's eyes glistened with tears as she answered, "I just wanted to celebrate Alyssa's birthday. I even brought her a gift.""I don't want to see you," I shot back coldly. Dominic, however, motioned for a waiter to arrange a seat for Lena. Then, he said in a low voice, "She came with good intentions. Forget about what happened last time. Let bygones be bygones." … It was my birthday party, yet Dominic's attention was fixed entirely on Lena. The band began to play a waltz, and he took my hand. But a glimpse of Lena's tearful eyes in his peripheral vision made him turn to her. I stood in the corner, numb, as they swayed together in a close embrace. When the song ended, Lena pouted and complained that her heels were killing her. Without hesitation, Dominic went to fetch her flats himself. Seizing the moment, she walked up to me, shaking her phone. "Alyssa, you didn't know, did you? Every gift Dominic gave you was something I turned down. And even now, at your party, he's checking in with me every minute." She then flashed me the chat logs with a smug smile. "See? He said, 'Honey, hang in there. I'll be back with you soon.'" I was already beyond caring. So, I simply asked, "What exactly do you want?""I want you to step aside." I met Lena's gaze calmly. "Soon. I'll step aside completely." She narrowed her eyes. For a moment, I thought she believed me. But in the next second, she grabbed my hand and slapped herself hard. The crack echoed through the room. Dominic stormed over, just in time to see Lena clutching her cheek as tears streamed down. "Alyssa!" he roared. "Did you hurt her again?""I didn't." Dominic seized my wrist and snapped, "I saw everything! Wasn't the last lesson enough? I told you. Whatever you do to Lena, I'll make you suffer ten times over!" Lena shook her head between sobs. "Forget it. It's fine.""I'm here. What are you afraid of?" Dominic tenderly wiped her tears as he spoke. "Like I said, you can do whatever you want. Even if you stir up trouble, it doesn't matter. Stop being so meek. Otherwise, you'll just keep getting pushed around." After saying that, he ordered the bodyguards to hold me down. Then, he turned to Lena. "Now, for every slap she gives you, you give her ten in return.""I-I can't," Lena stammered, feigning fear. "I'll show you." Without warning, he took her hand and struck me hard. "This is to teach you how to fight back." The next blow landed just as sharply. "And this is to teach you not to cower." Then came the third and fourth, followed quickly by more. I was in so much pain that my vision blurred. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth, my ears ringing. Still, I clenched my teeth and stayed silent. It wasn't until the tenth strike that Dominic stopped. Around us, the guests murmured among themselves. "Poor thing. And on her birthday, too.""Serves her right for bullying others!" Meanwhile, Dominic gently took Lena's hand. "Does it hurt? Let me get you some ointment." Just like that, he scooped Lena up and walked away without a backward glance. The moment the bodyguards let go, I collapsed to the floor. My cheek burned, but the pain in my chest was far worse. I regretted ever falling in love with Dominic.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Pain seared through my cheek, and the dried blood at the corner of my mouth was caked on my skin. I didn't call a driver. Instead, I drove myself to the hospital. As the doctor treated my wounds, I looked in the mirror. Half my face was swollen, my lip was split, and my eyes were bloodshot. I looked utterly pathetic. I forced a smile, but the sharp pain made me suck in a breath. … After receiving treatment, I headed for the parking lot. There, I spotted two figures standing before my car door. Lena's parents flanked me on either side, their voices choking with sobs as they pleaded, "Mrs. Caballero, please… Give Lena a chance.""She loves Don Caballero. Please, let them be together.""Move," I said, my voice cold. Yet, they continued, "Please, we're begging you. Have some mercy on us.""I said, move." Not wanting to deal with them, I shoved them aside and opened the door. Then, I started the engine before hitting the gas. Without warning, Lena's father lunged straight at the front of my car. There was a heavy thud. I barely saw him before he went down, clutching his leg and howling in pain. Lena's mother screamed and rushed to him. I stiffened, my fingers locking around the steering wheel. He had done it on purpose. Still, I jumped out, shoved him into the car, and took him to the ER. … In the hospital corridor, Lena charged forward the moment she saw me. Then, she slapped me hard. My head snapped to the side, my ear ringing. "Alyssa!" she screamed, tears spilling down her face. "Do whatever you want to me, but why would you hit my father with your car?" By then, blood was already seeping through the fresh bandage on my cheek. "He threw himself in front of my car," I replied coldly. At that very moment, Dominic's icy voice cut through the air behind me. "You're lying! Why would Lena's father throw himself in front of your car? When did you become this cruel, Alyssa?" I stared at him, my chest aching as if a knife had gone straight through it. Without a single question, he had already condemned me. Right then, a doctor rushed out, saying, "The patient's lost too much blood and needs an immediate transfusion. He's type A. Is there anyone who can donate?" Lena buried her face in her hands, sobbing. "I can't. I'm his immediate family." As soon as she finished, Dominic's gaze landed on me, cold and merciless. "She's type A. Have her do it," he stated. My head snapped up. "I'm not donating.""You hit him, so you'll take responsibility! If something happens to him, I'll make sure you regret it!" he snarled, menace burning in his eyes. A chill ran through me, and my voice shook as I questioned, "Do you want to drive me to my death too? Just like you did to my parents and my brother?" Dominic's pupils contracted, as if I had struck a nerve. But a second later, he waved. "Take her in. Draw her blood." With that, the bodyguards forced me into the chair. The needle pierced my vein, and pain made my fingers tremble. The blood bag filled slowly, and my vision blurred. I remembered, back when I was anemic, Dominic would fuss over me for the tiniest scrape. But now, he had me pinned down, taking my blood so that he could save a man who had thrown himself at my car. Soon, darkness closed in. I couldn't take it anymore and passed out.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

When I came to, night had already fallen. I was still weak, but I pushed myself out of bed. I wanted to leave the hospital. As I passed one of the rooms, I heard Lena's syrupy voice. "Dad, Mom, this is Dominic. He's my boyfriend." I stopped cold in my tracks. Through the crack in the door, I saw Dominic's arm around Lena's waist. His voice was soft as he declared, "Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Parker. I won't let Lena suffer." Lena's mother beamed. "That's wonderful! Lena's lucky to have found someone like you." I stood outside the door, memories flooding back. Years ago, Dominic had held me just like that and told my parents, "I'll never let Alyssa suffer." Now, he was saying the exact same words to another woman. His promises didn't last long at all. I bit down on my lip so hard that I tasted blood. Then, I turned and walked away. Once outside, I checked the time. There were only three days left until the final paperwork was completed. After that, my family and I would disappear for good. … Back home, I packed some clothes, my passport, and ID. As for everything else, I didn't want it. Suddenly, my room door flew open. Dominic stood there, with Lena trailing behind him in tears. She choked out, "My dad has pulled through, but his leg is severely injured.""Don't cry. I'm here to make things right for you, aren't I?" he said gently while wiping her tears. After a pause, he asked, "How do you want her to apologize? As long as it's not too much, I'll agree." Lena glanced at me timidly before muttering, "I-I want Mrs. Caballero to spend a few days in jail." Dominic frowned. "Lena, that's too much.""I know you can't bring yourself to do it, but my dad's badly hurt." She grabbed his sleeve as she spoke, her eyes red-rimmed. "If she doesn't get punished, she'll just keep walking all over us." Lena bit her lip, and her voice dropped even lower. "Just a few days is enough to make sure she won't dare to do it again. "Dominic, I know she's the one you truly love, while I'm just a distraction. If you can't bring yourself to do this, then maybe we should end things." Dominic fell silent. A beat later, he pulled her into his arms with a sigh. "Don't say that. I'll do what you want." … And just like that, I was locked up. Dominic didn't even glance at me before leaving. After he had gone some distance, Lena turned back with a cold smirk. She then whispered something to the guard nearby before slipping a wad of cash into his hand. The next three days were a nightmare. I was shoved, insulted, and deliberately tripped until my knees were scraped and bleeding. No one bothered to tend to my wounds or give me clean water. I curled up in a corner and gritted my teeth, counting down the hours. Just three more days, and I'd be free. … On the third evening, the gate finally opened. Dominic stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the light. He stepped closer, frowning as he asked, "What happened?" My clothes were filthy, and bruises and scrapes covered my arms and knees. Dried blood had crusted at the corner of my mouth as well. Lena quickly linked her arm with Dominic's, speaking softly with a pout. "Mrs. Caballero probably hurt herself on purpose. She's trying to play the victim. It was only a few days. What could possibly have happened?" Dominic stared at me for a moment. In the end, his expression turned cold. "Alyssa, when will you stop?" A wry smile tugged at my lips. I didn't even have the strength to explain. … Back at the residence, Dominic didn't leave right away, which was unusual. Instead, he sat on the couch and calmly announced, "From now on, I'll spend Mondays and Tuesdays with you. I'll be with Lena for the rest of the week." I stood silently at the foot of the stairs. He rose to his feet, grabbed his jacket, and said, "Today is Wednesday, so I'm going to her place. Don't bother me for the next few days." At the door, he added, "I'll be back next Monday." I looked at him and replied flatly, "Alright. Goodbye." What a joke. Did he really think I'd wait for him? Dominic furrowed his brow, seemingly surprised by my reaction. Still, he said nothing and walked out. As soon as the door shut, my phone buzzed with a message. It read, "Ms. Alyssa Todd, the process to legally erase your records is complete." I stared at the text, my heart racing. Before I knew it, tears welled up in my eyes. At last, I was free. Without hesitation, I grabbed the suitcase I had packed days ago and bolted out of the residence. … At the airport, my parents and younger brother were already waiting at the gate. My mom's eyes brimmed with tears as she pulled me into a tight embrace. "It's over, Alyssa." I nodded firmly. Yes, it was all over. When it was time to board, I pulled out my phone, removed the SIM card, and snapped it in half with a sharp crack. "Your boarding pass, ma'am," a staff member said politely as they handed it to me. I tossed the broken SIM card into the trash, took the boarding pass, and strode toward the gate, holding my parents' hands. My back was straight, and my steps were steady. From that moment on, Dominic no longer existed in my world.