After the mafia Don brutally murdered my only love, I began my pursuit of his daughter. For three years, I played the part of her devoted simp to perfection. Everyone in our circle knew I was crazy about Serena Vance. They knew I would gladly throw away my life for her. Finally, Serena agreed to marry me. And I, at long last, secured the complete trust of her father, the Don. Everyone started calling me the Underboss. They all believed that once Serena inherited the throne, I would take her father’s place and become the new ruler of the Vance family empire. Until our wedding day. Kai, her first love who had been missing for five years, showed up covered in blood, hunted by rivals. In the heat of the moment, to protect him, Serena pushed me directly into the line of fire. And I gladly took the bullet for them. It was only after Kai betrayed her that Serena realized how colossally she had messed up. She knelt by my hospital bed, weeping, begging me to wake up. She cried, telling me she loved me. But the truth is... I don't love her. From the very beginning, my only reason for getting close to her was to utterly destroy her.
I spent three years acting like Serena's loyal dog, risking my life for her time and time again. Finally, my "sincerity" moved her. She asked me if I was willing to marry her and help run her father's criminal empire. I pretended to be overwhelmed with joy, asking her why she finally chose me. She merely stepped on my chest with her sharp stiletto heel, looking down at me as I knelt on the cold floor. "Because out of everyone I’ve ever known, you’re the most loyal dog I’ve had." "You love me enough to be obedient, you’ve got the muscle, and most importantly... you look just like my first love." Looking up into her stunning, cold eyes, I forced a bitter smile. "So... I’ve just been a stand-in this whole time." They say strong men don't cry, but in front of Serena, a powerful man like me let tears slip down his face. Serena froze. A flicker of complex emotion crossed her eyes before she turned and walked away. Actually, I had always known. In Serena's heart, I was nothing but a replacement for Kai Sterling. Showing pain and shedding tears was just a calculated move to make her feel guilty. She didn't show it on the surface, but I knew she had already fallen for me during our time together. She just didn't want to admit it yet. She was still playing her arrogant princess games, blind to her own feelings. So, I had to help her realize it. Even my subordinates tried to comfort me: "Boss Leo, the princess definitely loves you. She’s just in denial. Look, she’s marrying you now! Even the Don agreed. That shows how much he approves of you as his son-in-law." Indeed. For three years, I played the submissive partner at home. Outside, I was a terrifying, cold-blooded enforcer, but the moment I stepped through the door, I bowed to her. That kind of contrast could melt even the coldest heart. Before Serena even realized it, she had started acting cute around me. She would kiss me, hug me, and on those passionate nights, she would actively seduce me. Through her, I successfully made my way to her father, Victor Vance. Victor had heard of my capabilities. Seeing how desperately I adored his daughter, he wasted no time in approving our marriage. Everyone began calling me the Underboss. They assumed that once Serena took over, I would run the family. For a moment, I was the most powerful man in the Vance syndicate, second only to Victor himself. Until our wedding day. Kai Sterling, her first love who had been gone for five years, suddenly crashed our ceremony, covered in wounds. That day, our wedding was ruined by that useless street punk. The hitmen chasing Kai burst in right behind him, raising their guns and firing without hesitation. To save her precious ex, Serena pulled Kai behind her back, and without a second thought, she shoved me forward. But actually, we had already run into Kai once before the wedding. The day we met him, I went to an exclusive VIP lounge to bring Serena home. The moment I pushed open the door to the private suite, my brows furrowed. I knew Serena played wild, but every time I saw it, it made me sick. As soon as I walked in, a bunch of women immediately crowded around me, rubbing their bodies against mine. Serena rarely acknowledged our relationship in public. Most people only knew me as the ruthless Underboss, not as her fiancé. "Hey, Boss Leo!" I didn’t stop the women from clinging to me. Even though it disgusted me, seeing the jealousy flare in Serena's eyes was incredibly satisfying. Serena, who usually hated admitting I belonged to her, slammed her wine glass onto the floor that night. She glared at me, her eyes filled with rage and hurt. Only then did I brush the women off. I loosened my tie, walked over, and wrapped my arm around Serena's slender waist. "Ready to go home, babe?"
Serena snorted. She was clearly pleased by my gesture, but she still wanted to throw a little tantrum. Seeing a few girls still trying to make a move on me, I lit a cigarette and growled, "Get the hell away from me. If anyone makes my woman unhappy, I’ll put a bullet through their head." The room instantly fell silent. The men kept their mouths shut, terrified of my reputation, while the women glared at Serena with envy. Hearing me call her my woman in front of everyone made Serena’s cheeks flush bright red. No matter how much she used to look down on me, she actually knew how to blush now. "I’ve never seen you act so dominant in public before," Serena purred, pouring me a glass of whiskey. She then pressed her lips to mine, claiming her territory like a spoiled cat. "Let’s go home, babe. You’re drunk," I whispered, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear and gently biting her earlobe. Shivering from the sensation, she finally behaved and agreed to leave with me. But a woman nearby suddenly chimed in, "Leaving already, Serena? We just ordered some hot male hosts to bring up the expensive champagne. You sure you don’t want to stay and play?" I cast a cold glance at that woman, and she quickly turned her face away in fear. "Keep your hands to yourself. My fiancée only needs me." But right as the words left my mouth, the suite door swung open, and a line of male hosts walked in. Kai Sterling was among them. He was wearing a cheap, flashy suit, holding a tray of champagne bottles. The moment he saw Serena, he froze. Then his eyes drifted to our joined hands, and he let out a self-deprecating laugh, lowering his gaze. Serena had been completely focused on me, even teasing me with little touches. Until someone in the crowd shouted: "Wait, isn't that Kai? Wow, after you dumped our rich princess, you really hit rock bottom, huh?" Instantly, a heavy, suffocating silence fell over the room. Serena’s head snapped toward him. Her grip on my hand tightened so hard that her long, manicured nails dug deep into my palm, making me wince. Ashamed of his current state, Kai trembled. The tray slipped from his hands, and the champagne bottles shattered onto the floor, sending glass and liquid flying everywhere. I immediately pulled Serena behind me to protect her. A sharp piece of glass sliced through my suit pants, cutting my calf. Blood started soaking through my pants, but Serena didn’t even notice. Her eyes were locked entirely on the man who had abandoned her years ago. Kai tried to turn and run, but Serena lunged forward and grabbed his collar. Disregarding everyone in the room, she screamed at him, "Kai! How dare you show your face here? Didn't I tell you that if I ever saw you again, I’d kill you!" Yes. Kai was Serena’s first love. Their breakup had been incredibly ugly. They had known each other since childhood—one was the pampered princess of the mafia, and the other was a reckless street punk. To put it plainly, he was just a thug. But back then, Serena was hopelessly in love with him. Later, after a massive fight, Serena’s pride wouldn't let her bow down. To hurt her, Kai got drunk and slept with another woman. When Serena found out, she ruined that woman's life, and her relationship with Kai officially ended. After Kai left, everyone thought Serena hated his guts. But I knew the truth. Kai was the scar on Serena’s heart—unforgettable and impossible to erase.
Watching Serena lose her mind over her ex, I ignored the throbbing pain in my leg and spoke up. "Serena, don't make a scene. Let's keep our dignity." I meant dignity for all of us—for Kai, and especially for me, her fiancé. But Serena glared at me with pure frost. "Who the hell do you think you are? What happens between him and me is none of your damn business!" Her words cut deep. I stopped trying to persuade her and simply narrowed my eyes. Across from her, Kai shot me a mocking, triumphant smirk when Serena wasn't looking. Then, he turned back to Serena, his eyes filling with tender regret. He actually reached out to touch her cheek, whispering softly, "Serena... even if you hate me, you shouldn't have found a replacement. Marrying a man you don’t love just to spite me... it breaks my heart." A street thug like him actually managed to squeeze out tears for her. "About what happened back then... I always wanted to tell you. I was drugged. Everything you saw was a setup. Nothing happened between me and that girl..." Serena froze. "Then... why didn't you explain?" The hatred in her eyes evaporated the moment he claimed he was drugged. She looked at him with nothing but worry and hesitation. Kai let out a bitter laugh. "I knew I had broken your heart, and with my poor background, I felt I didn't deserve you anyway. I didn't want to drag you down..." He didn’t finish his sentence, but Serena was smart enough to fill in the blanks looking at his cheap clothes. "You idiot!" Serena threw herself into Kai’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Kai wrapped his arms around her, shooting a cold, smug look right at me over her shoulder. Of course, Kai's story was absolute garbage. Anyone with half a brain could see through it. But there was no way to prove it. The girl he had slept with had been tortured by Serena years ago and had long since disappeared. But it didn't matter if the whole world knew Kai was lying. Serena believed him. Right in front of me, her fiancé, she forgave the man who had betrayed her and wept for him. My chest felt tight as I stood there, enduring the pitying and mocking stares of everyone in the room. Serena completely ignored me. She clung to Kai's arm and smiled. "Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, come home with me. You can work for my father. I’m bringing you home." "Serena." For the first time, I called her by her full name, my voice dangerously low. "That is *our* home." But Serena didn't even turn around. I heard someone whisper in the background, "Is the princess really getting back with her ex? What about Boss Leo?" "What about him? He’s getting dumped, obviously. Now that the first love is back, why keep Leo? Though, Leo is so capable and loves her so much, even if Serena throws him away, old man Victor won't want to lose such a good son-in-law." Serena heard it too. Finally, she deigned to look at me. Seeing my six-foot-two frame standing there looking miserable and pathetic, she frowned, but said nothing. That night, Serena brought Kai back to the new penthouse I had bought for our future. I had risked my life to earn the money for this place, and now, my fiancée was bringing her ex inside. I walked in behind them, my fists clenched tight. Before closing the door, Kai blocked me outside. "Thanks for dropping us off, Underboss. You can leave now." I let out a cold laugh. Looking at his arrogant face, I pulled out a knife and pressed the blade directly against his carotid artery.
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