After my eighth suicide attempt, my terrifyingly powerful mob-boss boyfriend finally settled down. No more underground poker games, no more strip clubs, no more mistresses. His bitter rival laughed at him, saying he was being treated like a dog on a leash by a woman. He just brushed it off with a smile. His crew whispered behind my back, saying I lacked the composure to be a boss's woman. Dominic's face instantly turned to stone. He turned to me, his voice softening just for me: "Clara, ignore their bullshit." "We survived the worst of it together. You think I’d let a couple of rumors break us now? If I did, then me cleaning up my act would have been for nothing." I believed him. Until one day, I came home early. Dominic looked up from the young girl tangled in his sheets. He gave me a look of deep regret. "I really didn't want to break your heart." "I hid it perfectly. Why did you have to come home a day early?" I stared at the wrecked state of the bedroom. I calmly walked over and poured myself a glass of water. His first instinct was to pull the girl tightly into his arms, shielding her. "Lily isn't like you," he said. "She's the reason I finally decided to settle down for good." "You can either pretend you didn't see this, or I can make her an official part of this family. You choose. I'll go with whatever you decide." In that moment, everything finally clicked into place. I had tried to kill myself eight times. I had caused massive, city-wide scandals. But his ultimate "reformation"? It was never for me. I set the water glass back on the table and spoke softly. "Either works." "So I'll step aside for her." ...