Trading My Ex for His Uncle

My childhood friend promised to marry me once we came of age — but at my wedding ceremony, he gave my wedding ring to my stepsister, Summer Hugh.

At the time, it was Victor Lowell, the fearsome mafia heir, who saved me by publicly announcing he had loved me for years.

In the five years we had been married, he would fulfill every wish I had, even those I mentioned offhand. I truly believed I was the center of his world.

All that changed when I stumbled across a top-secret folder as I was cleaning his bookshelf. The very first page was a file on Summer, with three red words printed in bold, “Top protection priority.”

It was followed by a mission report I knew too well.

On the night of the mission, there had been an attempt on my life. My blood had almost run dry before I was saved. When I woke up at the hospital, I found out that I had lost a baby I did not know I had been carrying.

I wept bitterly in Victor’s arms, but I did not tell him about the baby. I did not want him to worry about me more.

Now, I finally found out — Summer had been attacked that night as well, and Victor’s orders had been: “Save Summer first.”

My tears soaked into the paper, smudging his handwriting.

“Alright,” I said softly but firmly into the silence. “If my marriage had been a lie all along, I’ll disappear from your life. Forever.”

...

Once I made all the arrangements for my departure, I ended the call and put the folder where I had found it.

Just then, I caught a familiar whiff of cigarette smoke and instinctively looked up. It was him.

Victor walked in, his suit still chilly from the night air. He hugged me from behind, his warm chest pressed against my back. His voice was soft, low, and magnetic. “Why are you still awake?”

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking of games for our club’s annual teambuilding event.” I smiled, forcing my voice to sound even yet excited.

He kissed the top of my head. “Don’t push yourself too hard. You’ve stayed up too many nights for that project. I found you a new health advisor.”

In the five years since we got married, everyone knew how much Victor loved and pampered me. He would put on an apron and research recipes whenever I said I had no appetite, and he would hold me and sing me lullabies whenever I could not sleep.

They said the heir to the mafia family was cold and heartless, because he saved all his warmth for me.

I once thought his warmth was mine forever, too. Now, though, I knew that this marriage was just another way for him to shield and protect Summer.

“Oh, right,” Victor said casually, pushing a lock of hair behind my ear.

“Tomorrow, we were supposed to visit your parents, to congratulate your stepsister Summer on her pregnancy.” He paused somewhat hesitantly before continuing, “And to congratulate her on her new position as our club’s manager. You should stay home. I’ll give her the present on our behalf and come home right away to keep you company.”

My blood froze over.

I founded that club and ran it for three years. On the surface, it was a first-rate entertainment facility for members only, but in truth, it was our mafia family’s most important intelligence center.

I had poured my heart and soul into running it well. Not only had I designed interesting games to entice the wealthy clientele, but I had also carefully maneuvered the many factions to optimize our family’s benefits.

Yet… He had given the club to her, just like that.

I tried to keep my voice from trembling, but my throat felt dry. “Why? I’ve been managing the club all this while, and the Don agreed to let me design the new games for this year…”

Victor interrupted me, his voice gentle yet cruel. “I told the Don that Summer would take over. She’s pregnant, as you know, so she had mood swings. Managing the club would cheer her up. Besides, I can’t bear to watch you wear yourself out over the club every day. You can use this opportunity to take a break.”

I lowered my eyes to hide my heartbreak. He was giving her the fruits of my hard work like a toy meant to soothe her tantrums.

He did not even notice how upset I was, kissing my forehead softly. “Your birthday’s the day after tomorrow, and I already prepared a surprise for you. You’ve been looking rather pale lately, so I asked the butler to fill the room with gardenias. You love the smell of flowers, don’t you?”

I did love the smell of flowers… except that of gardenias.

One summer night after our wedding, a neighbor’s child ran to me with a bouquet of fresh gardenias and stuffed them into my arms with a giggle.

I could not bring myself to decline the gift, but my chest soon became stuffy. I could not breathe, and red rashes appeared on my skin.

Victor was usually so calm, but he completely lost his cool in that moment. He swept me into his arms and ordered his men to drive us to the hospital, his voice shaking as he called my name.

In the emergency room, he held my hand tightly, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He kept pressing the doctor, saying, “Her breathing’s getting faster! Is she in danger? Can’t you give her some medicine right away?”

Even after my symptoms began to subside, he was still too worried to go home or even drink a sip of water.

Now, however, he had completely forgotten about that incident.

Or perhaps, he remembered… something else.

I recalled the information in the top-secret file I had found. It said Summer’s favorite flower was gardenias.

Perhaps the flowers he had prepared were not truly meant for me.

I looked up and gave him a perfect smile. “Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer the smell of fresh air lately. Could you free up your schedule for my birthday? I have some activities in mind, and I want you to join me.”

He nodded, his voice full of affection. “Of course. Whatever you say, darling.”

That night, I tossed and turned in bed.

Victor’s arm was tightly wrapped around me. When I carefully tried to break free, something fell from his pocket and rolled onto the carpet.

I picked it up. It was a lipstick.

It had a black shell with embossed gold edges, and it was a bright red that I was very familiar with.

It was Summer’s favorite color.

Countless people had asked her where she bought that color, but she just smiled and said it was her “sweet secret”.

It turned out her secret was the unique hue Victor had customized just for her.

That was when my heart went cold for good.

Two days from now, I would give him what he wanted most—

I would be gone from his life forever.