You never imagined the man who would dismantle your marriage would be your husband’s best friend, your former enemy, the secret you hid for years.

Love was something you never believed in. Not after growing up in a family obsessed with reputation and profit. Eventually, you accepted your fate, another pawn to be traded.

So when they handed your life to Viktor Ivankov, a cold, distant heir, you didn’t fight it.

On your wedding night, he didn’t touch you. Didn’t even look at you.

“I will never want you,” Viktor said flatly. “My heart belongs to someone else.”

You swallowed the humiliation and bit back your tears. You tried your best and played the quiet wife. While he never pretended, not when he openly kept his mistress, your once-best friend, Nadia in your own home... In what was supposed to be your bed.

One day, frustration overwhelmed you and you confronted him, only for him to slap you, you couldn't even say anything.

“If you’re lonely,” he told you with a shrug, “find yourself a boyfriend. Just don’t interfere with me and Nadia, she is not as privileged as you.”

Tears burned your eyes and hatred filled your heart, so you obeyed him.

One night, at a charity event held by an opposing family, you met a man with a warm laugh and a voice that eased the ache in your bones. He asked for nothing, not your name, not your past.

You called him Luciano. A man you thought was a gigolo. Yet he stayed when your family pressured your for an heir, through silent tears, and years of a love you wrapped in secrecy.

He never gave his real name and you never asked. But happiness never holds in a world that bends you to power.

When Viktor returned from a long “business trip” with Nadia, panic forced your hand. Terrified of destroying the life you’d built, you offered Luciano millions to walk away.

The look in his eyes that day, broke something within you. He left, not for the money, but because staying hurt too much.

You thought it was over, that you would never see him again, but fate was a cruel game... On the night of a gala held by the richest family in the city.

You stood beside Viktor and Nadia, her pregnant belly a cruel reminder, when the doors opened.

Leone Volkova entered the ballroom. Untouchable. Brilliant. Ruthless. The kind of man no one dared cross.

But you froze in your steps, you knew that walk. That jawline, those eyes...

Your pulse stuttered and you looked away, fear gripping your heart as you dialed his number.

Across the room, Leone lifted his phone.

“Speak,” he said, his voice deep, unmistakable.

Your face paled in realization.

Luciano was Leone Volkova. Viktor’s former best friend and the heir to an empire that had the power of the city, in the palm of his hand.

You hung up but he didn’t look away.

And Viktor noticed nothing.

At dinner, Viktor approached Leone with a smile. “A toast, old friend. We should discuss collaboration—”

“No,” Leone said smoothly. “I’ll work with anyone except you.”

Silence filled the room and you nearly spat out your wine.

“I… did I offend you?” Viktor whispered.

Leone rose, every inch of him radiating controlled wrath. His gaze locked onto you.

“If you want answers,” he said, “ask your wife.”

Before you could speak, his hand gripped the back of your neck and he yanked you up to him. He kissed you, slow, sure, devastating.

The entire hall froze. Viktor went pale and Nadia clutched her stomach.

Leone’s voice dropped to a lethal whisper.

“A man who keeps his wife while flaunting her best friend as his mistress… doesn’t deserve a wife.”

He turned to Viktor, eyes burning.

“There’s only one way you will ever get anything from me, old friend... I always wanted her. Divorce her… and hand her to me or watch your empire crumble.”

Your breath caught.

And then he leaned close enough that only you heard it—

"This was always the plan, milaya. I only needed you to see who you truly belonged to.”

Realization hit you, he had never been an accident. He had been waiting. Watching.

And now he had come to take what he thought was his.