I Left With My Daughter

Cecilia Laurent’s husband, Lyon Melville, was known across North Ameria’s underground circles as the biggest womanizer. As the current Don of the Melville family, the women who wanted to get close to him would line up from New Yorke to Rondon. He never turned anyone away from his bed. Cecilia had been married to Lyon for five years. The taunting messages and intimate photos from his mistresses were enough to fill the storage on three of her encrypted phones. Cecilia showed no mercy. After the photos of Lyon in the car with a model were made public, she had the sports car dismantled completely. When he went out to sea with an actress to watch fireworks, she had the yacht blown to nothing. She blacklisted every woman who tried to cling to him. She overturned tables at family banquets. She risked every bit of dignity she had as the Melville family’s Donna in the hope that he would come back to her. Lyon allowed it. He let the rumors spread without denying anything. For five years, Cecilia was the joke of the family and the entire underworld. When the New Year came around, Cecilia received her first “gift” of the year. It was an intimate photo of Lyon in bed with another woman. At nearly the same time, a headline broke across New Yorke’s social media and tabloids. [Don Melville Meets Superstar Gianna Moretti Late at Night.] Inside the banquet hall of the family estate, the band continued to play. The champagne tower reflected a cold light. Everyone was waiting for her to blow up. Her assistant expertly pulled up the PR department’s number and held the phone out to her. “Donna Melville, the PR team is waiting for your instructions. Do you want us to make this bigger, like last time?” Cecilia looked at the man in the photo. Ten minutes ago, he had held their daughter on the balcony and watched the fireworks together. She suddenly smiled. “Take it down,” she said. “I don’t want to see this on the front page in two hours.” Everyone in New Yorke knew that the Melville family’s Donna loved like a madwoman. She could lose her temper just as easily. But this time, she did not lose control. She wanted a divorce. Chapter 1 Cecilia Laurent ignored the subtle glances people threw her way across the banquet hall. She did not feel a thing. It did not matter what people thought. She only wanted to get through tonight and end her marriage once and for all. After the banquet, Cecilia carried the sleeping Isabella Melville back to the children’s room. She tucked her in carefully and then went alone to the study in the main building. When she opened the door, Lyon Melville’s mother, Margaret Halloway, was sitting by the fireplace. Her expression was grim, as if she had known Cecilia would come. “Cecilia…” Margaret stood up. She looked at her apologetically. “Lyon went too far tonight. When he comes back, I’ll make him explain things to you.” Cecilia shook her head gently. “Madre, I’m not here for an explanation tonight.” Margaret froze for a moment. “Five years ago, my mother was critically ill in Poston. The hospital suddenly stopped the special treatment she needed. You used the Melville family’s Eropean medical network and arranged for a private plane to deliver it to Ameria overnight. Without you, my mother wouldn’t have made it to surgery. “You know that before he passed, my father worked as a legal advisor on insurance and estate matters for several Italise-Amerian shipping families on the East Coast. My mother ran a restoration foundation. “In earlier years, the Melville family handled Eropean trade lines, church hospital donations, and art custodianship. They had frequent dealings with our family. “Later, at a charity auction in Balermo, I spotted a religious painting with a questionable origin for my father. I helped my father and the old Don avoid a federal investigation into cultural property. After that, you and the old Don both said I had the judgment and restraint the Melville family lacked. “Then, you told me that Lyon’d only listen to me. You asked if I wanted to marry into the family and help bring him back on the right path. I agreed. I never forgot your favor. That’s why I stayed, even after he cheated again and again. But I’ve repaid what I could.” The study went quiet. Margaret’s eyes were teary. She reached for Cecilia’s cold fingers. Her voice caught as she said, “I’m the one who brought you into this. I thought Lyon’d actually settle down for you.” Cecilia took a document from her bag and pushed it gently toward her. “I want a divorce,” she said. “I also want custody of Isabella.” Margaret looked at the paper and was silent for a long moment. Finally, she closed her eyes. “All right,” she said softly. “I’ll help you handle it.” Cecilia nodded and turned to leave. Just as she touched the doorknob, Margaret said from behind her in a husky voice, “He was the one who knelt in front of me back then and said he’d only ever marry you.” Cecilia stopped. She remembered it clearly. Back then, Lyon cut ties with several of his former lovers for her and personally handed her the list. On the night he proposed, he cleared out the entire family building, leaving only the two of them. He said, “Cecilia, I can’t give you an ordinary life, but I can pass everything I have in your hands.” She truly believed him at the time. But genuine love was the most fickle thing in the world. When Cecilia returned to her bedroom, her phone lit up. They were texts from Lyon. [I’m at the Gates of Hell. The club you tipped off to the ATF last month. The one that got the underground casino shut down.] [Room V999. If you really want to check up on me, come now.] [And bring a box of condoms.] Chapter 2 Cecilia stared at the texts for a while and did not reply. She opened a delivery app. She ordered a box of extra-large condoms and put Lyon’s name as the recipient. After placing an order, she set her phone face down on the bedside table, turned off the light, and went to sleep. The next morning, Isabella woke up very early. She sat on the edge of the bed as she hugged her little bunny doll. Her curls were messy. Cecilia had just picked out a dress for her when the bedroom door opened. Lyon walked in. He smelled faintly of tobacco and an unfamiliar perfume. “Papa!” Isabella’s eyes lit up, and she jumped into his arms. Lyon lifted her easily. He touched his forehead to hers and smiled. “Today is my little princess’s dentist appointment! Are you scared?” “I’m not scared!” Isabella said in her babyish voice. Cecilia stood quietly to the side and watched them. No matter how terrible he was, Lyon had always acted like a decent father in front of Isabella. He remembered her dental appointments, what she liked to eat, and which stuffed animal she needed when she was afraid of thunder. But being a good father could not make up for being a completely terrible husband. “I’ll take you there.” By the time the car was about to reach the private children’s clinic, Isabella was asleep in the back seat. While waiting at a red light, Lyon turned slightly to look at Cecilia and gave her a faint smile. “Last night, I thought you’d storm into the hotel with people. Instead, I only got a box of condoms. Cecilia, this isn’t like you.” Cecilia looked out the window and did not turn her head to him. “You wanted me to stop making a scene, didn’t you?” she said calmly. “Well, now you got your wish.” Lyon seemed momentarily caught off guard. After two seconds, he scoffed. “Don’t pretend to be so calm. I know exactly what kind of temper you have.” Cecilia said nothing. She took a stack of forms that needed a parent’s signature and handed them to him. “Dental records and summer camp registration. Sign here.” The stack of papers also included the divorce agreement. Lyon did not even look at them. He pulled out a pen and signed them while leaning on the steering wheel. He sighed and said casually, “From now on, handle these little things yourself. You don’t have to wait for me.” Cecilia took back the signed documents and pressed down on the page with the divorce agreement in the middle. Her fingers clenched for a moment. At the clinic entrance, a nurse led a few children through some games before their checkups. Suddenly, a commotion broke out on the other side of the lobby. A young woman held a child and argued at the front desk. She said her insurance had not been approved, so she could not proceed with treatment. Lyon, who was holding Isabella, paused slightly as he noticed the scene. Cecilia recognized the woman immediately. She had been one of Lyon’s brief flings. Cecilia said calmly, “Aren’t you going to step in and help? Aren’t you the best at playing the savior?” Lyon looked away and adjusted Isabella in his arms. “I don’t have time to deal with other people today.” After the checkup, Cecilia took Isabella to the children’s bookstore next door to choose picture books. She crouched by a shelf and picked out a bedtime story when her phone buzzed. Lyon had sent her a text. [Need to take care of something. I’ll make it up to Isabella later.] Almost at the same time, photos appeared on social media. In them, he stood outside the hospital holding the car door open for the woman. He leaned down and spoke to her. He looked patient and almost gentle. Cecilia looked at the photos and felt too exhausted to be angry. Isabella tugged on her sleeve and pointed at a pirate picture book. “Mamma, I want this one.” Cecilia looked down and forced out a smile. “Okay, we’ll get this one.” When they left the store, Cecilia fastened Isabella’s seatbelt and asked softly, “Isabella, if one day your papa and I don’t live together anymore, would you want to come live with me?” Chapter 3 “I want to,” Isabella said without hesitation. “Wherever you go, I’ll go too.” Then, she added, “Papa’s always busy. Just having you with me is enough.” Her words were simple and direct, and that made it hit the hardest. Cecilia stroked her head. After she dropped Isabella back at the estate, her phone rang. It was her assistant. “Donna Melville, the Don sent someone to take a diamond necklace set from your jewelry vault.” The assistant said in a low voice, “He said he only needs it for two days. It has already been sent to Gianna.” Cecilia’s face darkened. That set of jewelry had been her grandmother’s gift to her for her coming-of-age ceremony. She never lent it to anyone, even for media photoshoots. Lyon knew exactly which set to choose. Of course, he picked the one she cared about the most. She paused for a moment. Then, she told her assistant to do two things. The first was to pull up the insurance appraisal and private rental price for the set. The second was to send the invoice to Lyon. If he wanted to show off her things to his mistress, he would pay the highest rental fee. Less than ten minutes after the invoice went out, Cecilia received a bank notification. Lyon had transferred the money. The amount far exceeded the normal rental fee. There was also a note. [Enough?] Cecilia did not reply. In the days that followed, Lyon remained in the public eye. He appeared at casinos, on yachts, at film premieres, and at night banquets at the harbor. Photos of him and Gianna Moretti were everywhere. The gossip pages made the story explosive, as if the Melville family was about to replace its current Donna. Cecilia stopped following the news. She focused her energy on her consulting firm. She checked the inventory of her collection, organized the restoration team, and completed the final preparations for the upcoming charity preview. She had believed that once she stepped back, many things would cease being her concern. Everything changed on Isabella’s birthday. The estate was filled with guests. They were all familiar faces whom Margaret had invited. Cecilia personally inspected the dessert table and the children’s area. When she came out of the kitchen, she noticed a circle of people in the main hall. Isabella stood in the middle. Her eyes filled with tears. She looked clearly frightened. Gianna crouched in front of her. She was holding a limited-edition motorized teddy bear almost as tall as Isabella. A beautifully wrapped amusement park tickets lay next to her. “Isabella, this is a gift I prepared specially for you.” Gianna smiled sweetly. “Next time, I’ll take you there myself. Okay?” Isabella instinctively took a step back and whispered, “I don’t want it.” “Why don’t you want it?” Gianna stayed in front of her, as if she had to keep the cheerful show going. “I really like children.” Cecilia walked forward and pulled Isabella behind her. Her eyes were cold and sharp. “Stay away from her!” The smile on Gianna’s face froze. She looked at Lyon nearby with a wounded face. “I just wanted to give her a gift…” Lyon walked over and frowned. “Cecilia, it’s Isabella’s birthday. Do you have to make a scene here as well?” Cecilia looked at him. Her voice was quiet but firm, and everyone around instantly went silent. “You used my jewelry to make her happy, and now you bring her here to my daughter’s birthday party to act like a caring mother! Do you really think that just because I’ve been quiet these past few days, I don’t matter anymore?” Lyon’s face darkened immediately. He hated it when she refused to show him respect in front of others. “Gianna is my guest today,” he said coldly. “The gift is for Isabella. It’s not for you to judge. Stop causing trouble.” “Gift?” Cecilia almost laughed. “She cornered my daughter. She knew Isabella was shy around strangers and still forced her way forward. You call that giving a gift?” Isabella held onto Cecilia’s dress tightly. Her face was pale. Margaret sat at the head of the table. Her expression was grim. Gianna realized things had gone wrong, and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know she would reject me like this. I only wanted to help Don Melville a little—” “Do you even deserve to?” Cecilia coldly cut her off. The room went completely tense. Lyon stepped forward and stood in front of Gianna. His voice was low. “Enough! Don’t make this any worse.” His willingness to side with Gianna hurt more than any explanation could. Cecilia did not argue. She picked up Isabella and turned away from the crowd. At that moment, she realized that the last bit of hope she had for this man was fading, little by little. Chapter 4 Isabella came down with a slight fever that night. Cecilia stayed with her past midnight. When Isabella’s temperature finally dropped, Cecilia returned to the study and continued sorting through her assets and documents. She needed to get everything in order before she left. When she reached the family trust under Isabella’s name, she suddenly stopped. The numbers did not match. The old Don had personally set up an education trust in her name. The terms clearly stated that no one could access the funds in advance. Yet within just a few days, most of the money had been withdrawn. The approval signature was Lyon’s. The funds had been transferred into a newly established film production company. Cecilia stared at the transaction records. A chill spread down her spine. She did not need to investigate to know who the company was meant for. She did not go to the family building, and she did not go to the harbor to find him. She drove straight to the pre-marital apartment in Mahattan’s Upper East Side. It was her property. It was the place Lyon used to visit most often when he was chasing after her. She had always believed that, at the very least, this place would remain untouched. The moment the fingerprint lock opened, an unfamiliar fragrance rushed toward her. She understood that she had been wrong. There was an unfinished bottle of champagne on the coffee table in the living room. A woman’s shawl lay on the couch. Low, hushed laughter came from the bedroom. When she walked in, Gianna stood by the window. She wore one of Cecilia’s silk robes while holding a glass of wine. That robe had been custom-made for Cecilia in Nilam. There was only one like it in the world. Lyon stood nearby. He had just finished fastening his cufflinks. He did not look the least bit embarrassed at having been caught. “How did you find this place?” he asked as he looked at her. His tone was calm and almost indifferent. Cecilia did not answer. She threw the trust transaction records onto the table. “Did you touch Isabella’s money?” Gianna’s eyes turned teary, and she said, “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. That film project was originally meant for me, but the contract suddenly required a large guaranteed investment. Don Melville only wanted to help me! I didn’t expect it to make you this angry.” Cecilia looked at her. Her gaze was cold as ice. “Help you?” She turned to Lyon. “You used your daughter’s money to buy your mistress a role?” Lyon frowned, as if her words were unpleasant to his ears. “It is just a temporary transfer,” he said. His tone remained steady. “At the end of the month, a batch of payments from the port will come in. I’ll put the money back.” “That’s Isabella’s trust! It’s not your cash pool.” “Cecilia…” Lyon’s voice turned cold. “Don’t make it sound so ugly. Company projects and family accounts are often used to cover each other. I know what I’m doing.” Cecilia looked at the man in front of her. It all felt like a cruel joke. In the past, no matter how far he went, he had never touched anything that belonged to Isabella. Just to please a woman, he had dared to use the protection the old Don had left for his granddaughter. “Fine!” She gave a slight nod. “What about this apartment? Is this place also something you can use however you like, just to please someone?” Lyon looked around. It was as if he had just remembered where he was. He took out a checkbook from his inner pocket and wrote a string of numbers. He tore out the check and placed it in front of her. “This is the rent,” he said. “I added an extra cleaning fee. If you think this place is dirty, have someone clean it.” He spoke as if he were dealing with a hotel suite. Cecilia looked at the check. At that moment, all her anger drained away. She did not look at them again and did not argue. She folded the check and put it into her bag. She said indifferently, “Fine. Then, I’ll charge at market rate. I’ll charge you for every day you stay.” She turned and walked out. When she reached the door, Lyon seemed to grow impatient. He lowered his voice and said warningly, “Don’t drag my mother into this. You’ve already made enough of a scene lately.” Cecilia did not stop. The familiar decor faded from her view. She vaguely remembered that she and Lyon once shared a few good moments here. After all these years, those memories only made her feel nauseous. Chapter 5 The next day, Lyon sent a gift to the villa as an apology. It was a set of diamond jewelry and an unsigned check. Cecilia did not look at them. She told the housekeeper to lock them in the storage room. She did not ask about the trust again and did not get angry about Gianna. Lyon seemed to take her silence as a sign of compromise. He stopped paying attention to the household. He spent his time wrapped up in Gianna’s world. Gossip about them appeared everywhere. Gianna had risen from a struggling, small-time actress to the very top. News of her rise spread through gossip magazines and the family’s business circles. Nightclub managers, port agents, and a few longtime Melville associates whispered about how long Gianna could stay famous and how much her limited advantages were really worth. But more than that, people remembered how Lyon had pursued Cecilia. He cleared every other woman from his life, settled disputes over her collections, and handed her the cleanest properties and accounts. Everyone in the Melville family knew that when Lyon loved someone, he bet everything. When he walked away, he left nothing behind. The comparison struck Cecilia. It unlocked memories she had not expected. She froze for a moment. When Lyon had pursued her back then, he cut off every messy relationship. All of New Yorke had known that he loved her completely. He raced through the streets for her and fought with people from rival families. He gave her everything he had. So, when Margaret saved her mother and suggested that she marry Lyon, she had agreed. Margaret said that only she could keep Lyon’s heart grounded. Cecilia had believed she was the exception. She believed she was the safe harbor that could finally give the wandering Lyon a place to stay. Looking back, that seemed laughable. She turned her focus back to her career. She returned to the private art consulting firm she had founded before her marriage. The firm handled antique restoration, private appraisals, and collection management for high-end clients. In a few days, she would co-host a charity preview auction with a long-established Mahattan auction house. This was the firm’s most important project of the year. Cecilia had spent six months preparing for the preview. She flew to Rondon to secure authorizations from collectors. She invited museum curators and a highly respected actress from the collecting world to attend the event. Everything was meant to establish her firm in New Yorke’s high-end art circles. That evening, the preview opened under the cold white light of the crystal chandeliers. After the host finished the opening speech, someone walked up the red carpet to the main stage. It was Gianna, dressed to the nines. Cecilia froze for a moment. Her face went cold. She could not storm the stage and interrupt the event. Lyon was there too. He stood at her side while holding a glass of wine. Two family bodyguards, usually assigned to casino security, followed behind him. Cecilia understood immediately whose plan this was. Her voice was cold as ice. “Lyon, why did you replace the opening guest I selected?” “It’s just a preview. Anyone on stage can speak.” He swirled his wine. His tone was calm and almost arrogant. “Gianna wants to raise her profile. The art world suits her better than a movie premiere. Letting her have a moment at your event is nothing. I already had the accounts at the Booklyn docks adjusted to cover the trust funds. Don’t make a scene and try to damage the Melville family’s reputation.” Cecilia felt her stomach churn. She took a deep breath to hold back the impulse to confront him immediately. The room was full of collectors, agents, and auction directors. She could not allow the preview she had spent six months preparing to collapse in front of everyone. When it came time to introduce the key pieces, Gianna appeared uneasy. She stammered through the description of a nineteenth-century oil painting and a bronze pocket watch. She could not even get the basic introduction right. When a reporter asked about the restoration process, Gianna panicked and rambled, “Uh… I guess you just make it look old and then refresh it… It just has to look fancy…” The audience immediately erupted in whispers. A few experienced collectors looked at each other in disbelief. The auction director’s face went nearly red with anger. The next moment, Gianna tried to cover up her mistake. She reached for the antique pocket watch in the display case. She fumbled and knocked over a glass of champagne that a server had just handed her. The liquid ran across the display and soaked the corner of a classical oil painting that had just been restored. Chaos broke out instantly. “Is she insane?!” “Who let her touch the restored pieces?!” “She can’t even tell the difference between valuable items! How could the firm let this person speak on stage?” Gianna froze, and her face turned pale. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Lyon. Lyon had the bodyguards escort her off the stage. Then, he turned to Cecilia. His voice was calm, almost indifferent. “It’s her first time in a setting like this. Mistakes happen. I’ll cover the loss on that painting. The finance team will take the funds from the profits of the underground casino and the nightclub. Don’t make a scene.” The plan to use this preview to connect with high-end clients was completely ruined. Cecilia’s phone started buzzing nonstop. The first message was from the auction partner. They accused the firm of violating the consignment agreement. The second message was from the insurance company. They warned of increased risk and requested a new assessment of the damaged items. Soon after, several collectors she was negotiating with texted her saying that they wanted to reassess their cooperation. Finally, her assistant sent her an urgent report. Three clients had requested to withdraw their collections. Two partner institutions wanted to terminate their agreements and reserved the right to take action. Chapter 6 Cecilia gave Lyon no chance to argue. She sent the auction house’s accountability letter, the insurance company’s estimated losses, and the restoration team’s written report straight to his email. She also copied the two Melville family Consiglieri in charge of finance and legal affairs. Each loss was documented clearly, like she was handling a business claim with no emotion. Lyon glanced at the emails. His face darkened. “I said I’ll cover the costs. You didn’t need to send these to the family Consiglieri.” “This is my project, not a training ground for your mistress.” Cecilia looked at him. “You used the Melville name to boost her fame. When something goes wrong, it naturally has to follow the Melville family’s process.” Lyon frowned and turned toward the small terrace to make a phone call. Gianna lifted her head and looked at Cecilia. She had no fear or remorse on her face, only smugness. “See?” Gianna said in a low voice. Her eyes shone with triumph. “All I need to do is say just one word, and Don Melville will take your firm and put it under my name. Everything you built, your connections, collectors, and reputation, is worth less to him than the dress I’m wearing tonight. Cecilia, you’re insane. You held Donna’s position for too long, and yet, in the end, you still lost.” Cecilia looked at her arrogant, triumphant face and smiled. “Yeah, I guess I lost my mind before. Since you know I’m insane, why do you challenge me like this?” Cecilia raised her hand and slapped Gianna squarely in the face. The sharp smack echoed through the lounge. Gianna stumbled back. She covered her face and stared in shock. She clearly did not expect Cecilia to hit her. At almost the same moment, Lyon finished his phone call and turned around. He saw Cecilia’s hand strike Gianna, and then Gianna fell to the floor. “Cecilia!” Lyon’s expression darkened. He pushed Cecilia aside with all his strength and caught Gianna in his arms. Cecilia was caught completely off guard. The force sent her stumbling backward. Her side hit the sharp corner of a display table. Pain shot through her waist, and cold sweat soaked her back instantly. Lyon did not look at her pale, hurt face. He checked to see if Gianna was hurt. Then, he looked up at Cecilia. His voice was icy and terrifying. “Cecilia, enough!” Cecilia gripped the edge of the table and endured the pain. She said coldly, “Enough? You used my daughter’s trust fund to fill her gaps. You used my preview to prop her up. You covered for her on my own project. Lyon, do you know what you look like right now? You look like a dog on a leash being led around by Gianna!” Lyon’s chest heaved with rage. He swung and slapped Cecilia hard across the face. “Don’t cross the line!” After that, he pulled Gianna close and walked out in long strides. Cecilia pressed her hand to her face. The burning pain grew stronger. She suddenly laughed. She laughed bitterly at herself for being so naive and for ever believing this man’s promises. She laughed at herself for acting like a madwoman all those years, just to repay a favor. Some time later, the phone rang, breaking the silence. It was Margaret. Cecilia took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound normal. “Madre.” “Cecilia,” Margaret said apologetically, “the paperwork will be fully completed in five days. You can rest assured. I know Lyon betrayed you. The assets that belong to you have already been sorted out by the lawyers. I’ll never let you or Isabella lose anything.” “Thank you.” “There’s one more thing,” Margaret continued after a pause. “In a few days, there’ll be a memorial mass for the old Don. By family tradition, there’ll also be an afternoon luncheon. The old Don liked you very much while he was alive. Would you help me one last time and make sure both the mass and the luncheon are organized properly?” Cecilia was silent for a few seconds. The old Don had indeed treated her kindly. This would be her final farewell to the family. “All right. I’ll take care of everything.” Chapter 7 The day of old Don’s memorial mass was bitterly cold. Cecilia arrived at the estate early. She checked every detail herself, from the wreaths and the guest list to the arrangements for the family luncheon in the afternoon. No matter how badly her marriage with Lyon had fallen apart, the old Don had treated her well. She wanted to see this farewell done with dignity. Just before the ceremony began, engines roared outside. Lyon had returned. He was not alone. Gianna stepped out of the car wearing an overly formal black dress. She linked her arm with his and walked slowly toward the estate. Her expression was composed. She looked like a woman who already had one foot inside the Melville family. Cecilia glanced at her and said nothing. During the entire mass, she hardly spoke to Lyon. The priest read the eulogy at the front while family members laid flowers one by one. Margaret’s expression was tense from beginning to end. After the mass, everyone moved to the side room for the memorial luncheon. The table was filled with traditional Cicilian dishes and cold cuts. The atmosphere should have been restrained and solemn. Gianna’s presence, however, made it awkward. Finally, Lyon’s aunt, Elizabeth Melville, set down her knife and fork. She said with a cold face, “Lyon, you know what kind of occasion this is. Bringing a woman from outside to a family memorial is an embarrassment to everyone, isn’t it?” Her words silenced the entire room. Gianna pressed her lips together. Her eyes quickly turned teary. She hesitated for a moment, then pulled a prenatal test report from her bag. Her voice trembled as she said, “I know I shouldn’t have come. But this child in my belly is part of the Melville bloodline. I just wanted him to know what his grandfather was like.” The words “bloodline” changed everyone’s expressions. Some frowned, some exchanged glances, and most instinctively looked at Cecilia. Even Lyon froze for a moment. He clearly did not know about this. Gianna looked up at him with a pleading face. “I wanted to tell you in private, Don Melville. I didn’t want to force you. I only want the child to grow up knowing who his grandfather was.” Margaret clenched her napkin tightly. Elizabeth’s face turned red with anger. “Cecilia and Isabella are here! If you want to act crazy, at least pick another day!” Lyon was silent for a few seconds. He did not deny anything. He said coldly, “Since she’s pregnant, her coming to the memorial mass doesn’t break any rules.” His words cut through the room like a knife and stripped away the last layer of restraint. In the past few years, Lyon had come across women trying to have his child through their own tricks. He had always spent money to make them disappear. He had said that no other woman could bear his child. No matter how messy things got, Isabella remained the only child of the Melville family. But Gianna was pregnant, and Lyon had admitted the child was his. If this had happened before, Cecilia might have smashed a glass or overturned the table. But she remained seated. She felt surprisingly calm. Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something, but Cecilia stood and beat her to it. “Today is the old Don’s memorial,” she said indifferently. “Let’s not ruin this solemn occasion.” She reached for Isabella’s hand. Isabella wore a little black dress. She looked around at the adults with wide, innocent eyes. She did not understand what was happening, but she could feel the tension in the room. She quietly let her hand slip into Cecilia’s. Cecilia looked at Margaret. “Madre, I’ll take Isabella back home then. I’ll leave the rest to you.” Margaret’s lips moved. Her eyes shone with awkwardness and apology. She whispered, “Go ahead.” Cecilia nodded and led Isabella toward the door. When she passed Lyon, it seemed he wanted to reach out and stop her. But in the end, he only frowned and said, “Cecilia…” She did not look back. Lyon stood frozen. He looked at her straight and determined back and felt a strange unease. But he pushed that down almost immediately. Cecilia had loved him for so many years. She would not leave him easily. Chapter 8 After Cecilia took Isabella back to the villa, she let her take a nap as she headed into the study. The divorce procedures were almost finished. She did not want to waste any more energy on Lyon or Gianna. Some people, however, seemed determined to push her to the edge. In the late afternoon, the nanny came to the study door, almost in tears. “Donna Melville! Isabella’s missing!” Cecilia sprang to her feet. She knocked over the chair. “What do you mean? Wasn’t she painting in the backyard?” “I went to the kitchen to get her some juice. When I came back, she was gone!” The nanny’s hands shook as she handed Cecilia a voice recorder. “All I found by the lawn was this…” Cecilia forced herself to stay calm and pressed play. A woman’s voice came through. It was distorted but sharp and triumphant. “Cecilia, you tried to put an obstacle in my path, and your daughter’s going to be a problem for my child. If you won’t give up the spot, I’ll decide for you.” Even with the distortion, the tone and the way the words were spoken left no doubt. It was Gianna. Luckily, the bracelet Isabella always wore had a tracking chip. Her assistant quickly pinpointed the signal. The location was an old dockyard in Booklyn. It was a ship maintenance warehouse that had remained out of use for years. Cecilia snatched her car keys and ran out the door. She pressed the gas hard as she drove and gave orders over the phone. “Find everything on Gianna. Nightclub security footage, fake diplomas, bank transfers with producers, and any contracts showing that the company cleaned her records. I want it all released tonight.” Her assistant replied, “Understood.” By the time Cecilia reached the old dock, it was completely dark. The warehouse area was a mess. Shipping containers were stacked like walls. Thick smoke poured from the farthest warehouse, and gasoline had been poured across its entrance. Flames crawled up the metal walls. Inside, Isabella was locked in. “Mamma!!!” Isabella’s tearful cry hit Cecilia like a knife. She ignored the danger. She grabbed a blanket from the ground, wrapped it around herself, and kicked the half-closed metal door open. She ran straight inside. The warehouse was stacked with old ropes and wooden crates. The wiring was ancient, and the fire spread fast. Smoke filled the air, and it made Cecilia’s eyes sting. At the far end, Isabella crouched under an old workbench. Her face was streaked with tears. “It’s okay! I’m here.” Cecilia grabbed Isabella and held her tight. She wrapped her in her soaked coat and whispered calming words as she pressed against the wall. She then ran toward the exit. A sudden crash came from behind. A burned wooden beam fell and nearly hit her shoulder. She did not look back. She kept her arms around Isabella and ran through the flames. When they finally collapsed on the ground, Isabella coughed violently from the smoke. Her hands shook as she clutched Cecilia’s coat. She cried so hard that she could barely speak. Cecilia held Isabella. Her body was trembling all over. Fear, anger, and a fierce need for revenge boiled inside her. After the ambulance took Isabella to the hospital, Cecilia finally freed a hand and checked her phone. Within hours, Gianna’s name was on every major headline. Leaked videos, old bills, nightclub photos, behind-the-scenes footage, and evidence of bribed doctors fabricating reports all came out. Gianna’s careful “innocent rising star” image was shattered completely overnight. Footsteps pounded down the hospital corridor. Lyon arrived with his men. His expression was dark. Gianna followed behind him, and her face was wet with tears. “Cecilia!” he demanded the moment he walked in. He held back his anger as he spoke. “Was this your doing? Gianna’s getting attacked all over the internet right now! Are you happy now?” Cecilia slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze. Her eyes were icy. He did not even ask about Isabella’s condition. Instead, the first thing he did was defend Gianna. This was ridiculous! Cecilia smiled and asked, “Lyon, do you know your daughter was almost burned alive at the docks tonight?” His anger froze instantly. Gianna, behind him, went pale. He finally seemed to realize what had happened. His eyes moved past Cecilia toward the hospital room door. His voice grew tight. “Isabella… how…” Cecilia said nothing. She tossed the voice recorder to him. “If you want to know how, listen to it yourself.” Chapter 9 Lyon’s gaze settled on the recorder. He had not moved. Gianna stood behind him. Her face changed. Her voice trembled with sobs. Tears streamed down her face. “Donna Melville, do you really hate me this much? Ruining my reputation wasn’t enough? Are you going to use a fabricated recording to accuse me of trying to hurt Isabella?” She pressed a hand over her belly. Her body curled slightly. “Don Melville cares so much about Isabella. I see her as my own child. How could I ever harm her?” The uncertainty on Lyon’s face disappeared. His face turned completely dark. He looked down at Gianna in his arms. She cried so hard that she seemed close to fainting. Then, he lifted his gaze and looked at Cecilia. She looked calm. “Cecilia, you’re willing to frame Gianna and put our daughter’s life at risk for this?” Cecilia looked at him in silence. It was as if she wanted to see through the face she had once loved and understand everything about him. After a while, she let out a soft laugh. Even that sounded empty of emotion. “Lyon, you really are blind.” She did not wait for an answer. She turned, pushed open the hospital room door, and walked inside. The hospital room was quiet. Isabella was sleeping. Her face looked pale, but her breath was steady. Cecilia walked to the bed and sat down at the edge. Her fingers touched Isabella’s soft hair. A strange calm filled her. The earlier scene had drained all emotion from her. She stayed in that room for a long time. Sunlight filtered through the window and spilled across the floor. Her phone screen lit up. Three new texts appeared. The first two were from Lyon. [Gianna’s emotionally unstable, and the baby’s at risk. The doctors say she shouldn’t be put through stress.] [No matter what, the child’s still part of the Melville bloodline. To keep her calm, I might give her a title. Behave yourself. It won’t affect your position.] Every word showed his bias clearly. He did not ask whether the recording was real or fake. In his mind, Gianna and the child in her belly mattered far more than the truth. Cecilia read the messages without any reaction. She replied to him. [Do as you wish.] The third text was from Margaret. [Cecilia, all the paperwork is finished and has been sent to the airport. Isabella’s custody documents are included. Take care.] Cecilia breathed deeply. The knot in her chest loosened. She sent a simple reply. [Thank you.] Cecilia finished the paperwork to discharge Isabella. The little girl leaned on her for comfort and whispered, “Mamma, are we going home?” “Yes, we’re going home.” Cecilia kissed Isabella’s forehead and carried her to the car. They returned to the villa. This place was full of too many memories. Cecilia did not pause. She went straight upstairs, entered the dressing room, and took out a suitcase. She began to pack. Her movements were quick and decisive. She showed no hesitation. She packed only the things she and Isabella would need. She also packed some of Isabella’s handmade crafts. The expensive jewelry and fancy clothes stayed untouched. All those things she had gained as Donna Melville no longer mattered. When she looked around the place that had once been her home, her heart remained calm and steady. There was no warmth here anymore. It was only an elegant and empty shell. Cecilia picked up Isabella, grabbed the suitcase, and walked out the door without looking back. They got into the car and drove straight to the airport. As the plane rose into the sky, a blanket of clouds stretched beneath the window. Isabella slept in her arms and breathed evenly. Cecilia watched the ground disappear farther and farther away until it vanished completely. The plane would land in Ros Angeles. There would be no Lyon, no Melville family, no suffocating entanglements. Her new life with Isabella was just beginning.