Chapter 1
I’d been with a Mafia Boss Rhys Keller for ten years.[]
Yet on the day he went legit, his crew called someone else “boss lady.“[]
Those hands that had weathered blood and violence slipped canvas shoes onto another girl’s feet.]
“Camden, she’s different from you,” he said.[]
“You can risk everything and being with me without a ring, but she can’t.“[]
I didn’t look back that day.[]
What Rhys didn’t know was that my family had already lined up a suitable man for me, just waiting for me to give him a chance.[]
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The day Rhys decided to go straight, he made passionate love to me until we were completely exhausted.
I stared at my underwear torn to shreds on the floor, momentarily speechless.
“khys, is the apocalypse coming or something?” []
The way he’d fucked me with such desperation… it was like there wouldn’t be a tomorrow.[]
Rhys was smoking his post–sex cigarette. His hooded eyelids drooped, his expression dreamy.[]
“Camden, if I broke things off with you…” []
“You wouldn’t go all dramatic on me, right?“]]
His tone made it sound like a joke, but it sent chills down my spine.[]
After ten years with Rhys, I knew his temperament well. He liked docile women, yet still with a stubborn and rebellious streak.[]
Just like now—I directly took the half–smoked cigarette from his hand, pushing down the emotions churning inside me, lazily raising an eyebrow.[]
“Rhys, you think I’m still eighteen or something?“]
If I were still that eighteen–year–old girl in canvas shoes, I would have demanded answers if Rhys abandoned me, not valuing my own life in the process.[]
But now I was twenty–eight…[]
I choked up, unable to finish my thought.[]
Rhys ruffled my hair and stubbed out the cigarette that was about to burn my fingers.]
“Camden, then let’s end it here.”
“Quit smoking too. Stop fucking treating your body like it’s disposable.”
“We’re not kids anymore. We can’t keep living like this.“]
In that moment, I was completely stunned.[]
Breaking up at twenty–eight–whoever cries first loses everything.]
Ruined makeup made me looks pathetic–I pretended to be casual, picking up my jacket from the floor, ready to leave.
However, in the next second, Rhys reached out with his long arm, pulling me back into his embrace.]
Outside, storm clouds gathered like thick ink, rain about to fall
Rhys’s lass landed on my spine as he skillfully adjusted the straps of my dress.]
He bit my earlobe like he always used to, whispering softly. “Hear that?“]
I didn’t answer, but he wasn’t bothered.[]
His words carried the absolute control of someone who knew they had power.
“It’s going to rain. Stay a little longer, hum?“]
Ten years can smooth all conflicts into surface calm.]
Chapter 1
Rhys had probably forgotten that my temperament wasn’t just for show.[]
If it’s over, it should be completely over.]]
I straightened my back, pushing away his sculptured, handsome face, letting out a light laugh.
“How long will this rain last?“]
He had someone else in his heart. How long could he keep me anyway?
In that moment, Rhys’s eyebrow twitched. But he quickly composed himself.
“Camden, you’re a smart woman.”
“Her name is Lily. She’s different from you. You can risk everything and being with me without a ring.“|
“She can’t. She’s too pure.“]
I choked up.
Looking down at the mess around us, I suddenly not knowing what to say.
What did he mean I could risk everything and being with him without a ring?
Black stockings, high heels, spaghetti straps–Rhys had dressed me according to his preferences for so many years.]
And now that I’d grown accustomed to being sexy and alluring, he found it tacky?
In that moment, I wanted to challenge Rhys.]
But he put his finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet.
It was Lily calling.
“Rhys, didn’t you say you were coming to pick me up?“[]
“I’m all alone, I’m scared…“]
Rhys left me behind.[]
The underground garage rumbled, and I received a text message.[]
[I won’t be around for a while. Pack up all your stuff from the house.]]
[In two weeks, I’ll have someone change the locks.]]
I didn’t reply, just silently cleared out all traces of myself from the villa I’d lived in for five years.[]
After a long while, my phone screen lit up again.[]
Rhys had probably already met the terrified Lily.[]
He was now making a proper end to our ten–year relationship.[]
“Call me if you need anything.”
“Except for not being able to give you a ring, we’re still friends.“]]
I had loved Rhys for ten years.]]
1
Huh. In return, I got a casual dismissal: “we’re still friends.”
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