Chapter 2The Don Hid Me for Seven Years

William came home the next morning and walked over to the bed, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

“Lilith, did you miss me?”

Even now, the tenderness in his eyes still made my heart tremble.

I remembered last winter, when he had taken a knife meant for me and needed seventeen stitches to close the wound.

I stayed beside him in the hospital for three days and three nights, and the first thing he said when he finally woke up was, “Don’t cry. I’m not going to die. I still have to marry you.”

Back then, I truly believed this was a man who would give his life for me.

William reached into his pocket and took out a gift box with a necklace inside.

“This would look perfect on you. Do you like it?”

I suddenly remembered the vlog the influencer had posted that morning, showing William shopping for jewelry with her.

The necklace he had brought me was the cheapest one they had looked at.

“Thank you.”

I took the box from him and casually set it aside.

Noticing my indifference, William frowned and seemed about to say something when his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, and his expression shifted slightly before he got up and walked onto the balcony to answer it.

I heard him lower his voice.

“Give me a little while. I know. Don’t fuss. Be good.”

After hanging up, he turned back to me with an apologetic look.

“Lilith, something came up and I have a meeting to attend. I’ll come back and spend time with you later.”

“Okay.”

I nodded and found myself wondering how many times William had done this, coming home only to leave again almost immediately because something had supposedly come up.

I used to think he was simply busy, but now the whole thing felt almost insulting.

I waited until William left, then quietly got into my car and followed him.

His car eventually stopped outside a warehouse by the docks, and I followed him inside.

A formal gathering was already underway, with bodyguards standing in two orderly rows.

The warehouse was crowded and lively, while William stood on a raised platform beside a young woman with her arm linked through his.

A middle-aged man standing beside them appeared to be her father, and he addressed the guests below.

“Today is an important day, not only because it marks the beginning of our partnership with Mr. William, but because I also have some wonderful news to share. William and Laura will be getting married this October!”

Behind them, a large screen displayed photographs of William and Laura together outside Palermo Cathedral.

William assured the older man that he would treat Laura well and never disappoint her.

Four months earlier, I had asked William to go with me to Palermo Cathedral to pray.

He had refused.

“Honey, you know I don’t believe in that kind of thing.”

Now, surrounded by cheers, William dropped to one knee, slipped a ring onto Laura’s finger, and pressed an intimate kiss to her fingertips.

Every part of the scene hurt to watch, and I couldn’t stop myself from trembling.

I was about to turn and leave when the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of my head.

A chilling voice sounded behind me.

“Turn around.”

I slowly turned, only to find myself looking directly into William’s eyes.

The moment he recognized me, his eyes widened in shock.