Owned by the Don

The midnight bell had just struck twelve when the sound of keys turning came from the entryway.

I had been dozing on the couch with my head propped up, but hearing the noise, I jumped up excitedly, looked down at the sexy nightgown I was wearing - the neckline was very low, leaving my chest completely exposed.

I hesitated for a moment, didn't tie up my open robe, and carefully walked toward the man who had just entered: "You're back, have you had dinner?"

I had waited for Lucas Valeri for four hours. The twelve exquisite dishes on the dining table were all his favorite flavors. In our three years of marriage, no matter how late he came home, I would wait for him.

"Why are you still here?" Lucas's attitude was cold. He casually took off his suit jacket and threw it aside. With his movement, I caught a faint smell of blood.

"The contract marriage has expired. You're no longer useful to me," he said.

I pressed my lips together hard and pulled open the belt of my robe.

The thin robe fell to the floor, revealing my delicate skin and beautiful figure.

The lingerie had very little fabric, barely covering anything. Lucas's Adam's apple bobbed once, his sharp gaze falling on me.

I stepped forward, pressing against his body and rubbing lightly, trying hard to seduce him: "If you don't want dinner, how about having something 'else'?"

I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his lips, my fingertips unbuttoning his shirt, whispering softly: "Enjoy me, Lucas."

Lucas's eyes were surging with intense desire and impatience. He didn't push me away, but instead gripped my waist forcefully, dominantly and aggressively deepening the kiss.

This kiss had no tenderness, only plunder and release, yet I greedily absorbed his scent.

"You're really pathetic and cheap," Lucas bit my earlobe, mockingly sneering, then swept me up in his arms and strode upstairs into the master bedroom.

The next morning, I slowly woke up to the sound of water from the bathroom.

I slowly sat up, my limbs sore and weak. Lucas was always rough in bed and lasted a long time, only occasionally being gentle with me when he was in a good mood.

The water sound from the bathroom stopped. Lucas walked out wrapped in a towel, saw me sitting there in a daze, frowned in displeasure, and warned me coldly: "Be good and divorce me. I'll give you five million dollars a year as compensation, plus a house at most - Bella, don't be too greedy."

"What I want isn't money. I don't want a divorce. Is that being greedy?" I said with tears in my eyes, my voice trembling softly.

Lucas was born into the Valeri family of Dawnharbor. The Valeri family was a mafia clan that had dominated Dawnharbor for hundreds of years with overwhelming power. Lucas was the grandson of this generation's Don.

Three years ago when Lucas and I first met, I was penniless, a woman with no background. He was being pressured by his family to marry, and they were trying to force a wife on him who would spy on him.

Lucas needed a suitable tool, and my appearance happened to match his taste. We had a contract marriage, and in these three years, I've survived multiple assassination attempts without complaint, diligently managing household affairs for him, keeping his daily life perfectly organized.

I thought I could touch his heart, but in reality I was just a housekeeper in his life, a tool for release in bed.

"Don't you have any feelings for me at all?" Tears slid down my cheeks.

"What feelings could I have for you?" Lucas asked back, leisurely lighting a cigarette. "Oh, I didn't wear protection, remember to take the morning-after pill."

The curling smoke blurred my vision. Lucas's handsome face was full of coldness.

Then his phone suddenly rang with a sweet, special ringtone.

"Amelia." Lucas answered the phone, his tone becoming gentle, completely different from when he faced me.

The Valeri family had many descendants. Lucas was just one of over twenty grandsons. Because his mother was born into an unknown family, Lucas had never been valued since childhood.

Now Lucas was in Starstream City, thousands of miles away from Dawnharbor. He had spent several years firmly grasping the steel transportation, arms dealing, maritime logistics, and half the ports of Starstream City in his hands.

He was full of ambition, wanting to use Starstream City as a springboard to return to Dawnharbor and enter the core of family power.

People feared his strength and ferocity, but his personality also had a soft side.

I knew he had always loved another woman. He treated her like a treasure, completely different from how he treated me.

Amelia was his obsession that had sustained him struggling in darkness for years after being exiled from the Valeri family.

How I wished he could give me that tenderness.

"You've already arrived? Didn't we agree on next week... okay, I'll come pick you up now." Lucas hung up the phone, quickly got dressed, and before leaving, he warned me again: "Leave before I come back. I don't want you to make Amelia unhappy!"

Two hours later, he came back with Amelia.

Usually, I would stand in the entryway to welcome Lucas home, help him take off his coat and change shoes, look forward to hugs and kisses with him, and gently tell him that dinner was ready.

But today I sat on the couch, looking pale as I watched them walk into the living room.

They were intimately arm in arm. Amelia had a bright smile, her eyes showing the willfulness of being spoiled. And Lucas, this man who was feared in Starstream City and incredibly cruel to enemies, patiently lowered his head to listen to Amelia speak, his eyes showing a tenderness I had never seen.

"She is...?" Amelia looked at me with some surprise.

Lucas frowned, his face dark, clearly already angry. He suppressed his anger and said to Amelia: "She's the housekeeper. Her name is Bella. Bella, come here and take Amelia's luggage upstairs."

I laughed coldly at being called the housekeeper. I felt disheartened.

Amelia was a bit younger than me, wearing exquisite makeup and expensive clothes. Her personality seemed innocent and lively, but deep in her gaze hid arrogance and disdain.

Around her neck was a brilliant sapphire necklace - that was the gift my parents gave me for my 14th birthday!

My real name is Isabella Sorelli.

Once the Sorelli family also held a place in Dawnharbor, but five years ago, the subordinate Gambino family betrayed us. Over two hundred family members died overnight, and only my three brothers and I managed to escape.

Amelia's last name was Gambino.

I silently looked at them. In Lucas's view, this was silent resistance. He called out loudly, ordering his subordinates to throw me out.

"I'll leave myself," I gritted my back teeth, my tightly clenched fists trembling slightly. "I already took the morning-after pill."

"Morning-after pill?" Amelia raised her eyebrows, looking me up and down, suddenly widening her eyes: "You're Lucas's wife? That shameless woman who's been clinging to him!"

My heart felt like it had been cut again.

At this moment, Lucas's trusted lieutenant Alfred hurried in: "Mr. Valeri, Gale Sorelli, the chairman of Platinum Haven Hotel, is here."

"Him?" Lucas asked in surprise: "Why would he come?"

Alfred glanced at me and lowered his voice: "He says he's here to pick up Mrs. Valeri and leave..."

Lucas instinctively frowned, his gaze sharp, coldly questioning me: "How do you know Gale?"

I didn't explain. Outside the villa was a silver-gray Rolls-Royce with a tall, handsome man standing beside it.

He looked at me tenderly, thoughtfully holding the car door for me: "Bella, ready to go?"

Lucas's face changed dramatically, gripping my wrist forcefully: "Bella, you betrayed me!"