Chapter 1

Because Selena Gray,the female student sponsored by Don Matteo Moretti,wanted to see a porcupine,Matteo had someone fire seven hundred crossbow bolts at our son,turning him into a living target.

I was forced to stare at the surveillance feed,watching black fletching pierce Nico's throat,watching every plea spill out of him with blood.

I screamed in despair,"Even if you don't love me.But Nico is your blood.He is the Moretti heir.How can you be this cruel?"

Matteo sneered."Who told him to score a perfect seven hundred on the heir assessment and show off in front of Selena?Selena wanted to see a porcupine.These seven hundred bolts are his lesson."

He slapped me across the face."She cried all night.So I want you to feel pain too."

Looking at Nico,barely alive on the monitor,he loosened the ropes holding me down and told me the address of the training island.

Before he left,he bent close and whispered viciously,"The speedboat's out of fuel.Run fast.Maybe you'll still get to see a living porcupine."

...

When I found Nico,blood was seeping from his neck.A thick black bolt had gone through his left eye and pinned him deep into the dirt.

His eighteen-year-old body was covered in seven hundred crossbow bolts.Blood kept flowing out of him.

I dropped to my knees,but I did not even dare to lift him."Nico!"

"It's all Mom's fault..."

His remaining right eye opened with great effort,just a slit,and he still tried to smile at me.

"Mom,don't cry...You're here.Nico isn't scared."

My shaking hand touched his face."Don't be scared.Mom is taking you to the hospital right now."

I gathered him up as carefully as I could and rushed toward the dock.But just as I was about to board,the guards stopped me.

"Moretti private boat.No outsiders."

I hurried to explain.

"I'm the Donna of the Moretti family.The one in my arms is Moretti family heir,Nico.I came here on this same boat today.You've seen me."

"You've got some nerve,pretending to be our Donna.I saw the Don and his Donna today,and they looked very much in love.Do you have any idea what happens to people who pull a stunt like this?"

The guard scoffed."And the heir passed his assessment.He went to Europe to celebrate.Why would he be in a place like this?"

Looking at Nico's weakening face,I hurriedly tore off my necklace and showed him the family photo inside the pendant.

"I really am the Donna of the Moretti family."

When the guard saw the photo,his face filled with anger.

"Where did this crazy woman come from?How dare you fake a photo with the Don and the heir?You want to die?"

The crowd closed in around me at once.

With trembling hands,I opened the pinned contact in my encrypted messenger and started a video call.

The screen lit up.Matteo leaned bare-chested against the headboard,a fresh lipstick mark stamped on his collarbone,his face filled with pleasure.

Beside him,Selena was completely naked,moving up and down on top of him.With a taunting smile,she said,"Mrs.Moretti,calling at a time like this?Did you want to join us and enjoy yourself too?"

Matteo let out a mocking laugh and gave Selena's breast a squeeze."Her?During sex,she's like a puppet.No matter how rough it gets,she never makes a sound.Letting her join would only make me sick."

At that,Selena kissed the corner of his mouth smugly."Then I suppose I'll have to comfort the Don properly."

"Matteo!"

I clenched my teeth and forced down the nausea."Nico is in critical condition.Let us on the boat now,or he'll die."

Matteo frowned impatiently."Are you done yet?Those bolts had their heads removed.They were only glued to him.Did you really have to pour blood all over Nico just to lie to me?"

"I'm not lying!"I turned the camera toward Nico."Look for yourself.The bolt heads went through his body.I'm begging you,all right?As long as Nico can be saved,I'll sign the divorce papers.I'll give up the Donna's position."

Matteo froze for a moment,his gaze falling on Nico's face.

But just as he seemed to waver,Selena suddenly began to cry.

"Don,you said this boat was only for me.If she gets on,I'll feel uncomfortable."

"Besides,Nico is the Moretti family's genius heir.Making a few fake bolts look like they went through him would be easy for him,wouldn't it?"

The moment she finished,Matteo's expression changed.He glared at me in disgust.

"You two make me sick.Nico Moretti,I'm warning you.If you keep acting with your mother,don't blame me when I strike you off the succession list."

At those words,Nico's breathing suddenly quickened,and tears fell hard from his eye.

My heart ached,and I wanted to explain,but Matteo only let out a cold laugh.

"Still pretending?Fine.I'll see how far you take this.You want to board the boat,do you?Selena's boat doesn't allow other women on it.You know what to do."

He smiled contemptuously,and that smile stabbed through my heart like a needle.

Once,he had loved me and Nico.

But ever since this sponsored student gave him a taste of something new,he has changed.

I stared at Matteo in disbelief."Nico is your son!For that woman,you won't even care about your own blood?"

Matteo looked at me coldly."If you don't dare keep acting,kneel and apologize to Selena.Then stay on the island and accept family punishment.In three days,I'll send someone to pick you up."

At that,I gave a bitter smile.

The boat in front of me was the last one leaving the training island today.

It was also Nico's last chance to live.

Looking at Nico's deathly pale face and his faint breath,every last bit of self-esteem inside me was crushed.

Then,under Matteo's gaze,I yanked the folding knife from my keychain.

The blade cut across my face without hesitation.The instant the pain hit,warm blood welled out.

I stared hard at the screen."Now,can I get on the boat?"