All That Love and Tears are for NothingChapter 1
After marrying into the Wrights, a famous mafia family, as the second wife, I was Milford's wife in name—but everyone knew the real love of his life was his widowed sister-in-law, Malissa.
He praised me as the perfect partner, a capable, graceful hostess. At his parties, I’d take shot after shot of hard liquor to shield him. Yet, when his sister-in-law so much as sipped a glass of fruit wine offered by another man, he cut the guy’s hand off without blinking.
He flaunted my photos everywhere, claiming he wanted the world to know how beautiful and dazzling I was. But her? He kept her hidden like a precious secret, locked away where no one could see.
Then, one of my photos leaked. His enemies saw it and I was kidnapped. I called him in desperation, begging him to save me.
He said, “Lori… Malissa is pregnant with my child now. It’s the only heir I could give my late brother. I have to stay by her side and protect her.”
“You’ll just have to hang in there for a few days. Once her morning sickness eases, I’ll come get you.”
He never came.
For a full year, I was tortured—violated over a thousand times, my leg broken, my soul shattered.
Still, he never showed up.
When I finally escaped, barely alive, covered in blood and filth, I crawled back home—only to find my daughter locked in a dog cage, emaciated and filthy, eating food scraps.
She was hugging a framed photo of me—my memorial. They had declared me dead.
Meanwhile, my husband was joyfully throwing a lavish party to celebrate the one-month birthday of his and her child, proudly announcing their upcoming wedding.
I held my daughter close, her tiny frame trembling in my arms. Through tears, I whispered to her, “Sweetheart, You don't need that kind of father. Not anymore.
***
When I stormed into the courtyard of the Wright Clan’s private estate, Milford was gently sliding a vintage gold ring onto Malissa’s finger—the same ring that had been passed down through generations, the symbol of the Wright Clan’s Lady of the House.
At that moment, Milford announced their wedding would take place in three days.
Malissa was holding a newborn baby boy, just a month old. She leaned into Milford’s chest with a bashful smile, playing the part of a glowing new mother, perfectly in love. The picture of domestic bliss.
Milford turned to smile at the crowd. Then, that’s when he saw me.