Nothing But This

Everyone knew that the mafia family's second son, Luca Romano, loved Serena Vitale to his very bones.

Five years ago, Serena climbed into bed with the Romano family's eldest son, Adriano Romano. Photos from that night spread everywhere, but Luca quietly suppressed them all.

Four years ago, Serena gave birth to Adriano's child, but Luca raised the baby as his own. He could forgive Serena for anything she did, as long as she loved him.

The underworld whispered that Serena stayed with Luca not out of love but to grab at the mafia's power and influence.

Luca did not care. He poured every ounce of his strength into treating Serena and the child well, but it was not enough. Serena became Adriano's caged canary instead.

The night they broke up, she threw his illegitimate birth in his face to humiliate him. Yet she willingly, even gladly, let herself be imprisoned by Adriano, enduring the wax and the whips.

Everyone cursed Serena for being shameless and desperate, but she was the only one who knew the bitterness she endured.

Everyone knew that the mafia family's second son, Luca Romano, loved Serena Vitale to his very bones.

Five years ago, Serena slept with the Romano family's eldest son, Adriano Romano. Scandalous photos spread far and wide, yet Luca quietly had everything suppressed.

Four years ago, Serena gave birth to Adriano's child, and Luca raised the boy as his own. He could forgive Serena for anything she did as long as she loved him.

Word across the underworld ran that Serena stayed by Luca’s side not out of affection, but to grab at the mafia's power and influence.

Luca did not care. He simply devoted himself wholeheartedly to caring for Serena and the child well because they were each other's first love. They had grown up together in the orphanage.

Serena was an orphan, and Luca was the illegitimate son who the Romano family abandoned. He clawed his way up from nothing. Only he knew the bitterness of that climb.

In college, Luca started his own business and achieved some modest success. That was when his half-brother, Adriano Romano, found Serena and demanded she become his woman.

Serena refused, but Adriano threatened her with Luca's life. At first, she did not believe him. However, she then watched Luca's business collapse around him as deals fell through one after another until a partner's breach of contract nearly killed him.

She could not take that gamble, so she agreed. To make Luca give up on her, Serena used his illegitimate birth to humiliate him the night they broke up. She would never forget the look on his face that day. His eyes had already gone red, but he stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.

He only asked in a hoarse voice, "Serena, are you serious?"

She nodded.

With that answer, Luca turned and left. His back stayed straight, but he stumbled at the corner.

That day, Serena became Adriano's caged canary. She was imprisoned