The Heiress Who Divorced Her Mafia Husband Free Preview

"The test results are back. Your kidney matches Suzanna's. You've got thirty minutes to get to the hospital for the transplant." Francesca Anderson froze, her husband's words echoing in her ears.

"Francesca, did you hear me?" Benedict's voice grew sharp on the other end of the line.

She swallowed hard, gripping the phone. "Benedict, I'm your wife. How can you ask me to do this for someone who just showed up out of nowhere?"

There was a pause, then Benedict sighed, like he couldn't believe she was questioning him. "Suzanna isn't someone. She's family to me. I've treated her like my sister for years. I can't just sit back and let her die."

"Francesca," he added, "you have two kidneys. You'll be fine with one. But Suzanna? She'll lose her life. Are you really going to be this selfish?"

Before she could respond, the line went dead. Francesca stood still holding her phone, her chest tightening, her thoughts spinning.

In the kitchen, the soup she had been carefully simmering for hours was still bubbling away. The smell of rich, savory broth filled the room—a soup she had made just for Benedict.

Daniel White, his assistant, had mentioned that Benedict wasn't eating properly at the hospital. So, every time she went to visit, she would bring food she had carefully cooked for him.

She would spend hours preparing this, using the best ingredients, thinking about how to make it perfect for Benedict. But every single time, Suzanna ended up eating it.

Francesca blinked back the tears burning in her eyes. She turned off the stove, grabbed the pot, and headed for the bathroom. Without a second thought, she dumped the soup into the toilet.

The broth swirled and disappeared as she flushed, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt... lighter.

All these years, she had bent over backward for Benedict and his family. She had given everything; her time, her energy, her love. And what did she get in return? Nothing.

If Benedict couldn't appreciate her, then he didn't deserve her. And she wasn't about to waste another second of her life serving people who didn't care.

Back then, Francesca had ignored her family's warnings and left everything behind to follow Benedict to a city where she didn't know a soul.

People whispered behind her back, calling her a gold digger. They thought she was just out to marry rich and didn't bother hiding their judgment.

But Francesca didn't care. She told herself none of it mattered. She gave up everything—her home, her life, her pride—because being with Benedict made her happy. That was all she needed.

Or so she thought. Now, standing here with the weight of three years of sacrifices, she regretted it all. Every single thing she'd done, she realized, had only ever meant something to her.

To everyone else, she was still just Francesca, the gold digger.

The Landon family had built their fortune through some pretty shady dealings with the Mafia. When Benedict took over as the new mafia boss, he worked hard to clean things up, slowly turning the family business legitimate.

Now, they were at the top, one of the richest families in Merton. Even in Ashington, a city full of wealth and power, the Landon family was a big deal.

Francesca had first met Benedict's grandmother, Mabel Landon, while volunteering at the hospital. She had been battling cancer, but her warmth and kindness shone through. She had taken an instant liking to Francesca and insisted on setting her up with Benedict.

It was love at first sight for Francesca. With Mabel pulling the strings, she and Benedict got married.

She thought she had finally found her fairy tale. But as soon as she moved into the Landon family's mansion, reality hit.

Benedict was always busy. He buried himself in work and barely came home, leaving Francesca alone most nights.

But that wasn't the worst of it. The real problem was Ellen Landon, Benedict's overbearing mother.

She was the kind of woman who carried herself like royalty and made sure everyone knew she was in charge.

From day one, she made it clear she didn't like Francesca. In her eyes, Francesca was nothing more than a gold digger who had latched onto her son.

It didn't take long for Ellen to start making her life miserable. She fired most of the staff and handed all the chores to Francesca, calling it a way to save money for the family.

In reality, Francesca, who was supposed to be the mistress of the house, had become nothing more than the family maid.

Everyone in the Landon family, including the servants, treated Francesca like she didn't belong. She was just Mrs. Landon in name, not in status.

The only exception was Mabel, but she was bedridden and spent most of her time in the hospital. Mabel knew nothing about Francesca's struggles, and Francesca made sure to keep it that way. She didn't want to worry her or risk upsetting her fragile health.

So, whenever she was around Mabel, Francesca put on her best face. She would act cheerful, like everything was perfect, even though deep down, she was swallowing all the hurt.

If that was all she had to deal with, she could handle it. She loved Benedict, and as long as he knew that, it was fine.

She believed he loved her back, even if he wasn't the best at showing it. Maybe he was just too busy, she thought. Lots of guys were like that, not great at expressing feelings but still caring in their own way.

Francesca clung to the hope that, one day, Benedict would open up to her. One day, he would show her the love she believed was there. And that hope kept her going.

Until the day it didn't. Her fantasy shattered when Benedict came home with a woman Francesca had never seen before. "This is Suzanna," he said, matter-of-fact. "She's my sister from now on."

A sister? But not even related by blood? Francesca couldn't believe it.

And, of course, Ellen immediately took a liking to Suzanna. She would go on and on in front of everyone, saying things like, "If only Benedict had married Suzanna instead."

But what really stung was how Benedict treated Suzanna. He pampered her, cared for her like he had never done for Francesca.

When Suzanna got sick, Benedict dropped everything to be by her side, even skipping work to sit in the hospital with her. Not once had he done that for Francesca.

Now, he wanted Francesca to give Suzanna one of her kidneys. Francesca's heart burned with anger. Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a notification.

Benedict had transferred 1 million dollars into her account. The note read, "Don't be late for the surgery in half an hour."

Here we go again. It was always the same. Every time Benedict wanted something, he'd just throw money at her, thinking that was all it took to fix everything.

It was honestly pathetic. Francesca couldn't help but think of it like a kid showing off a cheap toy to an adult, thinking it was impressive.

She closed the message and opened the next one. It was a photo of Benedict and Suzanna sleeping together.

In the photo, Benedict looked completely drained, asleep with his head against Suzanna's shoulder. She had this big smile on her face, all snuggled up to him.

Her hospital gown was slipping off her shoulder, showing way too much. Anyone who saw it would get the wrong idea. It was obvious what was going on.

And of course, the message under the photo said, "Sleeping with Benedict tonight. You're nothing but a damned woman, just leave the Landon family!"

It was clear that Suzanna had sent it. That photo and that message completely crushed whatever was left of Francesca's trust.

She should've figured it out sooner. Benedict had been with Suzanna all along.

He had cheated on her with that woman, and now he wanted her to give up her kidney to save the person who had taken everything from her.

Fuck the Landon family. I'm done.'Francesca took a deep breath and dialed a number she hadn't called in a while. Her voice cracked when she spoke. "I'm sorry, I was wrong ..."

On the other end of the line, Ian Anderson, her older brother, sighed. "You realize that now? Alright, come back. If you feel wronged, we'll talk about it when you get home."

Ian was the head of the Anderson family, the richest family in North Ashington. His business empire covered everything from military industries to medical, aviation, media, and high-tech sectors all over the world.

Everyone knew Ian as the successful, good-looking businessman, but not many knew he had a sister.

As North Ashington's wealthiest man, Ian kept Francesca's identity hidden. He didn't want anyone taking advantage of her or treating her differently, so he made sure it was clear the Anderson family only had a son.

While Francesca didn't get the fame of being the sister of the richest guy around, it spared her from a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Ian had planned to wait until she graduated, then bring her into the family business and eventually reveal who she really was.

But he didn't expect her to fall for Benedict. She was willing to give up everything; her inheritance, her future, to be with him. It made Ian angry.

Even the Rothswell family, a wealthy family in Ashington, didn't come close to Ian's level. He felt Benedict didn't even deserve his sister.

Now that Francesca had admitted her mistake, Ian felt a mix of relief and sadness. He knew she must have been treated badly by the Landon family, and he wanted to step in and protect her more than ever.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Benedict looked over the test results, his brow furrowed. He turned to the doctor and asked, "Are you sure only Francesca's kidney is compatible with Suzanna's? No other matches?"

The doctor glanced at Suzanna, then replied, "Miss Mitchell has a rare RH-negative blood type. No other kidney matches. Your wife is the best match."

Benedict paused for a moment, then asked, "What if we expand the search and don't just limit it to Merton? There's gotta be someone else out there who's a match. If the price is right, I'm sure they'll agree."

The doctor was about to explain that finding a living kidney donor wasn't that easy, but Suzanna, who had been quietly listening, cut in.

Weakly, she spoke up. "Benedict, don't stress over it. Just take me out of the hospital. I don't want you to hurt Francesca for me."

Benedict sighed softly. "Suzanna, you're too kind. Francesca will understand. It's just a kidney. The doctor said that even with one kidney, she'll be fine. Once you're better, you can thank her."

Suzanna gave a sly little smile and nodded.

The doctor then added, "In theory, there are plenty of people with RH-negative blood type across the country. We could get in touch with the Red Cross and find one. But it's gonna take some time, and Miss Mitchell can't wait that long."

"Then let's move forward with the surgery now," Benedict said firmly, without hesitation. He turned to the doctor, urging him to prepare for the procedure.

He also quickly dialed Francesca's number. "Where are you? Why aren't you here yet?"

"Benedict, you asshole, why don't you just donate your mom's kidney? I want a divorce!" Francesca's voice screamed through the phone.

Benedict gritted his teeth, his voice cold. "Are you out of your mind? Just come to the hospital and get the surgery done. You can take whatever money you want."

"I don't give a damn about your money! I'm done with you. The divorce papers are ready. We'll see each other in court!" Francesca snapped, hanging up without another word.

Benedict's face went dark, and Suzanna, glancing at him, asked in a soft voice, "What's wrong? Is she refusing? Maybe we should just forget it... it doesn't matter if I die. You should live happily with Francesca."

Benedict didn't answer her right away. He paused for a moment, then made two quick calls. "Get her to the hospital in ten minutes! Freeze all of Francesca's credit cards!"

He exhaled in relief after giving the orders.

The surgery was ready to go, it was just Francesca who was holding things up. Benedict wasn't about to let her drag this out any longer.

To him, it looked like Francesca was just trying to squeeze more money out of him. Everyone always said she married him for his money, that she was nothing more than a gold digger.

So, every time Benedict needed something from her, he would send a chunk of money, enough for her to spend however she wanted.

Money wasn't an issue for him. The Landon family could pay her enough, he just saw it as buying one of her kidneys.

Still, he needed the surgery to happen first. He was just going to make sure Francesca understood not to push her luck.

All of Francesca's accounts were set up under the Landon family's name. With one word from him, she'd go from rich to broke in an instant.

He figured this would finally make Francesca listen. No matter how crazy she acted, he was determined to get the surgery done today.

But ten minutes later, Benedict got a call from his subordinate. "Sir, we've contacted the police and searched everywhere in the city. It's like she vanished. There's no sign of her."

"What?" Benedict frowned, confused about where she could have gone.

But he wasn't worried. If I check her credit card history, I'll know where she bought the plane ticket, he thought.

Another call came in with some results. "All of Mrs. Landon's accounts are frozen, but there are no recent transactions. Only entry records."

Benedict looked over the long list. Just like his subordinate said, there was nothing but incoming money, no spending at all.

The most recent transaction was the 1 million dollars he had just sent her. He couldn't believe it. It was hard to grasp how she hadn't spent a single dime in years.

Benedict stared at the long string of numbers in the account balance, lost in thought.

"Doctor, how long can Suzanna hold on with her current condition?" he asked, looking at the doctor.

The doctor hesitated. He hadn't left when Benedict called earlier, and both he and Suzanna knew that Francesca wasn't coming back. The surgery couldn't proceed without her.

But Benedict had been told that Suzanna didn't have much time and needed surgery today. The doctor had been too sure, and now, it seemed Francesca was gone for good.

Looking at Suzanna for support, she finally gave him a reassuring glance and spoke softly. "Actually, I feel better than before. Please check me again, Doctor."

"Right, right. Let's do another check!" the doctor agreed, eager to avoid any more trouble.

After the exam, it turned out Suzanna was doing a lot better. There was no immediate need for surgery.

Benedict let out a deep breath of relief but couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Suzanna smiled faintly. "Benedict, don't be too hard on the doctor. They always exaggerate things to make more money."

Benedict nodded, taking it in. "So, he lied to you, and you're not mad? Suzanna, you're too kind."

Instead of dwelling on the hospital's lies, Benedict's thoughts shifted back to Francesca. He realized he had misjudged her.

She was supposed to be after his money, but she hadn't spent a dime of what he had given her. He wondered what she'd been living on all these years.

For the first time, Benedict felt a strong urge to see Francesca. He didn't care about the hospital situation anymore.

Meanwhile, at the Anderson family's estate, Francesca had already returned. For Ian, the wealthiest man in the area, hiding her whereabouts was easy. He'd had a helicopter sent to pick Francesca up.

Francesca had just stepped off the helicopter when she spotted her oldest brother, Ian, and her second brother, Raymond Denvers.

Although Raymond's last name was Denvers, he was actually Francesca's brother. Their mother's family, the Denvers family, didn't have a male heir, so he had changed his surname and became the heir to their wealth.

He was also a doctor, and the chief surgeon for Benedict's grandmother.

"Ian! Raymond!" As soon as Francesca saw them, her eyes welled up, and she rushed into Ian's arms.

"Hey, hey, calm down. Welcome home," Ian said, stroking her hair, his voice heavy with a mix of love and frustration.

Ian had always been protective of Francesca. Even though he kept her identity low-key, she had been treated like royalty, maybe even better than some princesses in the world.

Yet, despite all that, she had walked away from her privileged life to live with the Landon family, something Ian couldn't quite understand.

Seeing the pain in Ian's eyes, Francesca felt a wave of guilt. She was about to say something when her phone rang.

The caller ID showed Ellen, Benedict's mom. Francesca almost ignored it, but Ian interrupted, "Answer it. I wanna hear what that old hag has to say."

"Fine," Francesca sighed and hit the speakerphone button.

The moment the call connected, Ellen's sharp voice blasted through the phone. "Francesca! How dare you take so long to answer my call!"

Francesca frowned, but Ellen didn't let her speak. "What's going on today? Why weren't you welcoming me home?! You've been out partying, haven't you? Get back here and cook, or go back to your hometown!"

Ian couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Enough, shut up! I don't even talk to my sister like that!"

Ellen Landon did not expect that there was someone else beside Francesca Anderson. He was stunned for a moment before he quickly sneered.

"You're Francesca's brother, huh? Only someone like you would raise a loser like her. So what if I yelled at her? She's upset, huh? Then get a divorce!

"I've been wanting to get rid of her for ages. Benedict should be marrying the sister of the richest man!"

Before Ian could say anything, Ellen hung up the phone quickly.

Ian was so furious, he nearly had a heart attack. He was breathing heavily as he muttered, "This woman is insane. Now she's saying her son should marry my sister? The audacity!"

"Francesca, you've got to leave that old woman," Ian said again, grinding his teeth. "After the divorce, I'm announcing your real identity. I can't wait to see the look on her face when that happens!"

Raymond chimed in, "The Landon family is going to regret this."

"Yeah, the Anderson family isn't anyone to mess with," Ian added. "One day, the Landon family will be begging you to come back."

Francesca sighed. "Don't worry, even if they beg, I won't go back."

Ian had set up a company in Hodross, and Raymond was managing it, all to keep an eye on Francesca and protect her.

When Ian found out how badly she was being treated by the Landon family, he had wanted to make them pay. But Francesca always stopped him.

Back then, she still held on to hope that Benedict might come around, that he would love her the way she loved him.

But now, after waiting three years, all she got was his betrayal.

Since Benedict had betrayed their marriage, Francesca no longer felt the need to protect the Landon family.

"By the way," Ian said, pulling out a document and handing it to her. "This is for you."

Francesca looked at it. "What's this?"

"The divorce agreement. You can take it to the Landon family and sign it tomorrow."

"Oh." She took the agreement and asked casually, "You finished this so fast?"

"Nope." Raymond grinned. "Actually, we've had it ready since your wedding day."

Francesca blinked in surprise. She knew her brothers weren't a fan of Benedict and didn't exactly approve of her marriage, but she didn't realize they had been thinking about divorce from the start.

After getting home, Francesca spent some time catching up with her brother before heading to bed.

The next morning, she and Ian were outside the courthouse bright and early, divorce papers in hand.

She called Benedict. "I'm at the court. Bring yourself here and let's get this over."

"Francesca! Do you have any idea how long I was looking for you yesterday?" Benedict's voice was sharp with frustration.

"Where I go is my business, not yours," she replied coolly.

He exhaled hard, his tone dropping to a low growl. "I can't leave the hospital. If you want this divorce, you'll have to come here to finalize it."

Even though Benedict had spent the entire night searching for Francesca, he never actually left Suzanna's ward.

Benedict had been glued to her side ever since the doctors claimed Suzanna's condition was critical. He had spent the night in her ward, too anxious to leave.

It wasn't just guilt or worry, though. Years ago, during his Marine days, Benedict had been caught in an ambush in Lupristan.

Just when he thought he was done for, his comrade had thrown himself in front of the enemy's bullets to save him.

Before he died, that comrade had asked Benedict to take care of his sister, Suzanna.

Benedict had taken that promise seriously, treating Suzanna like family ever since. But Suzanna didn't see herself as just a sister. She wanted more, she wanted to be the lady of the Landon family.

Francesca sighed. If Benedict insisted on signing the papers at the hospital, she could guess why. He still wanted her kidney.

However, Francesca wasn't scared. No one could take her kidney without her consent.

She also had another reason to visit the hospital—Mabel was recovering there. Francesca needed to say goodbye.

Mabel was the only person in the Landon family who had ever shown her kindness.

"Hospital, huh? Fine. Just wait for me," she said before ending the call.

Turning to Raymond, she added, "I'm going to see Grandma in the hospital."

Raymond nodded. As Mabel's doctor, he knew how much Francesca cared about her.

"I'll come with you," he offered. "She had surgery a couple of days ago, and I should check on her progress."

Of course, the real reason was that he didn't want Francesca going in alone. He knew the Landon family too well to leave her unprotected.

"Perfect," Francesca said with a smirk. "And the plans we made yesterday, looks like it's time to put them to good use." She stepped into the waiting luxury car, while Raymond followed closely behind.

Today wasn't just about ending things with the Landon family, it was about making sure they got what they deserved.

When they arrived at the hospital, Francesca didn't waste any time. She headed straight for Suzanna's private ward and pushed the door open.

Inside, Suzanna was surrounded by nurses and doctors, who were fawning over her like she was on the brink of death.

As soon as Suzanna spotted Francesca, her expression shifted. She plastered on a smile and turned up the theatrics.

"Francesca! You're finally here. I feel so awful," Suzanna whimpered, her voice trembling as if she were some fragile victim.

Francesca stared her down, unimpressed. She had seen this act too many times over the last three years. Behind all that fake sweetness, Suzanna was nothing but a master manipulator.

With a cold smile, Francesca replied, "If you're feeling that bad, maybe you should just drop dead already."

Suzanna's smile froze, her eyes darting nervously. She clearly hadn't expected Francesca to be so direct. In the past, Francesca might've held back, even if she didn't like her, but not today.

The doctors and nurses glanced at each other, visibly uncomfortable. Francesca wasn't just blunt, she was ruthless.

"Francesca, what the hell is wrong with you?" Benedict snapped, his voice laced with frustration. His eyes were hard as he added, "Suzanna is your sister, too. How can you say something like that?"

Francesca rolled her eyes, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Sister? You mean your side chick?"

Benedict's face went rigid, his anger flaring. "What nonsense are you saying now? Care to explain yourself?" His tone was icy, but there was a flicker of unease. Francesca was acting completely out of character, and he didn't like it.

He opened his mouth to lash out but stopped short, reminding himself of the surgery ahead.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to keep calm. "Francesca, you're overthinking everything. Once the surgery is done, I'll give you whatever you want. But don't think you can use the idea of divorce to manipulate me, I'm not falling for it."

Suzanna, ever the actress, chimed in, her voice soft and trembling. "Francesca, please don't misunderstand. This is all my fault. Benedict neglected you because he was so worried about me."

Francesca's sharp gaze locked on Suzanna. A cold smirk tugged at her lips. "Oh, spare me the act. I'm not in the mood to watch your little show today."

Suzanna's face went pale, her lips quivering as if she were the damsel in distress. "How can you say that, Francesca? I know it's all my fault Benedict hasn't been there for you, I feel so guilty."

Francesca wasn't in the mood for this nonsense. She turned to the doctor nearby and said bluntly, "I want to see her medical report. Now."

The doctor froze, clearly unsure. Patient privacy was no small matter, and it wasn't his decision to make.

"Just show her," Benedict cut in, his voice firm. "She is family."

Suzanna's mask slipped for the briefest moment, her expression stiffening before she plastered on a nervous smile. Francesca caught it, but she didn't say a word. A moment later, a nurse handed her the report.

Francesca skimmed it with her poker face. It was exactly as expected; serious kidney failure. A transplant was recommended.

The doctor, sensing Francesca's silence, spoke up. "Ma'am, Miss Mitchell's condition is very serious. Without surgery, her life could be at risk."

Benedict didn't hesitate. "Francesca, if you agree to donate your kidney to Suzanna, I'll make sure you get half the Landon family's assets after the divorce."

Suzanna gasped, playing the self-sacrificing saint. "No, Benedict! Don't do this for me. You've already done enough."

Benedict shook his head, his tone resolute. "No, Suzanna. I owe this to your brother. He gave his life for me. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."

Francesca almost laughed. This was better than a cheesy soap opera.

She had known from the start that Suzanna's illness wasn't real. The pale face was makeup, and the frail demeanor was all an act. If she were actually that sick, she wouldn't need to fake it.

But none of that mattered now. Francesca decided to play along. "Fine," she said, her tone sharp. "If it's that serious, let's do the surgery now."

Benedict blinked, clearly stunned. "Wait, you're agreeing to donate your kidney?"

Suzanna, equally shocked, opened her mouth to respond, but Francesca cut her off. "Of course," Francesca said with a calm smile. "But it's not my kidney. I've already arranged for an RH-negative donor. Everything's been checked, and there's no risk of rejection. Problem solved."

Since Ian discovered Francesca's rare RH-negative blood type, he had made it a point to track down others like her across the country. He wanted to be prepared in case a donor was ever needed.

There were always a few people struggling financially who would agree to part with a kidney for the right price.

"Really?" Benedict's face lit up. Relief washed over him. Francesca wouldn't need to sacrifice herself, and Suzanna could still be saved. This couldn't have worked out better.

Suzanna, on the other hand, looked like she had swallowed a lemon. Her so-called illness was a complete sham. She had planned this elaborate scheme to not only fake her surgery but to get rid of Francesca altogether.

The attending doctor had agreed to slap a fake scar on her, while Francesca's kidney would be "removed" and sold off for profit.

Now Francesca's unexpected move had thrown everything off. And then came the bombshell. "Oh, one more thing," Francesca said.

Her tone almost casual, but her eyes sharp. "I don't really trust the doctors here, so I brought in Oliver Stainley from Iriefield Sayo Clinic to handle the surgery. He's in the director's office right now. I'll go get him."

The attending doctor opened his mouth, probably to object, but shut it just as fast. The name "Sayo Clinic" carried too much weight, so he clamped his mouth shut.

And Oliver was a legend in the field, leagues ahead of anyone else in urology. Going up against someone like that wasn't even an option.

Suzanna, meanwhile, felt her stomach drop. Fear crept over her like a cold sweat. She wasn't actually sick, but at this rate, she might as well be.

Now that the doctor had changed, she couldn't help but wonder what if they actually performed the surgery and switched her kidney.

Suzanna's fear wasn't without reason. Oliver from Sayo Clinic was a world-renowned urology specialist. His surgical skills were top-notch, with an impressive success rate. He had also done extensive research on kidney transplant surgeries, making him a leading expert in the field.

If Oliver really took over as the chief surgeon, there'd be no way for Suzanna to escape. She could bribe the attending doctor, but Oliver wouldn't be swayed by that.