Chapter 4

When my mother saw me out, she slipped a document into the inner pocket of my coat.

Her voice was soft, but firm.

"Phoebe, if the Edward family is only mocking you, then bear with it. But if they refuse to show any restraint, let them know that the Camorra family is not someone they can bully at will."

I touched the document through my coat and said nothing.

In my previous life, I had been too afraid to tell her that the Edward family had forced me to admit fault and kneel.

I had only told her that the family banquet had gone smoothly.

That was why I did not see this document for the first time until she was on her deathbed.

This time, it had reached my hands early.

When I arrived at the Edward family estate, I discovered that my seat had been arranged at the very end of the long table.

There wasn't even a place setting in front of me.

Andre's mother and Alice had been chatting happily, but the moment they saw me arrive, their conversation came to an end.

Andre's mother said, "Phoebe, we've already taken care of what happened at the party, but you should understand that our family's patience has its limits."

Alice immediately followed.

"Mother, don't blame her. She must regret not going into the water."

Andre's mother patted the back of her hand and smiled approvingly.

"At least you know how to behave."

She gestured to the underboss standing nearby, signaling him to bring out a tray.

On the tray lay a ring bearing the Edward family crest.

It symbolized the family's honor and was reserved exclusively for the godmother.

In my previous life, I had only worn it for a few hours during my wedding ceremony.

Afterward, Andre had taken it away and kept it in his private collection.

I never expected to see it displayed so openly in this life.

Andre's mother turned to Alice.

"I know you'll be attending their wedding, and you don't have anything worthy of the occasion. Wear this."

"That won't do, Mother. It's far too valuable."

"If I'm giving it to you, then take it."

Andre spoke up.

At once, everyone at the table began praising the ring, saying how perfectly it suited her.

I remained seated in silence.

Andre glanced at me.

He seemed almost unaccustomed to my silence and explained, "She's part of our family too. Don't be upset."

Andre's mother personally slipped the ring onto Alice's finger.

In an instant, Alice became the most dazzling person in the room.

And I, the woman engaged to Andre, looked like nothing more than a clown.

After the meal, Andre's mother said, "All the family elders are here today. Phoebe, it's time to settle the matter of you taking Alice's casino. Today, you should apologize to her."

Alice's eyes filled with tears as she held Andre's mother's hand.

"It happened so long ago. I simply wasn't capable enough. You can't blame Phoebe."

Everyone in the underworld knew about the dispute between Alice and me over the casino.

Andre, who had remained silent for a long time, finally said quietly, "Let's settle this today. It won't be brought up again after this. Just apologize to Alice, and we'll consider the matter closed."

He had said the same thing in my previous life.

I had done nothing wrong, yet for the sake of the family, I had chosen to kneel before Alice and apologize.

What I received in return was nothing but them dredging up the past again and again and tightening their suppression of me.

When I still did not move, displeasure appeared on Andre's mother's face.

"Kneel down and apologize. Only then will I know that you truly intend to become part of the Edward family."

I let out a cold laugh.

Alice had not had the courage to defend the casino herself.

She had abandoned her men and fled for her life, only to turn around and claim that I had stolen her casino.

But no one bothered to investigate the truth.

They had convicted me based solely on Alice's word, without even giving me a chance to explain myself.

The lights in the banquet hall were dazzling.

I stood up and slowly looked around the room, but made no move to kneel.

The family elders began pointing at me and whispering among themselves.

Every one of them was staring at me, waiting to see me give in.

I remained completely unhurried.

Then I took out the agreement signed by both families when our marriage alliance was arranged.

Andre's mother's expression changed drastically.

Back then, when the two families signed the agreement, it stated that if Andre and I married, I would bring the Camorra family's more than one hundred arms supply routes, along with its medical businesses, into the Edward family.

But if I chose to cancel the engagement, the arms and financial support our family had previously provided to them would immediately be cut off.

"What are you doing, Phoebe?!"

She shot to her feet.

I did not say anything, I used the candle on the table to set fire to one corner of the agreement.

The flames immediately leaped upward.

Andre rushed over and reached out to snatch the document from me.

But all he managed to tear away was half a page of charred paper.

He lowered his head.

My name was still visible on the remaining fragment.

Phoebe.

Beneath it was a line of text, half-consumed by the flames:

If Phoebe cancels the engagement, the Camorra family has the right to terminate all cooperation between the two families and reclaim its arms supply routes and all associated assets. The Edward family shall have no right to interfere.

Andre's hand froze.

His mother's voice turned sharp.

"Stop her! Don't let her leave!"

I released the final corner of the marriage agreement.

Then I took off the ring he had given me when he was eighteen and placed it in his palm.

I had worn it for ten years.

A faint white mark circled my finger where the ring had been.

Andre stared at that empty mark.

For the first time, his voice was unsteady.

"Phoebe, put the ring back on."

I stood up."Andre, you've always wanted to hear me admit that I was wrong."

I looked at him and spoke slowly.

"Now I admit it."

"I was wrong to believe that one day, you would turn back to me."

Andre's face went frighteningly pale.

I turned and walked out.

He tried to follow me, but the family members stopped him.

He could only stand there in a daze, staring at the ring I had taken off.