Chapter 1

"Carla!"

As I rushed forward, Roberto Musso had already grabbed Carla Rossi by the back of her neck and slammed her head straight into the snow.

The thick layer of snow instantly buried half her face. She struggled on instinct, but her body was pinned down so tightly that she couldn't move at all.

"Let her go!" I shouted.

My expression changed instantly as I lunged forward to pull him away. But before I could even reach Carla, Roberto seized the back of my head with his other hand and forced me down into the snow as well.

The freezing snow flooded into my nose and mouth. I could barely breathe, yet I could still hear Carla's muffled coughing beside me.

She had just recovered from a cold and had asthma. There was no way her body could handle this.

I struggled desperately, clawing blindly at Roberto's arm. In the chaos, I bit down hard.

Roberto groaned in pain and finally loosened his grip.

I got to my feet quickly and helped Carla up from the snow.

Her face had gone pale, and her lips were tinged with a bluish purple. Her whole body trembled as she leaned against me, coughing violently.

I glared at the woman standing above us on the slope.

"Do you have any idea this could kill someone?" I demanded.

She let out a cold, disdainful laugh.

"If people like you die, then so be it. The Rossi family will take care of the aftermath."

I took a deep breath and asked firmly, "Is the Aldo Rossi you mentioned the Don of the Rossi family?"

"Looks like you know a thing or two," she said, lifting her chin proudly. "He's my fiance. This ski resort belongs to him. You'd better get on your knees and apologize right now. Otherwise, when he gets here, you're dead."

Confusion filled my face. Aldo and I had been married for three years.

We had always been deeply in love. But now, a stranger stood before me, insisting she was his fiancee. Just minutes ago, Carla and I had simply wanted a quiet day on the slopes.

We had always kept a low profile and never flaunted our status or relied on the Rossi family's name, yet we never imagined this would be the outcome.

Five minutes earlier, Laura Ferrari had mocked us openly. "This is a high-end ski resort. How did people like you even get in? Where are the security guards? Throw them out before they bring in germs from outside."

Carla had grown up as the little princess of the Rossi family. She had never been treated like this before, and she snapped on the spot.

"This isn't your property. What right do you have to make us leave? If anyone should go, it's you. You have no manners at all!"

After saying that, she grabbed my hand and huffed, "Come on, Novella. Let's go to another slope. It's not worth dealing with people like her."

But the moment we turned around, Laura stepped directly into our path.

Her face flushed with anger, and she snapped, "You dare insult me? Roberto, come over and teach them a proper lesson!"

That was how the events I had just witnessed came about.

Since I remained silent, Laura assumed I was afraid and laughed even more arrogantly. "What's wrong? Now, are you feeling afraid? Roberto, drag them out. Make them kneel and wait."

As I took in the confidence on her face, a cold chill ran through me for the first time. Could it be that Aldo had really betrayed me?