Chapter 1

I stopped breathing for a second as I stood outside the hospital room.

Their words hit me like a physical blow, leaving a sharp buzzing sound in my ears.

Before I could slam the door open and demand an explanation, my stepmother, Veronica Tonetti, spoke again.

"Oh, that's right. How are you going to explain the engagement to Sophia?" she asked.

Papa was briefly stunned. "Engagement?" he repeated.

"The Caruso family will only accept the official successor of the Romano family as their daughter-in-law. Isabella is the successor now. It only makes sense for Lorenzo to marry her instead."

My hand froze on the doorknob. My heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand.

I remembered telling myself that at the very least, my fiance, Lorenzo Caruso, would believe me when I was stripped of my title as the successor of the Romano family.

Lorenzo and I had grown up together. He personally slipped the engagement ring onto my finger before sinking to his knees in front of the elders of the Romano and Caruso families, declaring that I was the only woman he would ever marry.

Papa remained silent for a long time. Guilt flickered across his face for a split second before he said, "No. Sophia and Lorenzo have been engaged for years. We can't change the engagement just like that."

My eyes stung. Although Papa had just admitted that he had personally participated in the orchestration of my downfall, I still shamefully felt a spark of hope in my heart. Perhaps he still cared about me.

Then Isabella chimed in, her voice trembling, "Actually, there's something that I've been wanting to tell you, Papa. But I was too scared to bring it up. Lorenzo and I are already together."

Papa shot to his feet and exclaimed, "What did you say? He's Sophia's fiance! How dare the two of you do something like this behind her back?"

Isabella's sobbing intensified.

"Our feelings for each other are genuine. If Sophia didn't pressure Lorenzo to enter an engagement with her with the excuse that she's the successor of the Romano family, the two of us would have announced our relationship a long time ago.

"Sophia has everything, but I only have Lorenzo. Are you going to deny me my right to love someone just because I'm not your flesh and blood?"

The sounds of Isabella's muffled sobbing resounded from the room.

Veronica pulled her into her arms, looking utterly devastated, and said, "Don't cry. It's all my fault. I couldn't give you a noble background. Sophia is the Principessa while the two of us are only freeloaders living under their roof. Who would deny her her heart's desire?"

I bit my lip hard, suppressing the urge to slam the door open to question them.

When did I ever pressure Lorenzo to marry me? He was the one who wanted to get engaged. He was also the one who kneeled in the chapel for the entire night when Papa wanted to marry me to another family.

He claimed that he would rather give up on his status as the successor of the Caruso family than lose me as his bride.

However, Isabella was accusing me of forcing Lorenzo to marry me at that moment.

Papa's anger slowly melted away. A heartbroken expression appeared on his face as he said, "If that's the case, Sophia's the one who crossed the line. She knew that you lost your Padre since you were a child, but she still insists on fighting you for everything."

Black spots exploded in my vision. I gripped the doorknob to keep myself upright.

Papa pulled out his phone. "Tell Lorenzo to come over. We'll settle this issue today."

I stumbled into the next room, wanting to listen in on their conversation.

I wanted to know how the man who once promised to protect me for my entire life would describe me behind my back.

It didn't take long before the sounds of hurried footsteps resounded from the hallway.

Lorenzo pushed open the door. He was still wearing the silver cufflinks that I gave him on my 16th birthday.

I didn't understand. Why would he wear them if he didn't love me?