Chapter 3

My voice was thick with tears when I asked Grandpa why he had never come looking for me over the past few years.

Grandpa sighed before answering, "Your Madre swore never to rely on the Bellini family ever again after she left Siraluna. However, she sent a letter to me before she passed away. She told me that you loved your Padre and hoped that I wouldn't interfere with your life."

"I accepted her request," he continued with a tremble in his voice. "But I never would have imagined that my acceptance would cause you to experience so much hardship."

Tears spilled down my cheeks again as I pressed a hand to my mouth.

…

The sky had darkened by the time I hung up.

I returned to the estate on Seaford Island.

The lights were blazing. The Caruso family's black cars were parked in front of the entrance. Dozens of Made Men were stationed on either side of the doors.

I had just strode into the hall when I spotted Isabella wearing my tailored, black gown.

Lorenzo stood next to her. Their fingers were laced together tightly.

Lorenzo's Madre, Paola Lione, sat in the main seat, looking pleased as she gave Isabella a once-over.

"The Caruso family is willing to alter the engagement since Isabella is the successor of the Romano family, and the two of them are in love. They can host their engagement party on the same day as the ring-inheritance ceremony that's taking place in the next three days."

Paola raised her hand, prompting her men to haul over a dozen black cases into the hall.

The cases were packed with jewelry, tailored gowns, rubies, and the partnership contract with Carmine Logistics.

The items were originally meant for me, but they were being displayed in a neat row for Isabella at that moment.

Tears streamed down Isabella's face as she pressed a hand over her mouth. "Grazie, Mamma," she said.

The smile on Paola's face widened when she heard the way Isabella addressed her. "Come here. Put on the engagement ring."

Lorenzo took Isabella's hand. He was seconds away from slipping the ring on her finger when one of the Romano family members noticed me standing by the door.

"You're back, Principessa."

A faint smile stretched across Veronica's lips.

Isabella's eyes were glimmering with glee when she looked at me, but she fixed an uneasy expression on her face.

Meanwhile, Papa was sitting on the couch. He didn't even bother to explain the situation to me.

Lorenzo glanced at me for a few seconds before approaching me. "Return the Caruso family's badge to me."

I looked down at the black-gold badge that was pinned on the front of my gown.

Lorenzo had personally pinned the badge on me when we got engaged. He had said that I would be the future Donna of the Caruso family as long as I had it. However, at that moment, he didn't even bother greeting me before demanding that I return the badge to him so that he could give it to another woman.

I looked up and stared at him.

"I have something to ask you before I return the badge to you. Why did you kneel in the chapel for the entire night if you didn't love me? Why did you force our parents to agree to our engagement?"

Lorenzo's expression darkened. "I can't believe that you're shameless enough to ask me those questions. Don't you know why I changed my mind?"

"I don't," I said while staring at him. "Tell me what I did."

Lorenzo was about to speak when Isabella suddenly dashed to his side and grabbed his arm.

"Stop it," she said. "Sophia has already lost the title of successor. She must be feeling so upset. I don't blame her, no matter what she did to me in the past."

She then sank to her knees in front of me.

Everyone inhaled sharply.

"Mi dispiace, Sophia," Isabella continued. "I shouldn't have failed to get into Harmond. I shouldn't have made Papa feel sorry for me. I can let go of the title of successor and Lorenzo if you're truly unwilling to give up on them. I just hope that you won't hurt me or Mamma in the future."

She leaned down, looking as if she was actually going to kiss my shoes.

Lorenzo immediately hauled her to her feet.

"You don't need to kneel for a despicable woman like her, Isabella!" he exclaimed. "I'll never let anyone hurt you again as long as I live!"

I was briefly stunned upon hearing his words.

Lorenzo had said the same words to me in the past.

It turned out that a man could reuse his vow whenever he pleased.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of irony as I watched Lorenzo and Isabella embrace each other.

"Are you done?" I sneered. "Tell me what I did if you are."

Isabella shook her head wildly.

However, Lorenzo's sympathy for her only grew the more she tried to stop him.

"I'm not going to hide the truth for your sake this time," he hissed, glaring at me. "You already have everything. Why did you hire the thugs from the Casano family to ruin Isabella on her 18th birthday?"