Chapter 1

Cecilia's POV

I didn't believe Valentina Fiore, so I quietly took a taxi to tail Luciano Damiani to one of the private clubs they often frequented.

I reached the top-floor private room and had just opened the door a sliver when I froze in place.

Luciano was down on one knee, his slender fingers holding a diamond ring as he looked up at Valentina.

"Valentina, do you dare to spend the rest of your life with me?"

Valentina smiled, arching an eyebrow. "We've already registered our marriage. What's there to be afraid of?"

Before I could push the door wide open, I heard one of Luciano's men tease, "Sir, I have a feeling your point isn't really to see whether Cecilia will choose between love and friendship at your birthday party in two days. You just want to use this bet as an excuse to marry Ms. Fiore, don't you?"

Another voice chimed in. "I mean, the engagement ring you gave Ms. Fiore is an eight-figure collector's piece, whereas the one you gave Cecilia was just a cheap piece of junk you bought off a street vendor."

"Zitto!" Luciano snapped, throwing his wine glass.

No one dared to make another sound.

I looked down at the faint mark left on my ring finger that the too-tight ring had left. I thought that, at least over the past four years, he had developed some feelings for me.

But his next words cast me straight into hell.

"She's just a maid's bastard daughter. Keeping her as an Amante Clandestina on the side to play with is more than enough."

Because of her beauty, Mamma had been forced by Padre, and that was what led to my existence. I had been called a "Bastarda" ever since I was a child, and I swore I would never be someone's Amante Clandestina—a secret mistress.

Back then, Luciano had held me and promised me that he would marry me. He wouldn't let history repeat itself. But now he said keeping me as an Amante Clandestina on the side would be more than enough.

How ironic.

I felt my heart twisting painfully, and my tears fell uncontrollably.

Another voice rang out in the room.

"How about letting me have my fun playing with Cecilia?" the man said, laughing.

Luciano pressed his burning cigar against the man's hand, making him howl in pain. Smiling lazily, he asked, "You think you're worthy?"

I went still.

Behind me, Valentina appeared and handed me a handkerchief, just like she always did whenever I cried.

"I deliberately lured you here to see this, but who would've thought…" she said, letting out a short, self-deprecating scoff. "But he still wants to keep you on the side. So let's have a fair competition."

"The time limit is two days, and the bet is on who matters to him the most. The loser goes to the Republic of Azamir as a war correspondent, while the winner stays and takes their relationship public at his birthday party."

I switched off the recorder in my pocket and took the handkerchief.

"Bene," I replied softly.

I knew Valentina wouldn't stop until this bet was settled. As for the outcome… it honestly no longer mattered to me.