Chapter 1

Even after I finalized my travel plans, they stayed huddled together, laughing and talking.

As I was leaving my father's office, Umberto Moretti caught my wrist and murmured, "Don't forget to pack Beth's bags. Make sure she has everything. You're coming with us to Cagliari. It isn't as if the job you take will make any difference."

I stared at him in silence, thinking of all the diplomas and credentials stuffed into my bag.

There wasn't a shred of joy in me.

For years, I had worked myself to the bone abroad, earning scholarships, degrees, and professional certifications.

Meanwhile, my sister partied and traveled with her classmates until she caused a scandal serious enough to get expelled before graduation.

After coming home with my sister, no one asked how my studies had gone or what I had achieved.

All because the moment Beth walked through the door, she cried about how she had let our parents down.

But our parents told her, "It doesn't matter that you didn't finish school. You can still take over the Family's affairs."

My brother chimed in, "You'll always be our Family's princess. You've got me helping you. Worst case, the Family can support you for the rest of your life."

Umberto comforted her too. "It's fine. Even if school didn't work out, there's always Adele to make you look good by comparison. You won't be the one embarrassing your parents."

In their eyes, I would never measure up to Beth.

For as long as I could remember, Beth had been the center of attention.

She was pretty and charming, and every elder in the Family showered her with praise the moment they saw her.

Our parents were especially proud of her, taking her to every banquet and gala.

But as the youngest Ricci, I was always overlooked, often forgotten at home. Even the staff barely noticed I existed. When I got hungry, I gnawed on whatever bread I could find.

When my parents came home and caught me at it, they only praised me for being well-behaved.

I hadn't cried or made a fuss. I had learned to find food on my own.

Beth and I were twins, born on the exact same day, but our parents only ever remembered to buy her a new dress.

My brother was the same, ordering a custom swan cake just for her.

Umberto gave her his prized custom handgun.

No one remembered it was my birthday too. When it finally occurred to them, all they offered was a breezy promise to make it up to me next time.

No one paid attention to me. When we first went abroad, everyone worried about Beth being in a strange country. I was left to struggle through the language barrier alone and became the punch line whenever I made a mistake.

Everyone assumed I was simply born stupid.

I worked twice as hard, earned top marks and prestigious awards, and still their eyes never left Beth.

I couldn't help asking Umberto, "Didn't you say you wanted to run the Family's arms operation in Sicily?"

Umberto looked at me and smiled. "That's not important to me. If Beth wants to go to Cagliari, of course I'm going to help her."

He had once told me that as long as he managed the Family's arms operation in Sicily, he could become the heir and take over his father's position.

Now he was willing to throw away his inheritance for Beth. All at once, staying with them felt utterly pointless for me.

I went back to my room without a word and started packing my bags.