Chapter 3

"You're saving me?"

I actually laughed, my voice trembling from the pain.

"You're about to twist my hand off!"

Instead of letting go, he pressed harder, snarling in fury.

"What? Should I let you walk out wearing that fake ring and get beaten to death in the street by the Bellinis?

"You did this on purpose, didn't you?

"Deliberately wearing a counterfeit and running into us…just to make people misunderstand, to sabotage our cooperation with the Bellini family!"

Behind him, the consigliere and underboss suddenly looked enlightened and furious.

"Shit! This traitor is a mole sent from Northern Italy!"

"We gave up three entire weapons depots just to make the family originally assigned to receive the Donna step aside!"

"All so the Donna would be pleased. So she'd put in a good word with Don Bellini and spare our family!"

"If the Donna sees someone impersonating her with fake jewelry, we're all finished!"

Lina raised her hand, about to toss the ring into the trash.

My vision went black with rage. Gathering every ounce of strength, I stomped down hard on Giovanni's foot.

"Ugh!"

He grunted and finally released me.

I staggered upright and touched my swollen cheek. My fingertips came away red.

Her nails had actually torn my skin.

I lifted my eyes, cold hatred cutting straight toward Giovanni and Lina.

Lina noticed immediately. She pointed at me and screamed, "Elena, you ungrateful bitch! The Don was kind enough to arrange a way out for you, and this is how you repay him? This is how you repay the entire family?"

Then, she cried theatrically, "I know you hate me!

"You hate that the Don favors me! But if you're resentful, come at me! Why use such filthy tricks to take revenge on the family? Are you trying to get everyone killed?"

It was the same old routine.

For seven years, she had perfected the art of twisting our personal conflicts into accusations of my disloyalty, my hidden malice toward the family.

At first, Giovanni used to argue back.

Then, little by little, he believed her.

Eventually, he joined her.

It seemed he did that now, too, more than ever.

The hesitation in Giovanni's eyes vanished, replaced by heavy disappointment and open disgust.

"Traitor."

This time, he did not bother with a long lecture.

He pulled a card from inside his suit and tossed it at me.

"Take it.

"For the sake of the seven years you stayed with me, we'll end it here.

"There's 300,000 dollars inside. Take the money and get out of Northern Italy immediately.

"Once I finalize the deal with Don Bellini, this amount won't even count as pocket change.

"But for trash like you…it's enough to live on for half a lifetime.

"Consider it payment to sever whatever ridiculous sentiment we once had."

That condescending charity disgusted me more than any insult.

Yet, I smiled.

I knew one thing with absolute certainty.

He would never close that deal.

This so-called cooperation was nothing more than false hope that Rafael had tossed them before crushing the entire family.

"Heh."

I lifted my foot and kicked the card back to Giovanni's feet, then snatched the ring from Lina's stunned hand.

"Keep the money," I said coolly. "Buy yourself a decent urn.

"My husband despises those who try to please me with this kind of cheap trash."

Ignoring Giovanni's livid expression, I turned and walked away.

I had already wasted enough time here.

Giovanni grabbed my arm.

"Stop! What did you just say? You're married?"

I shook him off.

"What else? Do you think I was saving myself for you?

"Stay away from me. I don't want my husband seeing this and getting the wrong idea."

"Who is he?" Giovanni asked darkly. "Which suicidal bastard dared to marry you?"

Lina immediately looped her arm through his, sweeping me with contempt.

"Don't listen to her nonsense. A traitor with no background, no connections. What kind of man could she possibly land? Probably some poor nobody who survives by selling counterfeits."

Giovanni seemed convinced. His expression eased slightly.

"Elena. I'll give you one last chance.

"Come back and bow to Lina. Admit you were in the wrong.

"And I'll forgive your disrespect.

"Otherwise…

"You know the consequences."

I let out a soft scoff and calmly dialed Rafael's driver, giving him the banquet hall address.

Giovanni's face changed instantly. He snatched my phone away.

"What are you doing, calling people for the banquet? You couldn't possibly have an invitation!"

Lina's eyes flicked, calculating.

"She's not giving up. She wants to sneak in and ruin our deal with the Bellinis. We can't let her leave!"

That struck exactly where it hurt.

Giovanni stared at me, then turned sharply to his underboss.

"You stay here and wait for Lady Victoria."

Then, without another word, he grabbed me violently. Ignoring my struggle and furious protests, he dragged me straight toward the car.