Chapter 2

I couldn't be bothered to argue anymore, so I simply said, "Are you done? If you're done, then let's go. You've gotten orders from the top, right? Then you should know you're supposed to be picking me up."

The air grew tense in an instant. Cristiano's men exchanged confused glances, then burst into laughter.

Tania let out a soft laugh, the contempt in her eyes clear as day. "Silvia, why are you still such a pathological liar? We're here on orders to pick up the Martelli family's Donna. Do you even know who that is?"

Of course, I knew.

"She's the one person Don Martelli would never allow anyone to mess with! He's ruthless with everyone else, but when it comes to his Donna, he does whatever she says."

"The entire underworld is tripping over themselves to stay on her good side. She's that important. How could someone like you possibly compare to her?"

As I listened in silence, I smirked. In the three years we'd been married, Cesare's influence had only grown stronger.

And naturally, the rumors about how he doted on his wife had gotten completely blown out of proportion.

Tania was just about to keep running her mouth when she suddenly noticed the ring on my finger.

It was the "Tears of the Goddess", a one-of-a-kind piece Cesare had spent a fortune having custom-made for me. It was also his anniversary gift to me for our second wedding anniversary.

Tania stared at it intently before suddenly shrieking, "Where did you get that?"

Before I could react, she stepped forward and yanked it right off my finger, holding it up to the light to inspect it.

"The craftsmanship isn't bad. It actually looks halfway decent. Silvia, I didn't expect your scamming skills to improve so much over the last three years. Or did you steal it off some random man you hooked up with?"

Having the ring forcibly removed left my ring finger red. I was starting to get mad. "Give it back."

I reached out to grab it, but Cristiano blocked me with a cold glare. "Silvia, are you done making a scene? You're seriously wearing a fake ring out in public? Aren't you worried people would notice and make a fool of you?"

With a frown, I blurted out, "A fake? My husband gave that to me!"

Tania let out a sharp scoff. "Alright, Silvia. You got caught in a lie, so just accept it. If this ring were real, then what next? Are you going to tell us you're the apple of Don Martelli's eye?"

Another round of loud laughter erupted around me. They were all looking at me with nothing but contempt.

As far as they were concerned, I was still the same Silvia who was left freezing to death in the snow three years ago. And with Cesare being as powerful and influential as he was, they simply couldn't imagine him having anything to do with me.

Tania toyed with the ring between her fingers and smiled. "Silvia, this ring doesn't suit you at all. Why don't you just give it to me?"

I refused without a second thought, my voice growing colder with every word. "No. Cesare gave this to me himself—"

Before I could finish, Cristiano slapped me hard across the face. His brow furrowed. "Silvia, do you have any idea what you're saying?"