Chapter 1

Sofia's POV

Today was the day Matteo Calderoni and I held our engagement party.

We'd known each other for six years and been in love for three. At last, our love was about to lay down roots and blossom, with the entire family there to witness it.

I eagerly finished showering and called in the makeup artist who'd been waiting outside.

As she gently brushed my hair, she teased, "You look way too happy."

I turned away shyly. "No, I'm just practicing my smile."

She held a pearl hairpin against my head and tried out different positions. "I suppose so. Getting engaged to Don Calderoni of the biggest Mafia family in the south must be nerve-racking, right?"

I smiled faintly but didn't answer. Instead, I checked the time. Matteo's flight would be landing soon.

Three days ago, he'd told me he needed to go abroad to close an important deal.

I hadn't been able to stop him. He was Don Calderoni, after all. The family's business had to come first.

He must have noticed how disappointed I looked, because he'd gently ruffled my hair and promised he'd be back in time for our engagement.

I'd accepted that. Unexpected situations came up all the time in his line of work, but he'd never once broken a promise to me.

The makeup artist was still working on me when the butler, Giorgio Gallo, knocked on the door.

"Ms. Marino, Ms. Calderoni is here," he informed.

"Bella's here? Let her in."

Bella Calderoni was Matteo's younger sister, eight years his junior. She'd been the apple of the family's eye since she was a little girl.

"Sofia, you look absolutely gorgeous today!" Before I even saw her, her loud, exaggerated voice rang through the room. "Your makeup artist is amazing! She's turned an ugly duckling into a swan!"

The makeup artist awkwardly stopped what she was doing. Bella, meanwhile, covered her mouth and burst out laughing.

I was used to her sarcastic remarks, so I pretended not to hear them.

She then reached for the jewelry box on my vanity. "I've never seen these diamond earrings before. Did Matteo buy them for you?"

"I bought them myself," I said.

She scoffed. "Still using the family's money, aren't you?"

I didn't want to argue with her. I glanced at my phone again. Matteo should have landed by now.

I called him, but all I got was an automated message saying he was out of the service area.

Had his flight been delayed?

I checked the airline's official website, only to find that the flight had landed right on schedule.

My heart sank to my stomach.

I turned to Giorgio, who was waiting by the door. "Did the driver pick up Matteo at the airport?"

Giorgio spent a while scrolling through his phone before answering. "No. We haven't been able to reach Don Calderoni."

My eyelids began twitching with anxiety. "Could something have happened to Matteo?"

Bella was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through her phone without even looking up. "Nothing's wrong. What could possibly happen to him?"

"How would you know? When has any of his deals ever been safe?" I snapped.

Bella looked at me with utter disdain. "I just know!"

Giorgio tried to reassure me. "I'll send someone to investigate right away. Please don't worry. Just focus on getting ready for the engagement party."

My hands trembled as I tried calling Matteo again, but there was still no answer.

Finally, the makeup artist was done.

I sat before the vanity mirror, staring at my flawless, doll-like makeup, my carefully styled curls, and my expressionless face.

It had been three hours since the flight landed, and I still hadn't heard a word from Matteo. I stared at the 20 unanswered calls on my phone. My heart sank further with every passing moment.

Then, all of a sudden, I thought I heard his voice. I turned and saw Bella clutching her phone, looking visibly panicked.

"That was Matteo's voice! Did he contact you? Where is he?"

Bella shook her head and avoided my eyes.

I walked up to her and demanded, "Give me your phone."

She kept her head down and hid it behind her back.

I snatched it from her and unlocked the screen. The next moment, I saw a video that was posted just three minutes earlier.

The account was unfamiliar, but the person in the video was unmistakably someone I knew.

Elena Romano stood on a rock with her arms outstretched. Behind her, a massive cliff towered overhead, and a stream of water cascaded from its top. It glowed like molten lava in the setting sun.

She shouted excitedly, "After waiting three whole days, I finally got to see the Firefall!"

Then, Matteo's indulgent voice followed. "I promised I'd bring you to see the Firefall. I always keep my promises."

I replayed the video in disbelief, but with each repetition, his voice became even clearer.

Bella snatched the phone back. "Happy now?"

I scoffed and dragged my feet back to the vanity. Then, I picked up my phone, opened the airline's website, and entered Matteo's details.

His booking appeared almost immediately. The return flight ticket was marked "Canceled".

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I slowly removed my earrings. The makeup artist reached out as if to stop me, but I shook my head.

In a calm voice, I said, "Please take my makeup off. I'm not going through with this engagement."