Chapter 1

Perina's POV

"Perina Ricci, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and bring me the candles."

I looked up and saw Renzo Romano's brows knitted together. He looked puzzled.

One of his friends noticed and explained, "Renzo called you several times earlier, but you didn't say a word."

"She's the future Donna, after all," someone chimed in snidely. "Aside from Don Romano, who else would she even care about?"

I had heard these kinds of doubtful remarks countless times when I first joined the Romano famiglia.

At the time, Renzo was always the first to step up and defend me. On more than one occasion, he had gotten into bloody brawls with those people.

Instinctively, I looked at Renzo. Yet, he merely sighed. "Perina, don't throw a fit in front of everyone here."

He cast a reassuring glance at the teary-eyed Simona Visconti before walking up to me and deliberately lowering his voice. "My Donna shouldn't be narrow-minded. Everyone's watching. Don't make a scene and embarrass yourself."

Looking into his mildly reproachful eyes, it suddenly struck me that he genuinely believed that I had deliberately humiliated Simona in public because I thought my status was higher than hers.

The old Renzo would've taken my side unconditionally. On the day he became Don, he had told me, "From today on, no one will ever have the right to doubt you again." Yet, now, he was the very person doubting me in front of everyone.

It felt as though an invisible hand had clamped tightly around my heart. I forced a polite smile. "I understand. Carry on without me. Don't let me hold you up."

I stepped forward on my own initiative, unclasped the diamond necklace from my neck, and placed it in Simona's palm. "Happy birthday. Consider this my apology."

Simona froze for a moment, clearly not expecting me to react like this. Renzo looked up at me as well. A glint of surprise flashed across his eyes before it was soon replaced by satisfaction.

I blinked rapidly to hide the prickle of tears rising in my eyes. Renzo seemed to have forgotten that this necklace was a gift he had gone to extreme lengths to win at an auction for me.

His friends gradually gathered around, and I retreated to the fringe. Clutching a glass of champagne, I smiled as I watched Renzo and the others light the candles, make wishes, and sing the birthday song.

My mind drifted back to my last birthday. Renzo had been so tied up with famiglia affairs that he had merely sent someone over with a set of haute couture jewelry as a gift.

When it was time to cut the cake, one of his friends sighed in admiration. "Renzo baked this cake himself. If you ask me, Renzo and Mona look much more like a couple!"

Straightening up, I was about to pipe up when Renzo looked at him and said apathetically, "You've crossed a line. Perina is my future Donna. I don't want to hear another word that discredits her."

The air went still for three seconds until Simona broke the awkward silence by coaxing Renzo to offer her his birthday blessings.

After the party ended, everyone began filtering out.

Renzo eyed me with a hint of concern. "Perina, why do you seem so distracted?"

I pressed my lips together, and just as I was about to speak, Simona, who was next to us, clutched her forehead and leaned against him. "I had too much to drink, Renzo. My head's pounding."

Renzo helped her up and said softly, "Come on, I'll take you to the guest room." Then, he left without sparing me another glance.

I tugged at the corner of my lips and let out a bitter chuckle. Perhaps he did care about me, but he would always prioritize Simona. I no longer wanted a love that was so biased.

After returning to my room and collapsing onto the bed, my tears unconsciously soaked my pillow as memories of our first meeting resurfaced.

I had been working at a bar when a drunk man cornered me at the counter and harassed me. I had grabbed a bottle and was about to fight to the bitter end when Renzo appeared and saved me.

Back then, we fell in love at first sight.

Later on, he was also the one who brought me into the Romano famiglia. Everyone in his circle had told me, "I've never seen Renzo treat anyone this well before. He'd lay down his life for you without a second thought."

I had sworn that I would never be a burden to Renzo again but rather his greatest support. Hence, after he inherited his famiglia business and became the Don, I became his most loyal Underboss.

I had genuinely believed that I would become his Donna, that we would live happily ever after. Yet, reality had shown me that there would always be room for another in his heart. If that was the case, I didn't want him anymore.