Chapter 2

Quincy smiled as he closed in on me and clamped a hand around my wrist.

“Lisa, is it really that difficult for you to admit that you want to marry me?”

“Everyone in Sicily knows our families are arranging a marriage between us. Why are you still pretending otherwise?”

I pressed my lips together and tried to pull my hand free.

His fingers locked around my wrist like an iron clamp, and the edge of his cuff scraped a red line across the back of my hand.

“Let go. You’re only the second son of the Bennett family. Is it really that hard to understand why I wouldn’t choose you?”

Quincy’s expression immediately darkened.

His lips parted as his face flushed with anger. He pointed at me, but for several seconds, he was too furious to force out a word.

“I’m sorry. I heard that you two were getting married, and I only came to offer my congratulations.”

Sophia stepped out from behind Quincy.

Her gaze remained fixed on his hand around my wrist.

For a brief moment, jealousy and hatred flashed in her dark brown eyes. Then they disappeared as she slipped that familiar fragile mask back into place.

“This is the wedding dress Quincy sent over. You should keep it for now, Miss Ortiz.”

Sophia held the dress out to me.

“But Quincy had it custom-made to suit my taste. I hope you won’t take that personally.”

She placed the wedding dress in my hands, wiped away her tears, and turned as if to leave.

Quincy immediately stopped her and pulled her into his arms, murmuring gently to comfort her.

“This dress was always meant for you. No one else has the right to wear it.”

His gaze remained fixed on Sophia, leaving no room for anyone else.

In the past, I would have resented being ignored.

But now, I only felt that he was the one unworthy of me.

“What a touching love story. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.”

I tossed the wedding dress onto the ground and turned to leave.

Sophia turned back and tried to stop me.

“I’m sorry, Miss Ortiz. This is my fault. I should never have wanted Quincy’s love.”

“I’m the one who isn’t worthy of him. I’ll leave quietly.”

“I hope the two of you will be happy.”

Quincy wiped away her tears before turning to me.

“Sophia is the woman I truly love. Even if you use our families’ agreement to force me to marry you, you will never have my heart.”

Sophia clutched Quincy’s coat. Her tearful expression made her look pitiful, but the satisfaction in her eyes was impossible to hide.

The people around us watched me nervously.

Over the years, every woman who appeared beside Quincy had left Sicily by the following day.

The Ortiz family’s intelligence network reached every corner of Sicily.

I never needed to give an order. Someone would always happen to learn their names, happen to uncover their backgrounds, and happen to make sure they left Sicily.

Quincy clearly remembered that as well, so he held Sophia even tighter.

But I only smiled. I even applauded their declaration of love.

Quincy’s lovestruck expression began to crack, and he instinctively took a step toward me.

“Lisa, I hate people who disobey me. If you go after Sophia again—”

Before he could finish, my phone rang.

It was Luca.

“I’m at your estate. The estate manager said you went out. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

Hearing his deep voice, I couldn’t help smiling.

“No need. I’ll be back soon.”

With my phone still in my hand, I waved casually at Quincy and the others before crossing the garden toward the main hall.