Chapter 4

“Lisa! Who gave you permission to enter the main house? And who gave you permission to touch that necklace?”

I turned and saw Quincy standing behind me with Sophia beside him. His face was dark with anger.

“That belongs to the Bennett family. What right do you have to touch it?”

I glanced at him, keeping my voice calm.

“Must you be so loud? Luca gave it to me.”

“Quincy, don’t speak to Miss Ortiz like that,” Sophia said gently. “But Miss Ortiz, how did you manage to get your hands on this necklace without anyone noticing?”

She edged behind Quincy.

“I don’t mean anything by it. I’m only worried that people might start spreading rumors and accuse you of stealing from the Bennett family.”

Quincy let out a cold laugh.

“What? Do you already think you’re Mrs. Bennett? Are you that eager to flaunt your authority?”

He lunged forward, seized the necklace around my neck, and ripped it off.

I was completely unprepared. The clasp scraped the back of my neck, leaving a red mark.

“You don’t even deserve to touch this necklace. I’ve wanted to ask my brother for it for years so I could give it to Sophia.”

He turned and placed the necklace in Sophia’s hands.

My name was engraved on its clasp. Taking it from me was more than theft. It was an open insult to both Luca and me.

I could not let Sophia keep it.

I rushed forward to take it back, but just as my fingers were about to touch the necklace, Sophia deliberately released her grip.

The black pearls struck the floor.

The clasp snapped, sending pearls scattering in every direction.

Sophia covered her neck and frowned in pain.

“Miss Ortiz, I know you don’t like me. I know you think I’m not worthy of this necklace.”

“But how could you deliberately destroy it? It doesn’t matter that you hurt me, but what if damaging the necklace comes between Quincy and Luca?”

I looked down at the black pearls scattered around my feet.

“Stop pretending. I never touched you. You were the one who let go.”

My voice remained steady, but Quincy refused to let it go.

He pulled Sophia protectively into his arms and glared at me with undisguised hatred.

“You hurt her, and you don’t feel even the slightest remorse. Now you’re lying about it.”

Sophia’s story did not hold up for even a second, yet Quincy believed every word.

“I swear on the honor of the Ortiz family, the necklace really wasn’t—”

“Apologize.”

“Lisa Ortiz, I order you to apologize to Sophia.”

Quincy’s voice carried unmistakable anger.

I refused.

“Are you insane? I didn’t break the necklace, and I’m not apologizing to her.”

Quincy clearly had not expected me to defy him. He stepped closer and clamped a hand around my wrist.

His grip made me wince. I struggled to pull free, but he was far stronger than I was.

“Don’t forget that today is our engagement party,” he said with complete confidence. “If the groom refuses to appear, the Ortiz family will become the laughingstock of Sicily.”

He was certain I would do what I had always done—that I would endure anything for a moment of his attention.

I met his gaze and enunciated every word.

“I already told you. You are not the man I’m going to marry. Don’t flatter yourself.”

The confidence on Quincy’s face vanished.

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Then the sound of strings drifted from the hall, and a smug smile returned to his face.

“You’re still trying to fool me? All of the Ortiz family’s business partners are here. If this isn’t an engagement party, then what is it?”

He stepped closer and lowered his voice, as though he were speaking to me while trying to convince himself.

“Let’s see how you plan to salvage this without me.”

“I know you’re using the necklace to get my attention. Too bad. It didn’t work.”

Before Quincy could finish, a gunshot cracked through the hall.

The bullet struck the floor beside his feet.

Luca stepped through the side door, his pistol still raised.

“Quincy, who gave you permission to address my fiancée that way?”