Chapter 2

I flipped over abruptly, dodging Marcello's touch.

That perfume of Valerie's on him made me sick.

"What? I figured you'd spend the whole night playing hero for your precious little sister." I looked at him mockingly.

Marcello frowned, tearing off his tie in frustration.

"Cora, can you stop being so bitter? I told you, she was scared. I only look at her as a sister."

"A sister?" I scoffed coldly.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, opened Instagram, and shoved the screen right in his face.

"Is this how you usually bond with your sister?"

On the screen was a post Valerie had made half an hour ago.

In the photo, bathed in dim, romantic lighting, she and Marcello had their fingers intertwined.

Her face was inches from his lips, and the caption read: "There is always that one person who becomes your hero when you're most afraid."

Marcello's face changed instantly.

He reached out to snatch the phone, but I pulled it back.

"It's just a joke," he said, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Valerie's ex-boyfriend was there. She was just trying to make him jealous. I didn't know she posted it online. If it bothers you, I'll have her take it down right now."

I put my phone away and smiled. "No need."

Since I'd already decided to leave him, why bother fighting over it?

But my leniency didn't win me a smile.

Marcello stared at me coldly, his tone turning dangerous. "What does that mean? You don't care if people see this picture?"

"I don't care at all."

Marcello stood up with a dark expression and snatched his suit jacket. "I'm sleeping in the guest room."

With a massive bang, the bedroom door slammed shut.

I looked at the empty room, feeling hollow inside.

But this time, I didn't cry.

By noon the next day, I started coordinating with my publisher about leaving New York.

Out of nowhere, Marcello actually called me and arranged a family dinner.

"I thought about it last night. I know you're still mad about me being late, so bring your parents over today. Let's have dinner together."

I wanted to refuse, but my parents didn't want to make things worse, so they dragged me to the estate.

However, the moment I pushed open the private dining room door, I saw Valerie sitting right next to Marcello, beaming.

Marcello looked uncomfortable for a split second. "I didn't invite her, she just..."

I didn't want to hear his excuses.

I just wanted to get this dinner over with.

"Hi Cora. And Mr. and Mrs. Miller, right?" Valerie swirled her red wine, her eyes judging my parents' slightly stiff attire. "I hear you're from Texas? Must be pretty barren down there."

My dad gave a nervous smile. "It's fine. The air is nice."

As dinner went on, the atmosphere grew stifling.

Valerie was cutting her steak when she suddenly covered her mouth and giggled.

"Oh, Mrs. Miller, you don't use that fork for the escargot." She pointed mockingly at the silverware in my mother's hand. "Oh my god, I guess you don't eat things like this down there? The way you hold your silverware is just..."

I gripped my knife and fork.

"Valerie, shut your mouth," I glared at her, my voice like ice.

"Cora, I'm just trying to help," Valerie looked at Marcello, playing the victim. "If the Don's in-laws don't even know basic table manners, it's going to embarrass Marcello at family banquets."

I looked at Marcello.

He kept cutting his steak, saying absolutely nothing.

He didn't just fail to stop her; his silence endorsed the humiliation.

My father's face flushed deep red. His hand trembled, and he knocked over his wine glass.

Dark red liquid spilled all over his faded, washed-out shirt.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." My dad frantically grabbed a napkin to wipe it.

Seeing my father look so small and humiliated, my eyes stung.

I snatched the napkin from his hand and threw it on the table.

"Dad, don't wipe it. We can't afford to eat at a place like this."

I took my parents' hands. "Let's go."

Marcello finally looked up, his eyes dark. "Cora, sit down."

I ignored him and walked out of the room with my parents, never looking back.

He called me several times, and I declined every single one.

That afternoon, I had to meet my agent over an urgent rights issue for my new book.

While I was figuring out how to keep my parents occupied, Marcello's assistant suddenly showed up, saying the Don wanted to apologize and offered to give my parents a tour of the Rossi estate.

"Don't worry, the Don will take good care of them."

Not wanting to put me in a tough spot, my parents agreed to go.

I thought Marcello would at least maintain basic decency.

But at 8 PM.

Just as I walked out of my agent's office, my phone rang.

It was my mom.

As soon as I answered, I heard her desperate sobbing.

"Cora! Come quick! Your dad's having a heart attack! He collapsed!"

My mind exploded. I almost couldn't stand.