Chapter 3

Lorenzo's voice was ice. "I want you to calm down and get along with your family."

Family?

What family did I have left?

All my father ever did was scold me.

Elsa and her mother wished I would just drop dead.

When my mother passed away, I had been studying abroad.

By the time I received the news and rushed home, her jewelry had been auctioned off.

It took me five years to recover most of it.

The last piece, a sapphire necklace, was in the hands of a private collector.

My mother had designed it herself. It had been her favorite.

The collector happened to do business with Lorenzo's family.

I begged Lorenzo to help me buy it back.

He had wiped my tears away and made me a promise.

"Giulia, don't be sad. I'll get it back for you."

He said it broke his heart to see me lose my mother so young.

He said that once we got the necklace back, he would officially propose.

He said he wanted to give me a home.

I believed him. I even let myself dream about our future together.

But now, Lorenzo was using my mother's necklace to force me to let my father's mistress and her daughter into the house, all to please Elsa.

I laughed softly.

At my own stupidity. I had watched my father betray my mother with my own eyes and still fallen for Lorenzo's sweet lies.

At myself, for still being hurt by Lorenzo taking Elsa's side.

Lorenzo didn't understand what I was laughing about. The air around him dropped to a terrifying chill.

"Giulia, do you understand what I'm saying?"

I stumbled to my feet and tucked my messy hair behind my ear.

"Fine. They can move in, but I want that necklace by today."

Lorenzo pressed his lips together, hesitating.

We had agreed that the necklace would be his proposal gift at my birthday.

But looking into Elsa's pitiful eyes, he gave in.

"Fine. I'll have someone deliver it later.

"Giulia..."

His expression softened; he walked toward me, reaching for my hand.

I didn't spare him a single glance but limped upstairs.

The feelings had all been fake.

What did I need a proposal gift for?

I didn't notice that behind me, Lorenzo's eyes were fixed on my retreating figure. A belated wave of guilt and heartache twisted across his face.

Elsa called out to him several times.

Only then did he snap out of it, tearing his gaze away with reluctance.

"What is it?"

Elsa masked the jealousy and suspicion in her eyes, fighting to maintain her gentle facade.

"Lorenzo, thank you for helping me and Mama move in. Even though my sister doesn't like me and always picks on me, I'll still try my best to get along with her."

Lorenzo completely missed the insult behind Elsa's words.

He gave a distracted nod.

"Giulia's not a bad person. Just be good to her, and eventually she'll see that you mean well."

Hearing Lorenzo defend me without even meaning to, Elsa's nails dug into her own palms.

Back in my room, I packed up every gift Lorenzo had ever given me.

On our first date, he had given me a star pendant necklace.

He'd said, "They say people become stars when they die. Let this necklace keep you company whenever I can't be there."

On our second date, he made me a seashell bracelet by hand.

The third time, it was a rare heirloom gemstone called the Eternal Heart...

I tossed them into a cardboard box, one by one.

The beautiful memories surfaced, and I ripped them away.

Every last bit of love I'd had for Lorenzo was gone.

Six hours later, Elsa knocked on my door.

She held a jewelry case in her hands, a smug grin on her face.

"Lorenzo wanted me to deliver this necklace so you'd feel grateful to me. Tell me, why do you think your boyfriend is so nice to me?"

I couldn't be bothered with her. I reached for the case.

Elsa pulled it away and spoke slowly, "Because my mother and I deserve to be loved. You and your mother, on the other hand, are nothing but pathetic losers."

Her expression turned vicious. She raised the case high above her head and slammed it to the ground.

My eyes widened, and I quickly reached out to catch it.

But Elsa tripped me deliberately. I could only watch as the necklace flew from the case and the massive sapphire struck the wall, shattering into a web of cracks.

Elsa burst into triumphant laughter.

"Look at you. Five years ago you couldn't protect your mother, and now you can't even protect what she left behind! This is what you get for not knowing your place and stepping aside as you should have!"

My hands trembled as I picked up the necklace.

The image of my mother smiling as she wore it, asking if she looked beautiful, floated before my eyes.

Then her smile shattered along with the necklace.

The last thread of reason in my mind snapped. Hatred swelled and surged and exploded inside me.

I stood up, said nothing, walked into the room, and took the hunting rifle down from the wall.

A shot rang out.