Chapter 4

At long last, I broke my silence. "He can't make it."

Gabriele frowned. "What do you mean, he can't make it? I know he's probably still mad at me."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "I flaked him on his birthday, but he can't be absent on such an important occasion. Bring him here first. I'll explain myself to him when we get home."

At this point, he still believed that as long as he admitted his mistakes and explained himself, everything he'd done wrong could simply be swept under the rug.

When I remained silent, Bella rose and walked toward me. "I know you don't like me, but an heir is a matter of great importance to the entire famiglia. You shouldn't ruin Signor Ettore's future just because of your personal feelings. This is all my fault! If I hadn't been injured, Don Rossi wouldn't have broken his word."

Having said her piece, her knees suddenly buckled, as if she were about to drop to her knees. The guests beside her hurriedly caught her, and the hall erupted into a chorus of whispers.

"Is she attempting to drive Signora Fontana into a corner?"

"Bella hasn't even recovered from her injuries, and she still doesn't feel the slightest bit of sympathy!"

"Say something, Don Rossi!"

Gabriele pulled me behind him. "That's enough, everyone," he said calmly. "Bella!"

He turned his head slightly and lowered his voice as he told me, "Don't take it to heart. Bella's only doing this for the famiglia."

He grasped my hand tightly. The chatter around us continued unabated, and someone even jeered at me.

I couldn't help but find this situation laughable.

Many of them seriously believed that Gabrielle had single-handedly transformed a declining small-time famiglia into one of the most powerful forces in Sicelia in a decade. Had I not secretly asked the Clemente family to step in and help him, they wouldn't be where they are that day.

I shifted my attention toward Bella. There wasn't a trace of sorrow in her eyes. The way she looked at me was full of provocation.

I withdrew my hand. I'd initially intended to set the record straight before leaving, but now, I had no desire to waste my breath on him. "I'm going home."

Gabriele was caught off guard. "Right now? I've already sent someone to pick Ettore up. I'll go home with you once the banquet is over."

"That won't be necessary, and your men won't be able to pick Ettore up, either." I took out the death certificate from my handbag and thrust it in his face.

He instinctively reached out and took it. The moment he saw Ettore's name, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

He looked up at me and was just about to ask when a loud crash echoed from behind him. Bella had knocked over a chair. Her body swayed, and she began to topple sideways.

The guests near her hurried over to catch her. "Bella's wounds are bleeding. Quick, call a doctor!"

As soon as their words fell, everyone immediately crowded around Bella.

Gabriele stood frozen in place, clutching the death certificate in his hand, until Marco grabbed him and dragged him toward Bella.

As chaos engulfed the hall, I spun around and walked toward the door without the slightest hesitation.

The rain on the steps glistened under the car headlights. My famiglia's car had been waiting outside the manor the entire time.

My Soldato stood beside the car. The moment he spotted me, he pressed his right hand to his chest, lowered his head, and held the door open for me.

Before climbing into the car, I looked back one last time. Gabriele was surrounded by the guests, and he didn't turn around.

The car door closed, and I said, "Let's go back to Clemente Manor."

"Understood, Signora Clemente."