Chapter 1

"You call that teaching her manners?"

I stared into Carlo's eyes, my voice completely flat.

Carlo frowned.

He stepped forward like he was stating the obvious.

"Mom, Lucia's been pampered her whole life. A little setback will do her good. We were right there watching. Nothing was actually going to happen."

I looked at Lucia, curled up in the corner.

She was shaking all over, her nails digging into the cracks of the tile floor.

The back of her gown was ripped open. Her pale shoulders were covered in ugly bruises.

Even back when my husband had just died and I was fighting tooth and nail to keep the Rizzo family alive, I never let my daughter suffer anything like this.

"Nothing was going to happen?"

I let out a soft laugh and walked up to Carlo, one step at a time.

"So it only counts as 'something happening' once they've stripped her completely naked?"

Maury stepped in front of Carlo.

He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone as gentle as ever.

"Mom, don't get angry just yet."

"Isabella accidentally spilled champagne on Lucia's dress, and Lucia started screaming and yelling. It was completely uncalled for."

"As her brothers, it's our job to teach her what forgiveness means. We just had a few friends rough her up a little, so she'd learn her lesson."

Behind Maury, Isabella was clutching the hem of his shirt.

Her eyes were slightly red. She peeked out timidly.

"Ma'am, please don't blame them. It's all my fault."

"I can't afford to replace Lucia's custom gown. Of course she's upset."

"If it'll make her feel better, I'll strip naked and apologize to her right now."

Dante immediately took off his designer jacket.

He draped it carefully over Isabella's shoulders and pulled her close.

"Isabella, don't you dare degrade yourself like that."

Dante turned to me, a hint of reproach in his eyes.

"Mom, did you hear that? Isabella is way more sensible than Lucia."

"It's just a dress. Lucia insisted on humiliating Isabella over it. That's not the behavior of a future heir."

Rocco, who'd been leaning against the wall playing with his pocket watch, finally stopped.

A sharp click.

He snapped the metal watch shut, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.

"Mom, you can't really blame us for playing favorites."

"Lucia throws her weight around because her family's rich and powerful. She's used to getting her way. With that attitude, who knows what kind of trouble she'd stir up if you weren't around to protect her someday. Us teaching her a lesson is for her own good."

Four adopted sons.

Ten years of dedication.

I spent a fortune hiring the best tutors to teach them strategy, vision, and how to wield power.

I pulled them out of the gutter of the foster system and gave them status and resources most people could only dream of.

And now, they were using the very skills I taught them, teaming up with outsiders, to bully my own flesh and blood.

I walked past Maury and went straight to Lucia.

She was biting her lower lip so hard it nearly bled, tears falling silently.

"Mom..."

Her voice was hoarse. Her hands clutched the ruined gown like it was the last shred of dignity she had left.

I took off my cashmere coat and wrapped it tightly around her.

"It's okay."

I stroked her cold hair and pulled her into my arms.

Maury watched me, his frown deepening.

"Mom, covering for her like this with no bottom line is only going to ruin Lucia."

He walked over and tried to grab Lucia's arm.

"Lucia, stand up and apologize to Isabella. Then we'll let today slide."

I slapped him across the face.

The sharp crack echoed through the bathroom.

Maury's head snapped to the side.

His gold-rimmed glasses flew off and hit the floor, cracking.

Dante and Carlo's expressions changed instantly.

"Mom! What are you doing?"

Dante shoved Isabella behind him and rushed forward.

"You hit Maury over something this small?"

Maury raised a hand to stop Dante.

He turned his head back, a clear red mark blooming on his pale cheek.

Even so, he kept that condescending, gentle composure.

"Mom, if hitting me makes you feel better, I won't fight back."

"But I'll say it again—Lucia has to learn to respect people. As long as she doesn't, the four of us will never accept her as our sister. And if something happens to you someday, we won't take her in either."

I almost laughed out loud.

Seems stepping back into the shadows all these years gave these four idiots some fascinating delusions.

Isabella hid behind Dante and tugged lightly at his sleeve.

"Dante, your mom is so scary. I'm afraid."

Rocco let out a scoff, fiddling with his pocket watch.

"Mom, you're really disappointing us today."

"We thought you were someone who could tell right from wrong. Turns out you're just like all those ordinary parents who spoil their kids rotten."

I swept my gaze coldly over their four self-righteous faces.

Ten years. Had I raised them too well?

So well they forgot what they really were.

"Your disappointment means nothing to me."

I helped Lucia to her feet and looked down at them.

"Since you think Lucia throws her weight around because her family has money, then starting today, the four of you won't spend a single cent of the Rizzo family's money."

Carlo let out a cold snort.

He crossed his arms, glancing away with contempt.

"Mom, you're pulling the cut-off-the-cards threat again?"

"We handle so many core projects in the Rizzo Group. You really think the family can keep running without us?"

Maury bent down and picked up his glasses.

He wiped the dust off the lenses with a handkerchief, slow and deliberate, then put them back on.

"Mom, we've been by your side for ten years."

"For a good-for-nothing like Lucia, are you really going to burn everything down?"

I shielded Lucia and walked toward the door.

As I passed Isabella, I stopped.

Isabella shrank further into Dante's arms.

But the look she gave me was strange. Unreadable.

I frowned, finding it utterly absurd.

"Since you all love teaching people manners so much."

I turned to Maury, my voice calm.

"Then tomorrow morning at nine, come to the family council and hand over every project you're managing. Let's see—without the Rizzo family—what exactly you'll use to teach anyone manners."

I didn't bother with their ugly expressions anymore. I took Lucia and walked straight out of the attic.

Behind me, down the hallway, Rocco's voice drifted over, dripping with disdain.

"Maury, ignore her. She's bluffing. Most of the real power in Rizzo is in our hands now. Mom hasn't touched it in ages. Give it three days—she'll be begging us to come back and clean up those messes."

Once outside, I pulled out my phone and dialed.

"Look into that Isabella for me."