Chapter 2

I shook my head, fighting for breath through the pain.

"Delete it."

Valentina's smile froze. "What?"

"You can't publish that video."

Instantly, she put on her wounded expression.

"Elena, I made this engagement video for you. Do you really hate the thought of me succeeding that much?"

Mom slammed her teacup onto the table.

"Sign it! Valentina's health is fragile, and becoming a content creator is her dream. You're her big sister. You should be helping her.

"Besides, the whole world will see your engagement! You ought to be grateful!"

I looked at my mother, who apparently couldn't hear how absurd she sounded.

I'd been made a fool of in front of the whole world, and somehow I was supposed to thank the person who'd arranged it.

Matteo took the phone.

"Don't make such a big deal out of nothing. Just help Valentina this once, Elena. It's over. There's no need to drag it out."

My whole body trembled with anger.

When I didn't reach for the screen, Matteo grabbed my finger and tried to force it against the digital signature box.

It was the first time he'd held my hand since the engagement party began.

Not to comfort me. To make me obey my sister.

I yanked my hand free, lost my balance, and knocked over a tray of red wine. Glasses shattered. A sharp fragment sliced across the back of my hand.

I barely noticed.

The agony in my abdomen drowned out everything else.

Mom sprang to her feet and pointed at me.

"Elena, when are you going to stop this? Valentina apologized. What more do you want?"

Gripping the table, I struggled for air.

"I said I'm not signing. Ever since I fell down those stairs, my stomach has been hurting."

Guests turned toward the commotion. Matteo caught my arm, irritation plain in his voice.

"Enough. Stop shouting."

He looked toward the butler. "Call my private physician to Elena's room."

Then he hauled me upright. "I'll take you somewhere to rest. Will that finally satisfy you?"

Relief washed through me. At last I could get out of the ballroom.

But we'd barely taken one step when Valentina suddenly clutched her chest and began gasping.

"Matteo... I can't... breathe."

He released me immediately and rushed to her.

Without his support, I staggered into the edge of the table.

Mom didn't even glance my way. She was too busy rummaging for Valentina's inhaler.

Two puffs later, my sister's breathing settled.

She leaned weakly against Matteo and looked at me with teary eyes.

"Do you really need to prove everyone cares more about you than me?"

I stared at her in disbelief.

She bit her lip. "I was born sick. I spent so much of my childhood in hospitals, and that wasn't my choice.

"Do you think if you complain about pain and beg to go to a hospital, people will care about you the way they care about me?"

In a few sentences, she'd turned my desperate plea for help into a pathetic bid for attention.

Mom rounded on me. "I knew you were up to something! Ever since you were little, whenever Valentina got extra attention, you'd suddenly have a headache or a stomachache.

"It's your own engagement party! Everyone's already looking at you. Isn't that enough?"

I pressed both hands to my abdomen.

"I only started hurting after I was pushed down the stairs. I—"

"Enough!" Matteo roared.

He positioned himself in front of Valentina, his expression thunderous.

"You upset her so badly that she had an asthma attack, and you're still making excuses? I never thought you could be this selfish.

"How can you care so much about getting my attention that you'd ignore your own sister's life?"

I said nothing.

He'd watched me tumble down those steps with his own eyes. But a few tears from Valentina were enough to convince him I was faking every ounce of pain.

When I refused to back down, his face hardened.

"Apologize to Valentina now, and we'll all forgive you. Otherwise, there won't be an engagement to continue."

He spoke slowly, making sure I heard every word.

"I won't marry a woman who'd put her own sister's life at risk out of jealousy."