Chapter 4

He was wearing a custom-tailored suit that gave him an imposing presence. Several bodyguards followed behind him.

Dressed in a burgundy evening gown, Giulia had her arm linked through his. The diamond necklace around her neck glittered so brightly under the lights that it was almost blinding.

The two of them stood in the middle of the banquet hall, looking like a match made in heaven. Several people from other families were already praising them.

I took one glance at them before quickly lowering my head. I thought I should avoid them as much as possible.

I was carrying a tray of drinks and was about to turn around when Giulia suddenly spoke. "Oh, my! How could you spill a drink on my dress?"

I stopped and noticed a small wine stain on the hem of her dress. I didn't try to defend myself. I simply took out a napkin, crouched down, and began wiping it for her.

Guglielmo stared at me for a long time, his expression grave.

Giulia noticed his gaze. When she looked at me again, a flash of malice crossed her eyes. Then, as if by accident, she knocked her wineglass onto me.

It hit me right around the waist. The pain from it felt as if someone had ripped open the wound with a knife all over again. I collapsed to the floor, instinctively curling into a ball as cold sweat instantly soaked my back.

Giulia said, "Oops. I'm so sorry. My hand slipped. But you seem pretty clumsy. You're probably not fit to work here anymore. Just go home for today."

She looked angry, but the smug curve of her lips was impossible to hide.

Only my eyes were visible beneath the mask, but the moment my eyes met Guglielmo's, I knew he'd recognized me. After all, we'd known each other far too well.

His lips pressed into a thin line, and a heartbroken look crossed the depths of his eyes.

However, it was gone so quickly that I thought I had imagined it. Then, it was replaced by even more intense mockery.

He raised a hand to stop the guards behind him. Then, he bent down and tore off my mask.

Guglielmo sneered, "Annalisa, are you still pretending that you don't know me now that we've met again?"

Giulia feigned surprise. "Annalisa? It's you? Didn't you take Guglielmo's money and leave back then? How did you end up working here as a server?"

The hall fell silent. Everyone's eyes were fixed on me.

Then, whispers spread from every direction.

"I heard Guglielmo's ex-girlfriend took all his money and disappeared when he was at his weakest."

"Ha. Look at her now, reduced to carrying trays. She deserves it."

I didn't know who started it, but a glass of red wine was suddenly thrown over my head. Then, drinks came pouring at me from every direction.

One glass after another was thrown at me. They shattered painfully against my body. Dark red liquid streamed down from my hair, mixing with the blood seeping from the wound at my waist before dripping onto the marble floor.

Clearly, everyone at the banquet wanted to curry favor with Guglielmo, the newly appointed Don of Savellia.

I knelt on the floor without resisting.

Guglielmo looked at me. "Why aren't you saying anything? Or do I have to pay you just to get a word out of you now?"

He let out a cold laugh, and laughter from the surrounding crowd immediately followed.

"You came here to work as a server just to ask me for money, didn't you?"

He waved his hand and had more than a dozen unopened bottles of whiskey brought over and lined up on the table.

"I'll give you what you want."

He picked up one of the bottles and tipped it upside down. The dark red liquor poured out, splashing across my knees.

"As long as you finish all of these, I'll give you 300,000 dollars."

One bottle after another was opened.

Guglielmo stood in front of me, an icy chill settling over his face.

Everyone in the hall watched the spectacle, their eyes filled with mockery and indifference.