Our Love Withered Before the Petals Fell

The study in the Giordano residence was thick with smoke.

Tania Giordano pushed the door open.

Her father—the Don of the Giordano family, once a feared and respected figure—sat hunched over a pile of documents. The reports showed their cash flow had completely collapsed. He didn't even notice the cigar in his fingers had burned down to the nub.

"Papa, I'll accept the marriage to Don Garretti," Tania said calmly.

Rino Giordano snapped his head up. The worry on his face instantly flipped to joy. "Tania? You're here? You're really willing to marry that vegetable Don?"

Then, his expression shifted back to concern. "Tania, I owe you and Noemi an apology. But the Garretti family is huge and powerful. This engagement was settled long ago. There's no calling it off now."

Tania didn't answer. She walked over to the conference table and tapped it lightly with her fingers. "But if I am to marry that Don who might not even wake up in Noemi's place, I expect to be compensated."

Rino's smile faded. "What do you want? As long as we can still afford it—"

"Give me those Kashmir sapphires," Tania cut in. "And I'm not bringing Simone with me. He's staying here as Noemi's bodyguard."

Rino went pale and shook his head. "No way! Those sapphires are your mamma's legacy, worth tens of billions of dollars. They're our last trump card! And you care so much for Simone. How can you just give him to Noemi?"

"I want something I can cash out right away. I don't care about the famiglia's fate," Tania said with a sneer. "As for Simone, it doesn't matter who he protects. It's never been me anyway."

Her words stabbed deep. Rino opened his mouth but had no rebuttal. He knew he owed Tania too much.

Years ago, his mistress showed up claiming Noemi Giordano was his child. His wife fell into depression and died.

But he favored Noemi, leaving Tania to fend for herself abroad while promising Noemi to the Garretti family.

Later, the Don, Callen Garretti, was attacked and left in a vegetative state.

Rino hated the thought of sending Noemi into that family.

But in recent years, the Giordano rings were crushed by the police. Desperate for a partnership with the Garretti family, he brought Tania back.

Tania's gaze was icy. "So? Sì o no?"

Rino was silent for a long moment, then sighed heavily. "Fine. I'll agree. The sapphires are locked in a Sevaris bank vault. I'll sign Simone's transfer orders now."

He had no choice. The Garretti family was their last hope, even if it meant sacrificing Tania and handing over the Giordano family's final secret weapon.

Tania said nothing more and turned to leave.

As she reached the door, Rino's voice stopped her. "Tania, Simone's been with you for two years. Are you really okay with leaving him to Noemi?"

Tania's steps faltered, and a faint red glossed her eyes.

How could she be okay? That man who had always watched her back was the only light in her dark world.

But a moment she'd accidentally seen had shattered her illusions.

Without looking back, she walked out. "It doesn't matter. We're just taking what we need."

The elevator doors slid shut, cutting her off from everything behind.

Tania leaned against the cold metal wall and closed her eyes. A single tear slipped down silently.

With this marriage, she could cut ties with everything here.

…

When Tania got back to her villa, it was nearly dawn. The house was completely silent.

She'd just stepped onto the second floor when she heard suppressed breathing from the far end of the hallway.