Chapter 2

Luca mockingly laughed, his eyes looking cold.

“So I see it now. You can't handle being thrown away, so you found some fake cold stone to make me react? Is that the idea? Elena, if you really want me that badly, I would not mind letting you stay around as a spare woman.”

Was he actually dreaming?

I let out a cold laugh and raised the ring right in front of him. "Look carefully. This is a flawless, bespoke-grade diamond. Do you really believe my world stopped moving just because you walked away?”

His pupils shrank into tiny points, and his jaw locked so tightly that I thought his teeth might break.

Standing beside him, Sophia stepped forward and pushed my hand away. "Bespoke? Please. It’s clearly cheap glass. You seem younger than I expected, but your pride already reaches the sky.”

She was covered in designer jewels like a Christmas tree. Compared to her, a plain long coat covered my body.

“Our matter does not concern you,” I said, my tone cold. "Keep your mouth shut."

Sophia stumbled over her words, her well-kept face turning bright red. Her eyes changed into a hunting stare. "You stole something from this family. You aren't leaving today!"

I frowned. I was only there for my cat. Now I was a thief?

Sophia gestured toward the console table in the foyer. "I left an emerald necklace right there this morning. The moment you came in, it disappeared. Who else could have taken it?"

“You really dared to take something from the Moretti Family,” she said coldly. “Do you want to die?”

The moment her words ended, several large Mafia men stepped forward and surrounded me. Luca looked at me with fake disappointment on his face.

“Elena, I allowed you to return for that useless cat out of sympathy, not to steal from us!”

Two men grabbed my arms. Sophia rushed forward, snatched my bag from my shoulder, and dumped everything onto the floor.

Right there was the emerald necklace, lying among my personal items.

Before I could understand what was happening, her palm struck my face. A loud crack sounded, and my right ear buzzed painfully.

“Bitch! You’re caught in the act and still pretending to be innocent!”

I tasted blood in my mouth. I looked straight at them and spat a mouthful onto the floor.

“Luca, when have I ever asked you for a single cent? I don't give a damn about this junk, and I sure as hell didn't steal it."

Luca hesitated for a brief second. In my past life, I’d practically lived on breadcrumbs just to help him save money to manage his territory. If he had any sense, he would know I wasn’t a thief.

But I had clearly expected too much from him.

“Maybe you’re just that desperate. Elena, you’re a goddamn embarrassment."

My eyes turned red. The hatred in my chest felt heavy and real.

“I’m getting married tomorrow. I wouldn't touch your garbage. I’m warning you, tell your dogs to let me go right now, or you are finished.”

I believed bringing up the wedding would make them stop. Instead, Sophia and Luca looked at each other and broke into wild laughter.

“In this city? I would like to see who holds more power than me!” Luca said with a mocking smile.

At that moment, the screech of tires tore through the courtyard. A bulletproof Rolls-Royce stopped suddenly. The door opened, and a tall figure covered in shadow stepped out.

Vincenzo’s voice moved through the air like a very cold winter, cold, strong, and deadly.

“What the hell is going on here?”