Chapter 4

"Selfish?" I looked at Julian and smiled faintly.

Why was everyone calling me selfish?

Mom wanted me to die for my sister. I hesitated. Selfish.

Dominic wanted me to sacrifice myself for the family. I hesitated. Selfish.

Now, my fiancé wanted to steal my only reason for living. And I was selfish.

I didn't say another word. I turned and walked away.

"Valeria! You're going to regret this!" Julian roared behind me.

The Porsche sped off, leaving me alone in the freezing autumn wind.

I dragged my weak body back to the Costa estate.

The moment I pushed the door open, the warm, joyful atmosphere in the living room died instantly.

Mom was holding a glass of champagne, glowing with happiness.

Dominic was smiling, affectionately ruffling Bianca's hair.

On the coffee table, an iPad screen was lit up. Paris fashion news on the front page.

“Ten minutes ago, top Parisian luxury brand officially signed mystery genius designer, Valkyrie.”

Underneath, the real identity was listed in bold: Bianca Costa.

I understood immediately.

While I was in the hospital, Bianca sneaked into my attic and stole all my sketches.

Julian wasn't negotiating with me in the car. He was just informing me after the fact.

Seeing me at the door, Mom's smile froze.

She set down her glass, eyes flashing with guilt. "Valeria... you, you walked all the way back?"

Bianca immediately hid behind Dominic like a frightened deer.

Her eyes went red, and tears fell flawlessly. "Valeria, I'm so sorry... Julian told me you agreed to give me the title. I was afraid of missing the opportunity, so I just..."

"Alright, stop crying," Dominic shielded Bianca, heart aching for her.

He turned to me, frowning, aggressively defending her. "Valeria, don't look at Bianca like that! She just wants a career. Is that a crime?"

"She stole my sketches," I said calmly.

"What do you mean, stole? We're a family, what's yours is hers!" Dominic raised his voice, completely out of patience. "You're going to the Don as a hostage anyway! The title is useless in your hands. So what if Bianca takes it? Can you stop being so petty?!"

Looking at his righteous face, I didn't even feel angry anymore.

I didn't argue. I didn't shed a single tear.

I walked past them, straight toward the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Mom asked, sounding guilty.

I ignored her. I went back to the cramped attic.

I opened the closet. I didn't touch a single designer dress they bought me.

I only packed the old clothes I wore when they first found me. Shoved them into a beat-up canvas bag.

When I walked downstairs with the bag, the whole family froze.

"What are you doing with luggage?" Dominic panicked, quickly stepping in my way. "Valeria, stop throwing a fit! It's just a designer title! When this blows over, we'll compensate you!"

I coldly pushed his hand away.

I walked up to Victor, my father, who had been sitting silently at the head of the table.

I pulled a document from my bag and slapped it onto the coffee table.

"Sign it," I looked down at him.

Victor frowned, scanning the paper. His face turned violently pale.

It was the disownment papers.

From this day on, I would no longer carry the Costa name. My life or death had nothing to do with this family.

"Valeria, are you insane?!" Mom shrieked, rushing forward to tear the paper. "We are your real parents! We love you!"

Dominic's eyes went red. He reached for my shoulder. "What the hell are you doing?! Put that away right now!"

I took a step back.

"Don't sign it," I stared right into my father's eyes. "Then I won't go to the Don to take the fall. Tomorrow, you can wait for the Vitiello family to burn this place to the ground. Your choice."

The living room went dead silent.

Victor's jaw clenched.

He stared at me, trying to see if I was bluffing.

But to save his power, to protect his favorite adopted daughter, he gritted his teeth, picked up a pen, and signed his name.

I folded my copy of the agreement. Zero hesitation.

I turned and walked up to Bianca.

She was red-eyed, gripping Dominic's sleeve. "Sister..."

I pulled an envelope from my pocket, along with the engagement ring I had tossed in the drawer, and shoved it all into her hands.

"This is the broken engagement, and Julian's ring," I smiled faintly at her shocked face. "Since you love picking up my trash so much, they're all yours now."

Bianca's face drained of color.

Just then, the screech of tires echoed outside.

Several armed men in black suits pushed open the door. Their presence sucked the air out of the room.

They were a day early.

The rear window of the armored car in the center rolled down halfway.

The legendary, cold-blooded Don, Massimo, actually came in person.

Under the shocked, terrified gazes of the Costa family, I gripped my bag and walked out without a second thought.

"Valeria..." Mom's voice trembled behind me. Pure panic finally bleeding into her tone.

I didn't look back.

The car door slammed shut. Heavy and final.

I swore to myself.

In this life, dead or alive, I am never coming back.