Chapter 3

Delila's pretense vanished at once. Her carefully cultivated, gentle disposition suddenly turned cold and ruthless. A chilling smile appeared on her bright, red lips.

"Oh, so you've finally figured it all out? You're so slow. We've been together for two years. Luca himself said that he preferred to be with me."

She spoke in a cruel manner, meaning to torment me. Her words sent a sharp pain through my chest.

My voice trembled as I said, "But Delila… I was the one who brought you out of the slums…"

"Yeah, you did. So what? You kept talking about it for the past five years just to flaunt your kindness and compassion to every person you saw! You were simply using my misery to highlight your own greatness!

"You're such a freaking hypocrite, Katerina Cecere!"

My eyes were wide with shock.

"You've always thought of it like that?"

"Was I wrong to think so?"

Delila glared at me. Her eyes were gleaming maliciously.

"All I'm doing now is just 'repaying' you for your great 'kindness'! Luca is mine now. And you're nothing but a pretty pawn.

"The passage contract you just signed will stuff a huge fortune into Luca's pockets. Nothing will change the outcome, even if you make a scene about it now, and you can't cancel the wedding either because it'll just mean more losses for the Cecere Famiglia.

"So, what can you do about it even if you've finally discovered the truth? Face it, Katerina, it's over only for you!"

I looked straight into her eyes and refused to back off.

"Then, how do you benefit if the wedding proceeds as usual? You'll forever be a mistress hiding in the shadows, watching us living happily with each other. Is that what you really want?"

Delila's face twisted for just a second.

"So what? Luca loves me. His heart will always belong with me, even if you both get married!"

"Really? But I will be the one marrying him."

I grinned lightly, touched up my makeup, and walked toward the door.

I didn't tell anyone about my plans. I was just going to let her come up with her own speculations. None of what she did in the future would have anything to do with me anymore anyway.

However, I gravely underestimated Delila's ruthlessness.

Just as I'd turned and was prepared to leave, she grabbed me harshly by my wrist and said, "Say, who do you think Luca will save if we both fall into the sea at once? You? Or me?"

I was taken by surprise. I struggled violently to escape her grasp.

"Are you out of your mind? We're in the middle of the ocean! We'll both die if we fall in!"

"Really? But you're the only one who'll die. And when you're finally dead, Luca and I can finally be together in public!"

Her eyes flashed with madness as she dragged me toward the deck railing. Then, she jumped into the icy water with me in tow.

The seawater engulfed me instantly. I struggled in terror, but the icy-cold water made my limbs stiffen completely.

Meanwhile, Delila clung to the floating lifebuoy next to the yacht and screamed for help.

"Luca! Luca, save me!"

A familiar figure rushed over in panic, jumping into the water without hesitation as he drew Delila close and hugged her tightly in his arms.

At that moment, I even forgot to struggle. I just let the waves pull me underwater, allowing the suffocating feeling to fill my entire body.

I watched as Luca held Delila tightly in his embrace and brought her back onto the yacht with the lifeguards' help. His attention was entirely on her. His eyes were anxious and gentle.

He never even noticed me, even though I was still struggling desperately less than two feet away from him.

I was enveloped in despair. I then saw Delila deliberately turn her head toward me. She gave me a defiant, triumphant smile.

I even saw Luca leaning down to plant a tender kiss on her forehead. Yet, I was powerless to do anything about it as the waves continued pulling me into the dark abyss of the ocean.