Chapter 3

Adrian had barely set foot on the terrace when my father slammed his hand down on the table.

"This is getting ridiculous. Are we supposed to beg her to get up now?"

Adrian stopped in his tracks, and my father went on.

"There's a thunderstorm coming. As scared of thunder as she is, she'll come back in on her own.

"That's enough, Maria. You can go. Ivy's my own daughter too. I'm not going to let anything actually happen to her."

Maria gave me a long, searching look, then had no choice but to leave.

Adrian sat back down on the sofa.

Before long, dark clouds gathered overhead.

Outside, the wind howled, and fat raindrops pelted my body.

Boom!

Thunder exploded, and a flash of lightning lit up my pale, lifeless face.

Still, I didn't move. I let the storm beat down on me, my body frozen in that same twisted position.

Seeing this, Nadia spoke up, as if out of kindness.

"Ivy's always been so competitive. If she gets up now, it's like admitting she was faking. She's too proud to back down.

"Why don't we leave her alone and give her some privacy? Once she's thought it over, she'll get up on her own."

At that, my father's anger only grew. He hurled his wineglass to the floor.

"This is outrageous!

"So she wants to go head to head with me? Fine. I'll wait right here and see how long she can lie on that floor!"

Whatever worry Adrian had felt vanished too. He frowned and glanced in my direction, as if blaming me for acting out.

"Mamma, Ivy's acting is so realistic."

Nadia snuggled up against my mother, whispering to her.

My mother gave her a doting smile.

"All right, forget about her.

"All her drama kept you from eating properly, didn't it? Tell me what you'd like, and I'll have the kitchen make it."

"You're the best, Mamma. Love you."

Nadia nestled into my mother's arms, all sweetness.

Suddenly, my phone started ringing on the dining table.

It was the jewelry store.

Adrian and I were getting married in two weeks. Today was the day I'd arranged with the store to pick up our custom wedding rings.

Adrian went over and answered, and the store manager's warm voice came through.

"Ma'am, your custom wedding rings are ready. When would you like to pick them up?"

Adrian glanced at me and rubbed his brow irritably.

"Return them. The wedding's off."

The manager paused for a moment, then hurried to explain.

"Sir, I'm so sorry to hear that, but custom rings can't be returned."

Nadia suddenly leaned in, looking at Adrian hopefully.

"Adrian, if they can't be returned, just let it go. Let's not make things hard for the manager.

"I heard those rings cost a million dollars. I've never even seen rings that expensive. If Ivy doesn't want them, why not just give them to me?"

I stared at Nadia in disbelief.

To create those rings, I'd ignored my heart condition and traveled to eighteen countries just to handpick the perfect gemstones myself.

Every detail of those rings was something I'd designed with my own hands, pouring a whole year of my heart into them.

She knew how much I'd been longing for the moment I'd finally put that ring on.

How could she steal my rings?

I looked at Adrian.

Say no, Adrian! You know how much those rings mean to me.

But he just smiled and ruffled Nadia's hair.

"Sure. You're always so thoughtful, Nadia.

"Consider the rings compensation for how she upset you."

My mother nodded in satisfaction.

"Come on, let's all go. We'll pick out a few more pieces of jewelry you like, too."

They put on their coats, getting ready to leave.

Not a single one of them looked back at me.

They left me lying in the freezing storm, my body stiff, the dark purple patches growing more and more visible.

This was the family I'd cherished. The man I'd loved.

To them, my life wasn't even worth as much as a few words from Nadia.

My soul cried out in silent anguish.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It was my father's underboss, Victor Bianchi.

He leaned down to report to my father.

"Boss, about that shipment up north—"

He stopped mid-sentence. His face went white, and his pupils shrank. He pointed toward the terrace, his hand trembling.

"I-Ivy... How is she dead?!"