Chapter 4

The casino buzzed with noise and chatter.

Vincent had his arm around Sofia's waist, guiding her hand as he showed her how to play roulette.

I walked straight up to the table and slammed down the eagle emblem that marked my identity as a member of the family.

"I'm leaving the family."

Vincent frowned instantly. "Don't be ridiculous. Do you think this is something you can just walk away from whenever you feel like it?"

Sofia let out a soft laugh and stepped in, her tone dripping with fake concern.

"Vincent, maybe she hasn't fully recovered from the accident yet. She might not be thinking clearly."

Then she turned to me, her voice gentle, almost like she was soothing a pet.

"Isabella, acting on impulse never ends well. You're one of the family's senior members. How can you just leave like this?"

"What does this have to do with you?" I shot back calmly.

The way she carried herself like the lady of the house made my stomach turn.

Vincent cut in, clearly irritated. "Sofia, don't bother with her. She's been spoiled rotten. She's just saying this to get a reaction out of me."

His gaze swept over me, sharp and icy.

"Isabella, I brought you into this family out of pity. Don't start thinking you're more than you are. Without me, an orphan like you would've died on the streets a long time ago."

He knew exactly where it hurt the most and he kept pressing on it, again and again.

Pain twisted in my chest, but I forced myself to stand tall.

"Mr. Russo, I'm not here to ask for your permission. I'm here to inform you.

"I'm not taking a single cent. You have no right to stop me."

The distance in my tone, and the tears I was holding back, clearly caught him off guard.

For a brief second, Vincent froze.

Then, visibly annoyed, he pulled out his checkbook, scribbled down an astronomical amount, and threw it at me.

"Fine. I'll pretend I didn't hear any of that. Take the money and go clear your head. Come back when you've calmed down."

"I don't need your money," I said firmly. "I just want my freedom."

"Freedom?"

The word snapped something in him. His anger finally exploded.

"You want freedom from me? Without me, you would've died in that damn orphanage. I gave you everything. Your life belongs to me!"

Every word felt like a blade, cutting through ten years of everything I had given.

So in his eyes, all my sacrifices, the blood I had shed, the tears I had swallowed, even my life, meant nothing.

I let out a quiet laugh, my throat tight and dry.

"You're right.

"However, today, I'm leaving no matter what."

I grabbed the eagle emblem and hurled it straight at his face. The sharp edge sliced across his cheekbone, and a thin line of blood ran down his face.

Everyone froze.

Then I turned and walked away.

I had only taken a few steps when I heard the rapid click of high heels behind me.

"Stop!"

Sofia rushed up and raised her hand to slap me. I caught her wrist and twisted it hard and she let out a sharp scream.

"Touch me again," I said calmly, "and I'll make sure your face pays for it."

She struggled, unable to break free, her expression twisting with anger and humiliation. "Vincent raised you all these years, and this is how you repay him?"

Her eyes turned icy. "Being this ungrateful is almost impressive."

I shoved her away.

Instead of backing off, she leaned closer with a malicious smile, lowering her voice. "Well, since you're smart enough to leave, I'll let you experience something before you go."

Before I could react, she grabbed my hand and forced that oversized gemstone ring onto my middle finger.

"Get away from me!" I shoved her hard.

Sofia fell to the ground, perfectly timed, her expression shifting instantly into something fragile and pitiful. Her voice trembled as if she were on the verge of tears. "Isabella… Do you really want to marry him that badly?

"If you wanted to try on the ring, you could've just said so… why would you push me? I've never blamed you for clinging to Vincent all these years… how could you treat me like this?"

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Who would want that ridiculous ring?" I tried to pull it off, but it would not budge.

Whispers spread through the crowd.

"Did she really just push the Costa family's principessa?"

"Looks like the rumors are true. She's obsessed with the Don."

"Jealousy really does make people ugly…"

Sofia bit her lip, tears slipping down at just the right moment.

The next second, Vincent strode over. The moment he saw Sofia on the ground, crying and disheveled, his expression darkened instantly.

"Sofia!"

He rushed forward, shoving me aside without hesitation as he bent down and pulled her into his arms.

I hit the ground hard.

The small bag I had been carrying slipped from my hand, and its contents scattered across the floor. A shell pendant rolled out and came to a stop at Vincent's feet.

We had made it together on the beach the day I turned eighteen.

Our names were carved into it.

His gaze locked onto the pair of shells.