Chapter 1

The heir to a mafia family, Aurelio Bianchi, had a new lover who was a pure and innocent college student.

When the news reached Sofia Marino, she was kneeling on the velvet carpet of a luxury boutique, fitting shoes for a wealthy woman.

A coworker held a phone in front of her, showing a photo from a gossip tabloid. Surprisingly, the usually arrogant Aurelio had gone into a noisy pizza shop in Dunmere with that young woman. He turned slightly to shield her from the crowd, his expression full of undisguised affection.

Sofia's fingers trembled, and the shoe nearly slipped from her grip. She lowered her gaze and went on tying the laces. "That's all in the past."

After the wealthy woman left, the store manager, Vittorio Rizzo, sauntered over. His leering eyes roamed over her as he said, "Sofia, did Aurelio dump you? I told you so. A wealthy playboy like him would never take a relationship seriously."

Sofia ignored him and headed toward the stockroom, but her coworkers' whispers followed her all the way.

"I heard that Aurelio said it himself, that even if Sofia was that hot, he got tired of her."

"Really? Back then, he almost fell out with the Don over Sofia."

"Men always want something new. How old is that college girl anyway? 19?"

Sofia shut the stockroom door, leaned against the cold shelves, and closed her eyes.

Two years ago, Aurelio had walked into her life in much the same way. He had come into the boutique looking for cufflinks, and she nearly bumped into him as she turned around. He looked down at her, his eyes lighting up. "What's your name?"

"Sofia," she answered.

He repeated her name once, then smiled. "I'm Aurelio. Remember me."

Sofia later realized it hadn't been a request. He treated the boutique where she worked like his own office, showing up every single day.

When a difficult client gave her trouble, a few words from him were enough to send the person slinking away. When a coworker tried to frame her, he pulled up the security footage on the spot and exposed the lie.

Once, when she was being followed by a creep late at night, Aurelio rushed out of nowhere and took a blow from a club for her. He needed three stitches in his temple, yet he still grinned as he said, "Even if I'm left with a scar, you can't walk away from me."

Sofia had fought hard to keep herself from falling for him.

She wasn't an ordinary sales associate. She was a federal agent sent here to get close to Antonio Moretti and investigate a series of disappearances.

But Aurelio had been relentless. The more she pushed him away, the harder he pursued her. The colder she acted, the wider his smile grew.

Then one day, Aurelio dropped to one knee in the rain, holding up a ring. "Sofia, I've never begged anyone in my life, but I'm begging you."

She accepted the ring, and with it came the fate of being publicly humiliated two years later.

The stockroom door swung open. A coworker poked her head in and said, "Sofia, Aurelio is here. He also brought… that young woman."

Sofia took a deep breath and stepped out.

Aurelio stood in the center of the boutique, with a simply dressed but vibrant young woman at his side. There was a fierce spark in her clear eyes as she glared at him. "I'm just an intern at your company, not your slave! What gives you the right to restrict my freedom?"

The people around them gasped, wondering if she had a death wish for speaking to Aurelio like that.

Yet Aurelio only smiled gently. "I just want to get you something else to wear. There's a party tonight. What you're wearing isn't suitable."

Elena Santoro stomped her foot. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing? I worked and earned the money for this myself! If your friends are going to look down on me, then I'm not going to that party!"

Aurelio raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Accompanying your employer to social events is also part of an intern's job. You can't say no."

Elena's face turned bright red, and she lowered her head without another word.

Sofia stood where she was. Watching the scene unfold, she felt as if she were watching a romance drama, except she was no longer the heroine.

Aurelio's gaze swept over her as though she were a total stranger. "You, come here and help Ms. Santoro pick out an evening gown."

Sofia hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. As she brushed past him, she heard him murmur in a voice low enough for only the two of them.

"If you let Elena find out about us, you're done in Norvale."

She nodded, her smile never wavering.

Inside the fitting room, Elena struggled with the ribbon ties on the gown, unable to get them right.

Aurelio walked over and took the ribbons from her without hesitation, tying a neat bow with practiced ease. Then he leaned in slightly, resting his chin on her shoulder, his charming eyes filled with tenderness.

"Beautiful," he said.

Elena's face flushed crimson. Aurelio tilted his head and pressed a light kiss to her cheek.

Sofia stood to the side, frozen in place. It dawned on her that love had an expiration date. To be cherished by Aurelio and then cast aside so completely hurt far more than she had expected.

She dug her nails hard into her palm and held back her tears. She reminded herself that she was a federal agent, not some foolish young woman who cried over a man.