The Politics of Desire

Elvira didn't remember how she even got out of the club. The chilly wind at night caused the tear tracks on her face to freeze. She flagged down a taxi and rasped to the driver, "Follow that Maybach."She needed to see for herself who that woman was—the one Vincent had been thinking about for three years and the one to whom she had lost so completely.The driver, an Associate of the Corleone family, saw the state Elvira was in and said nothing, hitting the gas to keep up.Vincent drove fast, much faster than usual. Clearly, he couldn't wait to see that person.His car finally stopped at the VIP entrance of Kressida Airport. The Allen family had controlled this place for years. It served as a hub for welcoming international partners and a discreet cover for transferring certain "cargo". Security disguised as travelers was stationed everywhere.Elvira paid, stumbled out, and hid behind a pillar, her heart pounding out of control. She watched Vincent hurry to the exit, his gaze ful

After finishing her visa paperwork, Elvira returned to the Corleone residence. The moment she stepped through the door, she ran into her perfectly made-up stepmother, Camilla."Elvira, you're finally home. You've been out all night for days. Do you have any idea how disgraceful that looks?" Camilla lifted her chin in her usual condescending manner, with disgust dripping from her voice.To her, Elvira was nothing more than a useless girl who had lost her mother's protection and would eventually be thrown out of the family.Elvira didn't even spare her a glance. She walked straight to the entryway, raised her hand, and slammed the vase onto the marble floor.A loud crash echoed as shards flew everywhere. Camilla shrieked and stumbled backward in fear."And what exactly are you?" Elvira's voice was cold enough to freeze, her eyes sharp with unmasked hostility. "You're nothing but a mistress who wrecked my parents' marriage. How dare you lecture me? Remember this, Camilla. As long a

Elvira's shoulders stiffened. She didn't turn around."To be honest, I was a little worried at first," Elena continued as she circled Elvira like a vulture, openly examining her."You're so beautiful. Any man would be tempted, but what a waste of a pretty face. Your mother couldn't beat my mother, and you'll never beat me. These past three years were nothing more than charity on my part. Now that the real deal is back, it's time for you to get off the stage."Elvira slowly turned to face her. Under the moonlight, her eyes gleamed with a chilling sharpness. There was no anger, only ice-cold mockery. "Charity? Elena, did you forget what you are?"You're a bastard who only got into this family because your mother was a homewrecker, a sad little schemer who can only hold onto a man through manipulation. You think you get to talk to me about charity?She stepped closer, her presence overwhelming. "Your mother picked up what my mother didn't want, and you're following in her footsteps.

Elvira left her seat at intermission to touch up her makeup. When she stepped out of the restroom, she saw Vincent leaning against the wall in the hallway, smoking.She tried to walk past without looking at him, but he grabbed her wrist. "Why did you sell the gifts I gave you?" His voice was quiet, with a hint of roughness.Elvira lifted her eyes, her tone edged with sarcasm. "Why did you step in earlier? Are you going to say it's because I'm Lilian's friend, or maybe because I'm Elena's sister?"Vincent pressed his fingers against his brow, a hint of fatigue flickering across his face. "You're always like a hedgehog, prickles out all the time. How does that help you?"How did that help her? If she didn't protect herself like that, this family and Elena would have devoured her long ago."My matters have nothing to do with you," Elvira answered, jerking her hand free. "And as for men, I can have as many as I want. You don't get a say on it either."His voice dropped lower. "

Lilian's tearful accusation pierced right through Vincent's chilly façade. His fingers tightened around the phone."Elvira said she's never coming back. Are you happy now?" Lilian practically screamed the words, then hung up hard.As the busy tone played, Vincent stood frozen in his office. There was no visible emotion on his sharply defined face.Elvira left. She wasn't coming back.Before he could process it, those words together drove a knife into the softest part of his heart and brought a sharp, tearing pain.However, the coldness and self-control he had cultivated over the years as the head of the Allen family, along with his sense of responsibility toward Elena, made him suppress emotions he shouldn't have.He frowned, tossed the phone back onto the desk, and tried to keep reading the document in front of him about fighting for control of the new dock. However, the words on the paper looked like a bunch of ants crawling around. He couldn't take in a single line.What ke