Chapter 1

Anna's POV

In the banquet hall, the champagne tower refracted the light from the chandelier in a dazzling display.

Liliana Siciliano, my adopted younger sister, was dressed in a custom-made white gown all the way from Marlon, the sapphire necklace symbolizing the family's bloodline hanging around her neck.

As the crowd surrounded her and lavished her with blessings, her cheeks flushed pink, and she shot a shy look at Vittorio Luciano and Carlos Gambino.

"Then… Vittorio, Carlos, can you two promise me one thing? I know I can't compare to Anna's noble status, so all I wish is to have you two by my side for every important moment of my life. Is that okay?"

She gazed at the two men with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

Vittorio and Carlos exchanged smiles before answering dotingly, "We've been doing that all this while, so naturally, we'll continue to do so in the future."

All this while, huh?

It all made sense now.

All the times they stood me up, all the clumsy excuses they tried to brush me off with…

Unable to stand it any longer, I stumbled over my feet as I dashed out of there. The only thought in my mind was to flee, to keep running forward.

All around me was nothing but white.

Then, I tripped over something on the ground and plunged straight into the thick layer of snow.

It was snowing heavily. As the snow threatened to bury me alive, I morosely thought that maybe I should just give up and allow myself to die right there.

Eventually, I lost consciousness.

By the time I came around, it was already the next day, and I was back in my manor.

Liliana pushed open my room door and entered with a tray of breakfast, a smile curving her lips.

"Anna, you're awake! Vittorio and Carlos were busy helping me host my coming-of-age ceremony last night, so they weren't able to pick you up from the church. I hope you're not angry at them.

"Anyway, I specifically instructed the kitchen to make your favorite eggs Benedict. You can think of it as a form of apology on their behalf."

She set the tray on the bedside table, her demeanor as gentle as ever.

Yet, I knew better than anyone else the sheer wickedness she was hiding beneath that smile. If it weren't for her deliberately luring me to the banquet hall yesterday, I would still have thought that Carlos and Vittorio were busy with their family matters.

"Take it away." I turned my head away, not wanting to look at her.

However, she took a step closer. "Anna, aren't you going to eat? Then how about I feed you?"

Picking up the tray, she thrust the fork at my mouth without any warning, the sharp tips digging into my lower lip. The pain had tears springing to my eyes immediately.

I smacked her hand away, causing the tray to crash to the floor and the glassware to shatter.

"Ah! Anna, what are you doing?"

As though shocked and scared, she shrank back a few steps.

In the next second, the door flew open, and Vittorio and Carlos rushed inside almost at the same time.

Carlos instantly pulled Liliana behind him in a protective gesture, his gaze dropping to the glass shards on the floor before lifting to me. A deep frown knitted his brows.

"Just what do you want? We simply didn't spend time with you last night, yet that had you throwing a temper tantrum and running off. If it weren't for Liliana worrying about you and insisting on dragging us around to look for you, you would've already frozen to death outside!

"She even woke up at six this morning to supervise the kitchen staff as they made breakfast for you! How could you take your anger out on her?"

Liliana had been worried about me? As if! She must have just been eager to see me looking like a mess. At the same time, it must have been a good opportunity for her to put on an act, showing how "kind" she was.

But who would believe me?

Taking in how protectively Carlos was standing in front of Liliana, I suddenly recalled how he had done the exact same for me many years ago. At the time, he said that he would definitely beat up anyone who dared pick on me.

However, he was the very person picking on me now.

"Vittorio, Carlos, don't blame Anna for this. This is all my fault. If it weren't for my frail body, I wouldn't always be bothering you two and causing her to misunderstand you. You guys stay and explain things properly to her. I-I think it's better if I step out first…"

With that, she spun on her heels and ran out of the room, but not before everyone saw the way her eyes had reddened. Carlos didn't even hesitate to chase after her.