Chapter 2

For a moment, they all fell silent.

Then they burst into laughter.

"You?" Marianne laughed so hard she had to lean against Elio's shoulder. "Where exactly does that sign have your name on it? Do you even know who Mrs. Costa is? You must be really desperate for money if you're willing to impersonate her."

Of course, I knew who Mrs. Costa was.

Renato was my husband.

And the woman they had all come to the harbor to receive was already standing right in front of them.

Marianne, completely oblivious, kept talking. "Don Costa is one of the most feared men in the underworld. Everyone knows that. And ever since he met his Donna, he hasn't so much as looked at another woman. From what I've heard, he absolutely adores his wife.

"Do you have any idea how many people would do anything for a chance to impress Mrs. Costa? Getting close to her means getting close to the Costa family.

"The fact that Don Ricci was personally asked to welcome Mrs. Costa at the harbor should tell you everything you need to know. The Costa family clearly holds the Riccis in high regard."

The contempt in her eyes made it clear she thought I was too ignorant to understand any of this.

"Everyone in our circles heard what happened just last month. Don Costa spent five million dollars at an auction on an antique ruby ring, all because he wanted to make his wife happy."

Hearing her talk about Renato softened something inside me.

That ridiculous man.

I'd told him more than once that I didn't need expensive gifts, but Renato had never been particularly good at listening when it came to spoiling me.

Then Marianne's gaze suddenly dropped to my hand.

Her smile vanished.

"Wait."

Her eyes widened as she stared at the ruby on my finger.

"What is that?" she shrieked and lunged forward, grabbing my hand.

Everyone froze.

Heads turned in our direction as the ruby caught the sunlight, flashing a brilliant crimson.

"Wait… Could she really be…" someone murmured.

But one look at Elio's darkening expression was enough to make him swallow the rest of the sentence.

Elio sneered. "Four years apart, and this is what you've become? So desperate to impress people that you'd wear a cheap imitation just to get my attention? Stella, you've really disappointed me."

Marianne immediately followed his lead. Just like old times, she never missed an opportunity to humiliate me.

"You must've gone to a lot of trouble finding such a convincing fake. But I suppose a knockoff suits a woman like you. As for the real ruby? You'd be lucky to see something like that once in your life."

She shoved my hand away.

I wasn't expecting the force behind it. I stumbled backward, and my lower back slammed hard against the railing.

Pain shot through me.

I sucked in a sharp breath and steadied myself before looking coldly at Marianne. "This ring was a gift from Renato."

Elio's expression changed.

"Are you out of your mind?" he snapped.

Before I could react, Marianne stormed forward and slapped me across the face. "You stupid woman! How dare you call the Don by his first name? If you have a death wish, fine, but don't drag the rest of us down with you!"

My ears were still ringing from the slap, and before I could recover, Marianne's shrill voice cut through the air again.

"I thought wearing a fake ring was just another pathetic attempt to get Elio's attention. But you're actually trying to pass yourself off as Mrs. Costa? Stella, you're delusional!

"You're nothing more than the woman Elio threw away four years ago. What makes you think a man like Don Costa would ever want you?"

The delight in Marianne's eyes was impossible to miss.

Humiliating me in front of Elio had always seemed to be one of her favorite pastimes.

Elio glanced at me with casual disdain. "If you're so determined to come back to me, then start by getting rid of that attitude of yours.

"Don Costa's welcome reception is tomorrow night. Everything has to be perfect. I'm willing to let you attend and see how people in our world actually live, but consider this your one chance.

"If you embarrass me in front of the Costa family, you don't even know what the consequences will be."

Marianne rolled her eyes. Then she reached up, removed a pair of pearl earrings, and hurled them at me.

"Look at you. It's embarrassing. Keep them. At least you won't have to show up tomorrow wearing fake jewelry."

One of the earrings struck my cheek before clattering onto the pavement.

A faint sting followed, and when I touched the spot, a tiny smear of blood appeared on my fingertips.

No one moved.

They were waiting for me to crouch down and pick up Marianne's discarded earrings. Waiting to watch me swallow my pride for a piece of jewelry before laughing at me all over again.

I didn't give them the satisfaction.

I calmly wiped the bead of blood from my cheek.

"No, grazie," I said coolly. "I don't accept charity from strangers."

Marianne's smile stiffened.

I had no interest in wasting another second arguing with people who had already decided what they wanted to believe.

Ignoring the fury spreading across Elio's face, I turned and walked away without looking back.

Tomorrow night's reception couldn't come soon enough.

On that, at least, we could all agree.