Chapter 2

I opened my contacts with unsteady hands and pressed the first name on the screen—"Don Corleone."

Papa—Vito Corleone—picked up the phone almost immediately. He spoke in a gentle voice, marked by his distinct Sicerian accent and a trace of laughter. "Hey, Vittoria."

I pursed my lips before I gathered my courage and asked, "Do you think you can come to my school now, Papa? I—"

Papa sounded ecstatic on the other end. "You want me to go to your school right now? You must have won some commendation again! You're finally inviting me to your school to see you get an award! I'll be right there in half an hour, Vittoria!"

"It's not that, Papa…" I felt a sharp ache in my chest after hearing his reaction. I wanted to tell him that he had it all wrong, but at that exact moment, the distinct sound of a gunshot came through the phone. I then heard a shriek of pain, followed by several heavy thuds.

I froze, my grip tightening on the phone. I then barely caught a low-voiced command. "Get rid of the mess."

I could feel my heart hammering against my chest, terrified that he was in the middle of something life-threatening. I choked back what I was about to say. "It's fine, Papa. You should finish up what you're doing. I'll just collect the honors on my own. I'm in a rush, so I'll talk to you later, Papa."

"How could you hang up before they agreed to show up, Vittoria?" Ms. Pagani shrieked as she overheard me from the side, lunging to grab the phone out of my hand.

I reflexively dodged her attempt to grab it and swiftly hung up the phone.

It was then that I felt the stinging impact of another hand striking my face.

Ms. Pagani's face contorted with rage. "You committed a major offense, and you still have the nerve to keep it from your parents!"

Ettore punched the wall and pointed at me, yelling, "You ought to know that my father is considered a bigshot in this city! He's got connections in the city hall! If you lay a hand on Viola, he can wipe your family off the map in no time, Vittoria!"

Viola hobbled out of the infirmary, propping herself up against the door as she sneered at me. "You're such a coward that you don't even dare to call your parents! Your family must be absolutely dirt-poor! How a nobody like you had the guts to lay a hand on me is beyond me! How pathetic of you, Vittoria!"

I lowered my head, my voice barely a whisper as I said, "I'm sorry, Viola. I shouldn't have pushed you, but my parents truly can't make it. I'll give you a public apology in front of everyone, and I'll let you get even with me however you like, so please don't get the police involved in this matter."

Viola let out a contemptuous smirk, while Ettore lunged for my phone again, yelling, "Do you think you actually have a say in this?"

I held onto the phone for dear life as he lunged at me to snatch it again, scrambling backward. I ended up falling onto my knees, looking completely disheveled.

I slammed into the cold tile with a heavy thud, the sharp pain sending tears streaming down my face.

I remained on the floor, groveling and pleading for mercy. "I'm begging you, Viola. I'll do whatever you want—I'll apologize, I'll pay for everything, and I'll even allow you to hit me back. I'll do anything, so please don't get my parents involved."

I felt numb to the pain as I beat my head against the floorboards. I didn't stop until my forehead was a bloody mess, which was finally enough to make Viola smirk with satisfaction.

Viola reached out to stop Ettore. She then raised her voice, saying, "I suppose I can forgive you if that's the case, but I want more than an apology. I want you on your knees, crawling to me and barking like a dog—right in the middle of the graduation ceremony!"

"I'll do it," I replied, agreeing to her terms while digging my fingernails into my hands. I felt utterly degraded, but I didn't care as long as my fathers stayed safe. I was willing to do whatever she asked.

Viola, however, went back on her word before graduation ever came. She texted me to meet at our usual spot after classes were over.

I followed her instructions, and looking back now, it was the one thing I regretted more than anything else.

Viola wasn't alone in the alleyway—she had brought five or six of her lackeys with her, who fanned out in a semi-circle to back me against the wall. She looked like she had been crying, her eyes bloodshot and puffy. She then rasped, "Do you really think you're that attractive, Vittoria?"

I didn't have time to respond before she shoved a phone into my face. It was still on, displaying a message from Ettore. "I've had enough, Viola. I'm leaving forever, so please don't bother looking for me."

I saw the photo attached to the message, which showed a safety rail overlooking a cliff. There were a pair of sneakers, a school jacket folded with care, and a phone resting on top of it. There was the sea stretching out in a hazy gray at the bottom of the cliff, with white foam churning where the surf hit the boulders.

I stared at the photo, a sudden chill running down my spine. "Is this—"

"You can drop the innocent act now!" Viola barked, striking me so hard her nails left three bloody welts on my face. "Ettore is dead! He would never have jumped if you hadn't been stalking him and wouldn't leave him alone!"

I was absolutely dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe that Ettore was dead.