Chapter 3

My father told me that Luca's father, Antonio Marino, had pulled every string he could to make this engagement happen. If he ever learned it all blew up because of Luca, I'd pay to see the look on his face.

That thought eased my irritation. I couldn't be bothered arguing with this pack of idiots anymore, so I turned to leave.

But Sofia wasn't done. She came stomping toward me in her stilettos like a hyena that had caught the scent of blood, with two bodyguards following closely behind her. The black pistols peeking from their holsters were enough to freeze the room.

"You bitch! You think you can just walk away? You snatched my ring and laid hands on me! We're not done!"

I gave her a cold look. "So what exactly do you want to do?"

She mistook my patience for fear. Her hand snapped up toward my face. "I'll hit you until I feel better!"

Before her palm could land, I caught her wrist, twisted, and slapped her across the face with my other hand.

Sofia clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief. "You lowlife! How dare you—"

"Why wouldn't I?" I cut her off, slapping her other cheek just as hard. "Is this enough for you?"

The two slaps knocked the arrogance right off her face. Tears sprang to her eyes as she stumbled back and threw herself behind Luca, using him like a shield. "Luca, she hit me! You have to stand up for me!"

Luca pulled her behind him and looked at me with a gaze so dark, it could've dripped ink. "How dare you slap her? You must really have a death wish."

He gave his bodyguards a subtle hand signal.

Several of the bodyguards lunged at me at the same time.

I took down the first one who charged at me, but the rest came too fast. Hits rained on me from all directions. Pain tore through my ribs and back until my legs gave out. Two bodyguards grabbed me under the arms and hauled me over to Luca and Sofia.

Luca stroked Sofia's swollen cheek and said softly, "Do whatever you want with her. If anything happens, I'll take care of it."

His words sent a spark through Sofia. She spat at me, her face contorting with cruel satisfaction.

"Bitch! Weren't you so bold just now? Come on, keep acting tough! You want to fight me over a ring? Fine! I'll break your fingers! Let's see what you'll wear on them after that!"

At her nod, the two bodyguards pinned my shoulders before forcing my arm out in front of me, stretching my fingers over the polished floor.

I lifted my head and stared straight at Luca and Sofia. "If you go through with this, I swear I'll make you both pay for it!"

Sofia let out a sharp laugh. "The Marino family is one of the five ruling houses in Norham City. And you? You're a nameless little stray from nowhere. You think you get to threaten us? Today, I'll make sure you never forget what happens when you cross me!"

Her stiletto drove down on my fingers, and pain ripped through my hand. I bit down so hard, I tasted blood. I was pretty sure I heard something crack.

Everyone around us looked away from the violence, but no one had the courage to step in.

"She shouldn't have picked a fight with a Marino."

"Her hands are done for. She'll be lucky if she can even feed herself after this."

"We're just civilians. People like us swallow our pride or end up dead."

I had loved the piano since I was a child. I would be performing on stages all around the world. I couldn't lose my hands.

The thought of losing them sent a cold, strangling fear through me.

When Sofia lifted her heel again, my resolve collapsed. "I was wrong! You can have the ring! Take it! Just don't hurt my hands!"

Revenge could wait, but fingers didn't grow back.

However, Sofia didn't pause. Her heel pressed down again, harder this time. A metallic smell rose from my bleeding hand.

"You bitch! Oh, now you're scared? Too late for that. You're not leaving this place until I say so!"

A scream tore out of my throat. I turned my head to Luca. "Luca, aren't you afraid of who I am? If you let her do this, you'll regret it!"

Luca sneered, "Who are you? You're nothing. Just a woman who tricked my father."

Sofia saw his reaction, and her smile grew even more vicious. "You're still trying to seduce Luca while I'm right here? If I don't break your hands, you'll never learn!"

"No! Don't!"

Just then, my phone rang from inside my bag.

I struggled against the men holding me, trying to reach for it, but Sofia moved faster. She grabbed the phone, glanced at the screen, and answered it with a cold laugh.

My father's voice came through at once, tight with worry. "Isa, why aren't you home yet? Is the auction still going?"

I dragged in a breath and shouted as loudly as I could, "Papa, help me! They're going to destroy my hands!"

My father's voice went cold in an instant. "What? Who is this?"

Sofia shouted into the phone, "I'm Sofia Lopez! Your daughter's been acting like a slut with men, so I'm teaching her a lesson!"

"I don't care who you are! Let my daughter go! Touch her again, and you'll wish you'd never been born—"

"If you've got the guts, come over here!" Sofia cut him off with a mocking laugh. Her heel slammed into my hand once more, and I couldn't hold back a cry.

"I'm right here waiting. I'll break her hands first and let you hear it! And when you get here, I'll break yours too!"

She hung up and slammed my phone to the floor. It shattered into pieces. Then, she ordered the men around us to beat me.

Five minutes passed. It wasn't long on a clock, but it felt like half a lifetime.

At last, a familiar armored black sedan rolled to a stop outside the auction hall. The air itself seemed to tighten.

My father stepped out of the car, his black coat still carrying the faint scent of gunpowder and blood.

His eyes were cold with fury as he pushed the main doors open. His voice cut through the hall like a blade. "Who dares to threaten to break my hands and my daughter's?"