Late March, that charity gala.

Every prominent figure in New York would attend.

In my past life, after Sean went to the Bronx for a showdown, no word returned for a long time.

Worried for his safety, I sent people to investigate while praying for him at the gala.

At the time, I hadn't noticed Costello.

I merely gazed at the moon outside the window, hoping Sean would return safely.

But Costello had set his sights on me.

He fell instantly in love with my profile, disregarding the fact I was his subordinate's fiancée. He forcibly ordered Falco to have me 'escorted' to his apartment.

I loved Sean deeply and refused to yield.

Within half an hour, Lily's body was dumped in my room.

Falco's voice was ice-cold.

"Miss Chiara, for every day you refuse the Don, I'll kill someone you care about."

"Your parents, your friends, everyone in Gianna's family—do you truly wish to watch them die one by one?"

I stared blankly at Lily's eyes, frozen in death.

Staggering, I crashed into the wall.

I'd rather die than betray Sean.

But I underestimated that old bastard's shamelessness.

When I refused, he had me bound and taken to a safe house in the suburbs.

The situation in the Bronx was dire, with Sean and his men desperately needing weapons and medical supplies. Costello flung those bloodstained requests for aid at my feet, grinning with the certainty of victory.

"Kiarra, do you truly wish for the family to lose this war because of you? To send Sean and his brothers to their deaths, unarmed?"

His hair was white, yet his gaze was as sharp as a vulture's.

I couldn't bear the thought of Sean dying.

I could only close my eyes in humiliation.

But that old beast said, "Chiara, sit upon my lap. If you don't open your eyes, how will you see who your man truly is!"

He crushed my soul.

That night stretched on endlessly. By the time dawn broke outside the window, the light in my eyes had extinguished completely.

Costello, however, wore an expression of utter satisfaction.

He surveyed my broken state and issued two commands simultaneously.

First, Chiara Gianna had served him well. He was pleased and formally claimed her as his woman.

Second, the conflict in the Bronx was to be resolved by Sean and his men alone. The family's funds were to be directed towards more crucial matters.

He threatened me with Sean's life, and I acquiesced. Yet afterwards, he still refused to send reinforcements to Sean...

The tears I'd held back all night spilled forth in that instant.

Now, starting anew, I stared at my own swollen, disfigured face in the mirror and smiled.

Costello, you know nothing of loyalty—I do!

You show no regard for the brothers who risk their lives for you—I do!

The Costello family has rotted to the core because of your incompetence and greed. The seat you occupy is long overdue for a change!

...

Due to an allergic reaction, I recuperated at home for several days.

During that time, I sent men to scout Costello's movements.

That night, Costello had indeed seen me.

Just as in my past life, he was captivated.

But the light was too dim. He caught only a fleeting glimpse—remembering nothing beyond the stunning green dress and a fragment of my profile.

Falco followed the direction he pointed and found many beautiful girls, but I alone resembled a monster.

So Falco brought back several girls in green dresses for Costello to examine personally.

After seeing them, Costello declared, "None of them."

Relying on his memory, he commissioned a portrait, posted a reward, and spread the word throughout New York's underworld: "The woman in this painting possesses an unparalleled aura, worthy to be my wife!"

"A reward of one million dollars shall be given to anyone providing information leading to her!"

The moment these words were released, all of New York erupted.

One million dollars was enough to ensure generations of a common family lived in comfort.

And what's more, it offered the chance to become the Godfather's woman!

The entire New York underworld plunged into a frenzy to "find the Godfather's mysterious lady."

No one paid any heed to the fact that, at that very moment in the Bronx, Sean's group was trapped inside an abandoned warehouse, running out of ammunition and provisions after seven days and nights.

"Chiara, that dress in the painting... it looks familiar..."

Lily showed me a photocopy of the wanted poster.

I was scribbling furiously and ignored her.

She studied it intently, then suddenly covered her mouth in horror.

"Good heavens! That woman in the painting... it's you!"

She recognised it.

My letter was finished.

I sealed it with wax, looked up at Lily: "Why that expression when the Godfather has taken a fancy to you? Don't you want me to be his woman?"

Lily turned ashen and blurted out:

"Kiarra, you must flee!"

"The godfather is nearly seventy, older than your own grandfather."

"That he favours you, that he wishes to marry you—it sounds like the greatest honour."