As it turned out, Christopher had noticed the ruby ring on my right ring finger—a ring that only the Donna was entitled to wear. And now it was on my hand.

I was still thinking of how to explain when Christopher suddenly sneered. "I can't believe you'd go so far as to steal the Don's ring just to get my attention."

"The Don gave me this. I'm not a thief, and I'm certainly not short of money!" I snapped, pulling my hand free quickly.

If my husband saw this scene, he'd probably get so jealous that he'd kill Christopher right on the spot.

Seeing that I still refused to accept his card, Christopher let out a disdainful laugh.

"You're already in this state, so why are you still being so stubborn?"

His blue eyes actually looked a little misty.

"Part of the reason you're like this right now is because I abandoned you back then. Are you refusing my help because you want to punish me by letting yourself suffer?"

Lina, standing to the side, seemed to see right through everything. She immediately stepped forward and pulled Christopher closer to her.

Shooting several hostile glances at me, she said to him, "Darling, this has nothing to do with you. I'm sure she ended up like this because she was caught stealing and got kicked out. You know how she used to steal my things. It's a habit of hers."

At the mention of me stealing, the gazes of the onlookers around us immediately shifted to open contempt. To them, a thief was no better than a sewer rat.

"I'll say it again—I've never stolen anything!" I desperately tried to explain, but no one believed me.

The stares from the crowd stabbed at me like knives, and Lina's lips curved into a triumphant smile.

Christopher seemed to take pity on my embarrassment and stepped forward again.

"Enough. Stop being so stubborn. Even if the ring is fake, you still clearly look like someone who's in desperate need of money.

"I'm not an ungrateful person. Seeing you living like this, struggling, makes me feel bad. So why don't you just take this money as compensation? That way, it'll ease my guilt toward you, too."

His words left me momentarily dazed.

When I was young, I was out one day when I found Christopher in an alley after he'd been accidentally shot. I saved him.

For three whole days, I stayed awake by his side, taking care of him. When he woke up, he fell in love with me at first sight.

I had thought that Christopher and I would naturally get married one day.

That was until Mamma died, and Padre brought home his illegitimate daughter, Lina.

Lina kept slandering me in front of Christopher, saying that I was spoiled, arrogant, uneducated, and completely clueless about business.

Gradually, she grew closer and closer to him.

On the day of our engagement, he placed the ring on Lina's finger—and picked up a soda can pull-tab from the table and handed that to me instead.

He claimed that it was for the greater good and that if I couldn't accept it, I was free to leave.

What Christopher didn't know was that when I was still a kid, I'd lived with my grandmother for a time, so I'd been fluent in Maravenese since I was young. And by the time I was seven years old, Nonna had already begun teaching me how to run the Famiglia business.

But because Christopher had believed Lina so easily, I left.

Now, five years had passed, and I had a husband and a son who loved me. Christopher had long since become a thing of my past.

To completely erase his suspicions, I said, "Chris, you don't need to feel guilty. I'm doing very well now. I'm already married, and I've never thought about coming back to you. You can relax."

A mocking scoff escaped Lina.

"Please. Have you taken a look at yourself in the mirror? Who would ever want you?" she said with a sneer, her eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction.

I looked at her, and my gaze unintentionally drifted to her chest. There it was—the Black Rose Medal I'd been desperately searching for.

"Why do you have that?"

I straightened instantly and reached out to grab it, but Lina sidestepped me before I could reach it.

Seeing me stare at the medal, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes, but she just as quickly tilted her chin up.

"This… This has always been mine. So of course I have it," she stammered in explanation.

"That's impossible! That medal can't possibly belong to you. It's my son's!"

Christopher's eyes bulged at my words, and he stared at me in utter disbelief.

"You have a son?"

I met his stare steadily and answered firmly, "Yes. I'm married. And I love my husband very much!"

He swayed slightly in shock. "There's no way! How could you go behind my back and marry another man?"

"Where's your husband?" Christopher pressed. "What kind of man lets you end up like this?"

I didn't answer.

A sharp laugh escaped him. "You almost had me. Pretending you're married just to get a rise out of me? Making up a kid to make me jealous? Well, you're wrong. I don't care in the least."

They knew how proud I was—I'd never marry just anyone or have a child just on impulse.

Lina didn't believe me either. She looked at me with utter contempt.

"Since you're so proud and strong-willed… Chris and I just so happen to need someone to tend to the horses at our estate. Why don't you shovel manure for us? Sure, it stinks, but it's still better than being a cleaner here."

I almost burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry, but I have actual business to take care of. I don't have time to joke around with you two."

In all these years, she was the first person to publicly humiliate me like this.

If I so much as said the word, their entire family would be on their knees polishing my shoes. And she wanted me to slave away for them?

My repeated refusals made Christopher's face turn livid. Even Lina, who'd been pretending to be elegant the whole night, couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Voices rose all around us.

"Mr. Vittorino, this is just a broke, stubborn cleaner. Talking to her is a waste of breath."

"It's better to have the bodyguards drag her out before the Don sees her and gets mad."

Lina hooked her arm around Christopher's and smiled smugly, looking at me as if I were a joke.

"Exactly. Let's not waste time on someone so beneath us. Let's head over. The Don and the Donna will be here any minute. It won't look good if they can't find us.

"This is the Don's first big Famiglia banquet, and he's taking it very seriously. We need to think carefully about how we're going to leave a good impression on the Donna.

"I hear the Don is madly devoted to his wife, and that she's his only weakness."

They weren't wrong. The only person who could make the mighty Don yield… was me. But I just gave a light chuckle and didn't explain further.

Seeing Lina turn to leave, I quickly grabbed her wrist.

"Give me the medal back. Otherwise, don't blame me for what happens next."

Lina jerked away, looking a little guilty. "What do you want exactly? You've stolen the ruby ring, and now you're eyeing my medal too?"

As we struggled, Christopher suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Isla, I can't believe you're this infatuated. You're actually still wearing this charm after all this time?"

I looked down, only to realize that the charm I'd always worn had somehow fallen to the ground.

Christopher bent to pick it up, his expression soft with a deep affection.

Six years ago, when he went out on business, he was not only set up by a rival Famiglia, but he nearly lost his life as well.

Because of this, I'd personally sewn this protective charm for him to keep him safe.

But I knew that he'd long since discarded that charm.

The one he was holding now was the one the Don had personally sewn for me to keep me safe. I treasured it and wore it every single day. The stitching was slightly crooked, but it was filled with his heartfelt care.

After so many years, if not for Christopher mentioning it, I would've nearly forgotten about that part of my past completely.

But given my husband's identity, I didn't want to elaborate.

Seeing my silence, the smug Lina continued to mock me.

"You're not still hung up on that shabby little charm you made, are you? Chris threw it into the manure pit a long time ago. I can't believe you actually fished it out and kept wearing it all this time."

Lina pinched her nose and sneered in disgust.

Christopher, however, gripped the charm tightly and sighed. There was a trace of apology in his voice as he said, "Isla, I didn't realize you loved me this much. But you need to wake up—there's no future for us."

Actually, he was the one who really needed to wake up.

To prove my identity, I took off the faded apron and revealed a black velvet gown embroidered with subtle dark gold rose patterns underneath—the most prestigious pattern in the mafia world.

This was a one-of-a-kind custom gown made for the Donna.

I thought this would be enough to prove who I was, but Lina merely curled her lips into a sly smile. Covering her mouth dramatically, she exclaimed loudly, "Where'd you dig that rag up? It's in tatters, and you still want to show it off?"

Only then did I notice that the hem of the gown had somehow been ripped in several places.

Paul barked loudly, "You're just a crazy lady! Get lost right now!"

Just then, someone tugged at my gown.

I looked down and saw my son, Toby Vittorino. His face was streaked with tears as he called for me.

I crouched down, about to tell him that I'd found his Black Rose Medal, when Lina suddenly rushed over and shoved me aside.

"Isla, have you lost your mind? You're trying to kidnap a child from a Famiglia right here on the Don's territory?"

Toby burst into terrified sobs. Lina quickly scooped him up to comfort him. "Sweetheart, don't be scared. She's a crazy lady. I'll take you to find your real mommy, okay?"

Toby struggled wildly in her arms, his little fists pounding against her shoulder.

"Let me go! That's my Mamma! She's not a crazy lady!"

Seeing Toby's tear-streaked little face made my heart feel like it was being torn to shreds. I lunged, trying to grab him, but Lina's bodyguards held me firmly in place.

The surrounding guests immediately erupted in outrage, pointing fingers and throwing accusations.

"That woman has some nerve, trying to trick a child from a Famiglia here."

"Exactly! That kid is wearing the Famiglia crest, and she still has the guts to go after him? She must have a death wish!"

Toby reached for me desperately, his voice growing hoarse from crying. "Mamma, save me!"

My eyes burned with tears as I struggled, trying to soothe him. "Don't cry, Tesoro. Mamma's here. I'll save you."

Christopher's hand clenched tightly, as if he'd made some kind of decision. He ordered someone to prepare a car, then grabbed me and dragged me toward the exit.

Toby stretched his hand out to me, wailing, but he couldn't reach me, no matter how hard he tried. I struggled with everything I had, but Christopher didn't slow down even a little.

"Isla, stop making a scene. The Don is about to arrive any second! I'll take care of your mess for you. Go out of town and lay low for a while."

I watched Toby grow farther and farther away, my heart breaking bit by bit.

"Let go of me, Chris! If you keep this up, I'll never forgive you! Not ever!"

But Christopher acted as if he hadn't heard me, his steps quickening.

Just as I was about to be sent away, the crowd in the ballroom suddenly parted down the middle, and a tall, imposing man stepped forward.

A familiar, commanding voice rang out.

"Stop!"