I fell in love with my adoptive brother, Vincent.

To help him claim the Don's throne in the Sicilian Mafia, I willingly became a hostage to his enemies.

The day I left, he knelt before me.

"I'll come back for you," he swore. "We'll have the biggest wedding this family has ever seen."

Three years later, I came back, drenched in blood.

He was the Don now.

And another woman was on his arm. A fragile little thing.

"Sophia," he said, his voice flat. "This is Elena. My fiancée."

"But don't worry. You'll always be my sister."

I was once Vincent's sharpest blade. I was never content to be just his sister.

Everyone watched me with wary eyes, waiting for me to wreak havoc.

I just smiled. "Congratulations, brother."

I turned my back and married his mortal enemy.

But on my wedding night, he and his men stormed into my room.

"Sophia, choose. We die together tonight, or you leave with me."

————————

1

The moment he spoke, a group of men in black instantly surrounded Vincent.

Countless dark muzzles pressed against his temples, but I smiled and waved them away.

I sized up the girl in Vincent's arms.

She was indeed pure.

Her hair was like a black waterfall, as if untouched by the dust of the world, but her eyes held a trace of stubbornness.

I limped over to them and blew a ring of smoke.

"A pleasure, sister-in-law. I'm afraid I didn't bring a gift."

"You don't mind, do you?"

Everyone present stared at me in astonishment.

My history with Vincent was common knowledge.

Elena placed a hand on her lower abdomen and shook her head timidly.

"Thank you, sister. It's the thought that counts…"

Vincent subtly shielded her behind him.

"Sophia, she's not like you. Don't scare her."

A sneer played on my lips as I casually wiped away the blood seeping from the wound on my chest.

Not like me.

When Vincent found me, I was just as innocent as Elena.

He was the one who taught me how to shoot, who molded my heart into stone.

For him, I willingly stepped into hell.

When his ambition was nearly crushed, I was the one who volunteered as a hostage, surviving everything just to eliminate his greatest foe.

Back then, grief over me had supposedly turned his hair white overnight, and he swore to spend his life by my side.

The memory made my eyes sting.

Vincent opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say more.

I cut him off with a smile.

"Have you set a date for the engagement?"

"If not, how about seven days from now? I'll officiate for you myself."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Vincent's eyes, but he still nodded.

The last sliver of hope in my heart shattered.

Seven days from now was the anniversary of the day I left.

It was also the day we had made our relationship official.

He had already forgotten. Why should I bother to remember?

I suppressed the chill in my heart and turned to leave.

But Elena took a step forward and grabbed my wrist.

I forcefully shook her off.

She went limp, collapsing to the ground, her face pale.

"Vincent, my stomach... it hurts so much..."

Fresh blood soaked into the carpet beneath her. Vincent frantically scooped her up and rushed out.

"Sophia, I know you hate me for marrying someone else, but she’s not like you. Don't play your games with her!"

I couldn't believe his audacity.

Without me, Vincent would never be in the position he holds today.

I watched him with cold eyes, a sneer twisting my lips.

"She is my sister-in-law. Of course, I wouldn't touch her."

"I wish you both happiness."

Later that night, the farce continued.

There was a knock on my door.

I put down the files in my hand and spoke quietly.

"Enter."

Vincent walked in with Elena, his eyes cold.

"Elena is willing to let today's matter go, but you must apologize to her."

"I don't care how ruthless your methods were in the past. In front of your sister-in-law, you will respect her."

Vincent seemed to realize he'd misspoken and his body stiffened.

My methods had always been ruthless, but I hated being called vicious more than anything.

When I stood up, he subconsciously pulled Elena into his arms.

I just gave a faint smile.

"Vicious? Good. If I weren't, I never would have made it back alive to pave your way with blood, brother."

"Today's incident was not my fault. I will not apologize."

Three years of torture had long since taught me how to bide my time.

Elena summoned her courage and looked me directly in the eye.

"Since you're my junior, I'll overlook it, but you must apologize."

I glanced at Vincent. His grim expression was a silent agreement.

I stepped forward and slapped Vincent across the face.

"So this is what you think of me?"

"You know damn well I wouldn't stoop to such a pathetic trick."

He clutched his face, then his eyes darted to the file about Elena on my bedside table, and a flash of panic crossed them.

He was afraid I really would resort to any means necessary.

Vincent suddenly seized my wrist.

"I know what I put you through was hell, but Elena is innocent. This has nothing to do with her."

"Sophia, you'll always be my sister."

As he spoke, he pulled a box of Tiramisu from his coat pocket. From that shop on the East Side.

Vincent used to love buying it for me.

Even if he had to wait in line for three hours.

I took the cake and smashed it right in his face. Cream splattered everywhere.

"I don't want it anymore."

Vincent immediately crouched down to clean it up. I kicked him to the ground, the heel of my shoe stomping hard on his shoulder.

He let out a muffled groan as I felt something crack under the pressure.

Elena, behind me, cried out and tried to rush forward, but one look from me froze her in place.

I found it all so boring. I released my foot. His voice trembled.

"Sophia… sister… you're all I have left."

I laughed derisively and threw them out of my room.

"But I don't want a brother anymore."

"The price is too high."

Watching their retreating figures, I knew that Vincent and I were finished.

I summoned my confidant, Leo.

"Contact Marco. Ask him if he has the guts to marry me in seven days."

Leo spoke hesitantly.

"Ma'am, Marco is Vincent's mortal enemy. This might..."

Before he could finish, a dark figure vaulted in through the window.

I warily drew my dagger and pressed it against the man's neck.

He let out a low laugh.

"First an invitation to marry, and now you want to murder your husband-to-be?"

"You're a heartless one, Miss Sophia."

I raised an eyebrow, sheathed the dagger, and agreed readily.

"See you in seven days, then."

After sending Marco off, I looked at the room full of Vincent's things and felt a wave of irritation.

"Get everything in my room that has anything to do with Vincent and throw it all out."

I pulled the Colt 1911 Vincent had given me from under my pillow and handed it to Leo.

Leo reached out hesitantly.

"Ma'am, this was the first gun he ever gave you. Are you really going to..."

I waved my hand in disgust.

If the man himself was an eyesore, his things were even worse.

I had just fallen asleep when I was awakened by a frantic knock on the door.

I frowned and opened it to see Vincent's anxious face.

"I saw them moving your things out of your room this morning."

I nodded casually.

"I didn't like them, so I threw them out."

"Besides, brother, it's hardly appropriate for you to be in your stepsister's room this early, half-dressed. My sister-in-law might get the wrong idea."

Vincent thought I was still vying for his affection.

"Elena is my savior. Don't you dare lay a hand on her."

Watching him defend her so fiercely, I found it utterly laughable.

"Touch her? I told you, I don't give a damn!"

I had just turned away when Vincent grabbed me from behind, holding me in a death grip.

"Sophia, don't blame me... I just wanted to keep my promise."

"Her father died saving me. Before he died, he entrusted Elena to my care. I'm just trying to repay a debt."

Repay a debt?