After I get drugged by my stepmother and gets delivered to Don Edoardo Ariani's private cruise ship, I tell her smilingly, "Oh, there's no need to take me there. I'm already home, after all."

My entire family thinks that I'm hallucinating, so they start berating me angrily.

"Chiara, Gina has racked up a huge gambling debt. Only Edoardo is capable of saving us now. He loves pure and innocent women like you the most. As long as you can serve him well for one night, our family will be able to tide over this crisis.

"Once Gina has paid off her debt, you'll have received benefits from Edoardo as his lover. By then, we'll be able to experience what it feels like to be a billionaire!"

The drugs' effects on me have yet to fade, but this family—the people whom I trust the most in this lifetime—doesn't even hesitate to drag me into the most luxurious suite of the cruise ship.

No one knows that Edoardo has kneeled before me and pleaded for me to help him establish his forces in Siceria seven years ago.

Tonight, my family has personally delivered me to his suite.

Tomorrow, I'm pretty sure that there will be a few extra bodies floating on the sea.

I woke up before the drug wore off, my head throbbing with a leaden weight. I looked up to find my wrists tied to the bed frame, the rope pulling tight against my skin. I could hear the ship's horn blaring continuously and feel the subtle swaying beneath me, indicating that the cruise ship had already set sail.

"You're in the clear, Gina! Edoardo's Consigliere is handling this thing personally, which means Edoardo's quite interested in Chiara!"

I could hear Giulia Farina, my stepmother, and Gina Russo, my stepsister, talking excitedly outside the door. I couldn't believe that they referred to me as a "thing"—not a human being.

I lacked the strength to even ball my hands into fists to strike someone since my limbs felt weak and my head was spinning.

Gina spoke up immediately after, her voice filled with urgency and excitement. "How long will it take for the money to be deposited into the account, Mamma? Those debt collectors only gave us two days, so we're running out of time already."

"What's the hurry? Your gambling debts will be the least of our concerns once Edoardo is hooked—he'll give us anything we want, Gina!"

Giulia's avaricious laughter cut through the gap in the door, piercing my chest. "Chiara has her late mother's face, so she should consider it an honor to have caught Edoardo's eye."

I nearly burst out laughing in sheer fury after hearing that. I was the one who took Edoardo Ariani when he was covered in filth and digging through dumpsters for a meal. I was the one who helped him snatch the title of Don of the Ariani Famiglia from his treacherous uncles back then.

It could be said that I had laid out the Ariani Famiglia's entire business network, each territory marked for Edoardo to conquer. Even his initial billion-dollar investment was drawn from my personal offshore account.

I felt exasperated that Giulia dared to say that being seen by Edoardo was my honor.

"You shouldn't get ahead of yourself first, Mamma," Gina said before she cleared her throat.

She then whispered, "Did you give her a high enough dose, Mamma? I mean, I don't want Chiara waking up halfway. I'm not interested in being punished alongside you if Don Ariani ends up having a bad time."

Giulia explained, "You can rest assured that the Consigliere said that the effects of the drug won't wear off for another hour, so there's still plenty of time. It'll keep her from waking up and causing trouble.

"She has always been a handful—she nearly poisoned you when she was only six years old. She should be grateful that we're giving her this way out. If she weren't so difficult, we wouldn't have had to drug her in the first place."

Giulia was bringing up that incident again.

Gina had grown up refusing vegetables and loving meat, so I gave her the biggest piece of meat from my plate. Gina ended up choking it back too fast and throwing it up, yet Giulia insisted I had tried to poison her.

I was forced to live on nothing but milk and cereal to "atone" for my crime for the next six years.

Giulia was now using that same ancient history as a justification to sell me off to another man.

I finally had enough control to clench my fingers fully, as about 70% of the drug's effect had dissipated.

Giulia and Gina had continued talking outside the door. Giulia had been instructing Gina on how to ingratiate herself with the Consigliere or the Underboss of the Ariani Famiglia, her tone sharp and calculating.

They were unaware that the Consigliere was aligned with me, though.

They also had no idea that Edoardo had spent seven years searching for me across 37 countries, nor did they know that the last man who had lingered two seconds too long on my photo in a bar had already been sent to hell by Edoardo.

Giulia was now treating me like a piece of trash to be thrown away, handing me over to Edoardo, that lunatic. She even had the nerve to think she could use me to get more money.

I closed my eyes, nearly unable to hold back the mocking smile on my lips.

It was then that the door suddenly opened, and Giulia entered with a smile spread across her face. "You're finally awake, Chiara. Edoardo will board in half an hour, so hurry up and change into your evening gown."

She threw the gown on top of me, eyeing me like household staff. "You'd better not blame me for being cruel, Chiara. After all, those debt collectors are breathing down our necks. I'll get you whatever you want once this is all settled."

"You want to sell me to someone else, then?" I asked, my eyes only partially open.

I was speaking in such a raspy voice that it was barely audible.

Giulia looked flustered for a split second before masking it. "How could you say that I sold you, Chiara? I'm doing this so that you can have a better life in the future. You ought to know that countless women would give anything to be in your shoes, board this cruise ship, and step onto Siceria, Chiara."

Giulia reached out and began unbuttoning my shirt after saying that, stripping it off me. She was trembling as she grazed her cold fingertips on my collarbone, but her greed outweighed her fear.

"I'm begging you, Chiara. Your sister was nearly killed by those debt collectors last time, and I can't stand the thought of living penniless anymore, so you should listen—"

"Hurry up and get her dressed already, Mamma. I'm going to go ask about the situation on Don Ariani's side," Gina interrupted Giulia as she checked the time on her phone.

She then sashayed out of the room after saying that, the rhythmic clicking of her heels echoing against the deck.

I stared at her retreating figure and counted her footsteps, noting that she took 17 steps in total to get from this room to the edge of the deck. I mused that by the time Edoardo boarded the cruise ship, Gina would realize that 17 steps was also the exact distance from the top deck to the water's surface.

I sat up and picked up the red evening gown, noting that it looked quite nice. I thought wearing it to meet Edoardo would add a sense of ceremony, given it had been seven years since we last met. I was certain that he was going to be ecstatic—or probably be driven mad by it.

I had just finished zipping the red gown when the door was kicked open with a bang, and two Underbosses in black suits burst in and gripped my arms.

"Get a move on! Don Ariani is almost here!"

I was half-dragged out of the suite, the rough treatment causing the pain in my bruised wrists to flare again.

I reached the private banquet hall on the cruise ship's lower deck and noticed that two rows of armed men were already waiting. I noticed a man with a scarred face standing at the front, looking at me as if I were a piece of commodity.

I recognized him as Calvino Costa, who had only recently been made a Made Man of the Ariani Famiglia by Edoardo.

I recalled that three years ago, when I was drafting the code for the Ariani Famiglia, Calvino wasn't important enough to even get an audience with me.

Yet, here Calvino was, standing over me with an air of authority.

"Mr. Costa, I'd like to introduce you to Chiara Esposito, my daughter," Giulia said, approaching Calvino with a smile before producing a limited-edition cigar and offering it to him.

Calvino ignored the gesture, instead huffing in derision.

"Is this the thing you've spent so much time raising? Did you teach her how to behave? How certain are you that she has learned everything, especially considering how foolish she looks at the moment? You should know that Don Ariani doesn't like fools."

"I can assure you that I've taught her well. Don Ariani will certainly be pleased with her, Mr. Costa," Giulia said as she turned and pushed me forward in front of him after noticing my silence.

I lost my footing, and my knees slammed into the cold marble floor with a heavy thud. The pain was so sharp it felt as though my bones had shattered.

"What are you doing, Chiara? Go show Mr. Costa that smile of yours!" Giulia whispered through gritted teeth, though she kept smiling at Calvino.

"You'd better drop the innocent act now. You ought to know that raising you wasn't easy—and if you weren't so young when your father died, I would have dropped you off at an orphanage back then!"

Gina moved closer, pinched my lower back, and twisted it sharply. She then put on a fake smile like Giulia's and said to Calvino, "You can rest assured that since Chiara and I grew up together, I know she has never been in a relationship—she's a complete virgin.

"Don Ariani can do whatever he wants with her to enjoy himself, so long as he doesn't go far enough to kill her."

I winced, drawing in a jagged breath while my nails dug deep into my palms. I felt sick to the stomach as I took in their sycophantic expressions, which felt even more revolting than the salty, stagnant smell of the docks.

Calvino gave me a slow once-over, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I guess she makes the cut. Just barely, though."

He suddenly raised his voice, his tone turning sharply menacing. "I'll give it to you straight—Don Ariani is a germaphobe and a stickler for the rules. If she performs well tonight, your gambling debts will be cleared, but if she angers Don Ariani…"

He then pointed toward the dark, bottomless water outside and continued, "I'll have you weighed down and tossed overboard for the sharks. It goes for both of you, too. You'll be going straight to hell with her."

Giulia's face instantly turned deathly pale. She yanked my hair back, forcing my head up. "Did you hear that? Give Mr. Costa an answer!"

I felt a searing pain shooting through my scalp as she yanked my hair, but Giulia was blinded by her own terror and avarice. "I'm telling you—if you die tonight, you'd better be in Don Ariani's bed when it happens! If you do anything to upset him and get us in trouble, I'll kill you myself!"

Gina stood to the side and agreed repeatedly, taking a folding knife out of her designer bag and forcing it into my hand. "You should hold onto this! If Don Ariani finds you dull, you can use this on yourself and draw some blood to entertain him!"

Giulia was handing me over to a man's bed, and Gina was telling me to mutilate myself for his amusement.

I held onto the icy knife handle and chuckled to myself. I swallowed the metallic taste rising in my throat, my eyes suddenly gleaming with genuine excitement.

Calvino's excitement spiked at my reaction. "That's it! That's the attitude! That look in those eyes of yours is exactly Don Ariani's type!"

Upon sensing that Calvino was satisfied, Giulia stepped up with a grin. "I've been wondering, Mr. Costa, a man like Don Ariani has his pick of any woman in the world, so why—"

It was then that a sound of a slap rang out, and a red handprint bloomed on Giulia's cheek. Calvino scowled at her, his gaze turning menacing. "You've got a lot of nerve prying into Don Ariani's preferences!"

Giulia fell silent in terror, doing nothing but bowing repeatedly in apology. Calvino waved her off with an impatient gesture and ordered his subordinate, "Get her in there."

I was hoisted up by the two Made Men again, who then hauled me toward the solid gold doors located at the far end of the main hall.

Giulia hissed from behind me, "I don't care how much you hate it, Chiara—you'd better look like you're enjoying yourself. If you don't keep Don Ariani happy, I'll kill you myself once we're home!"

"Got it, Mamma," I replied as I lowered my head, unhurriedly adjusting the wrinkled red gown.

It was only after knocking softly three times that the door slowly swung open. I then stepped into the private elevator bound for the top floor.

Gina breathed a sigh of relief behind me. Giulia was already caught up in an excited conversation with her, debating which exclusive designer handbag to get once they got the money.

I spared them a glance, my smile never wavering. I merely thought that they were idiots. Edoardo had a thing for women with a bit of bite because someone once used that fire to tame him like a hound.

I couldn't help but muse on how Edoardo had been misbehaving in these past few years, even going as far as searching for a stand-in for me. He'd better act like the submissive hound he was back then and kneel before me to apologize later.

It was then that the elevator doors slid open, revealing the penthouse suite. It was decked with gold furniture and every possible luxury, yet a closer look revealed a heavy, soul-crushing stillness.

Giulia and Gina were dazed by the glittering display, their breathing growing shallow and quick.

"I-Is this where Don Ariani lives?" Giulia asked, excitedly stroking a solid gold ornament by the entrance. "Do you see this, Chiara? If you manage to stay here, we'll be set for life, never having to worry about money again!"

Gina looked completely out of her element, touching everything in sight. "Oh my God! If you manage to satisfy Don Ariani, I'll do whatever you say, Chiara! I'd even get on my knees and wait on you myself!"

She became increasingly worked up as she spoke, earning looks of disdain from Calvino and the others, though they were clearly enjoying the power trip.

It was then that Calvino's gaze snapped toward me, confusion flickering in his eyes. "W-What are you laughing at?"

I ignored him, my eyes sweeping over the suite as a wave of contempt washed over me.

I noticed the black roses in the vase on the table—the very flowers I used to love. I saw that the carpet was a specific shade of Klein blue—something I had casually brought up once.

I then saw that the oil paintings displayed on the walls, despite their apparent depth, had originated from my idle sketches on napkins.

I was baffled at Edoardo's—that madman's—behavior. He had actually transformed his entire living space into a gallery dedicated to my personal effects.

Upon seeing me ignore him, Calvino lost his patience and reached out to shove me.

Giulia suddenly leaned in toward one of the paintings, reaching out a hand as a look of confusion crossed her face. "W-Why does this look so familiar? It looks just like those doodles in Chiara's room—"

Calvino's eyes went wide with alarm, his hand locking in place just as he was about to shove me forward.

"Get your hands off that!"

It was then that a cold rebuke barked out before he had the chance to say anything, and a woman with a refined face and eyes brimming with contempt approached, the sharp clack of her four-inch heels echoing on the floor.

It was none other than Tiazana Pesci, one of Edoardo's women, who had once plotted to take over the Consigliere's position.

I had heard plenty about her. She considered herself the most important woman in Edoardo's life and usually treated everyone with indifference. If she couldn't become the Donna of the Ariani Famiglia, then she would aim to become someone Edoardo could never let go of.

"That is one of Don Ariani's most prized possessions—touch it, and you'll be digging your own grave!" Tiziana warned, her eyes raking over Giulia and Gina before locking onto me like a vice.

She took in my features, unable to hide the flicker of resentment that crossed her light blue eyes.

"You're the 'gift' that was sent over?" Tiziana moved toward me deliberately and hooked a finger under my chin, her sharp nails digging deeply into my skin.

I decisively slapped her hand away.

"Hasn't Edoardo taught you how to behave?" I asked flatly.

I looked her dead in the eye with an impassive expression, as if she were the subordinate and I were the one in charge.

Tiziana's expression soured immediately. She never expected that a low-life sent to serve Edoardo would ever have the nerve to strike her.

In the next instant, she swung her hand at me with all her strength.

I instantly turned sideways from the slap, tasting the metallic tang of blood filling my mouth as blood began to trickle from the corner of my mouth.

"You worthless bitch! You actually think you can tell me how to behave myself, huh?" Tiziana let out a cold, mocking laugh, anger rising at my lack of reaction.

"I've stayed by Don Ariani's side for three years! I'm the one he trusts most! You, on the other hand, are merely a plaything. You couldn't possibly think that sleeping with Don Ariani would earn you a place in the Ariani Famiglia, right? You're being utterly delusional if you think so!"

"You think I'm being delusional, huh? Edoardo will show you who's the truly foolish one once he gets here!" I calmly wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, already contemplating a dozen different ways to train that mutt of mine.

Edoardo was a mutt I had abandoned years back. He might have forgotten his place, but I knew exactly how to make him heel once he saw his master again. Those around her wouldn't even be a challenge to her then.

"Get on your knees and apologize to Tiziana this instant!" Gina, face drained of color, lunged at me and kicked the back of my knees hard.

I could feel my knees buckling from the blow, but I gritted my teeth and fought the urge to fall, keeping my posture rigid and upright.

Gina, seeing that I refused to submit, cried out desperately at Giulia. "Hold her down and make her kneel, Mamma!"

Giulia lunged at me as soon as she heard that, pinning my shoulders with all her weight to force me to kneel on the floor. "You're going to get us all killed, you filthy bitch! Get on your knees and beg Tiziana for forgiveness right now!"

I stared coldly at their expressions, which were warped by cowardice and greed. I held my back rigid even as my bones creaked under the weight of their force, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me kneel.

So this was the family I had expected warmth from after sacrificing everything?

Tiziana's smile turned wicked. She picked up a sharp letter opener and ran the cold tip along my cheekbone.

"You really are the wild type Don Ariani likes. You've certainly got that wild streak—and a stubbornness to match."

She continued in a voice brimming with malice, "Your face is a bit common, isn't it? I think I'll help Don Ariani out and give it a makeover to make you truly unforgettable."