At the charity gala, Mattia stood in the center of the crowd with his arm around Ginevra's waist. I lingered in the corner, holding their coats.

During a brief moment when he went to the bar for drinks, Mattia sidled up to me. "Catalina, it's all for show. You know you're the only one I love."

I said nothing.

He frowned, then returned to Ginevra's side and slipped back into his doting routine.

The auction began. As the host introduced the items, a familiar name caught my attention.

"Tears of the Deep" was a sapphire necklace.

It wasn't just jewelry. Three years ago, after Mattia barely survived a setup by his rivals, he'd made a promise from his hospital bed.

He'd pointed to a photo of this very necklace, his eyes red-rimmed, and sworn, "Catalina, once I take over the Vitale empire, I'll buy this and propose to you with it."

"Starting bid is five million." The moment the host finished speaking, Mattia raised his paddle.

"Five million 500 thousand."

"Six million."

He bid repeatedly without hesitation.

My heart pounded as I stood there. Maybe he still remembered that promise. Maybe he'd forgotten our anniversary yesterday because he was planning this surprise.

"15 million dollars, sold!" The host beamed.

"Congratulations, Mr. Vitale. Please come to the stage and present this precious gift to the most important person in your life."

I loosened my grip on the coats. Mattia walked onstage and accepted the necklace. He turned and walked straight toward Ginevra.

I watched him bend down and fasten the necklace around her throat.

Ginevra touched the sapphires and asked loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Matt, this necklace symbolizes 'one true love.' Are you sure it's appropriate to give this to me?"

Mattia spoke into the microphone with that warm smile of his. "Only you deserve something this unique."

Applause erupted. I stood frozen, with my throat tight and unable to breathe. Apparently, five years meant nothing more than a price tag.

During the intermission, Ginevra approached me with a champagne flute. She lifted her chin deliberately, letting the Tears of the Deep catch the light.

"Ms. Ricci, don't you think the necklace Matt gave me is beautiful?"

I stayed silent.

Mattia walked over and slipped his arm around Ginevra's waist. "Catalina, get us two glasses of champagne. And bring a shawl. Ms. Bellini is cold."

His tone was flat, like he was addressing a stranger on his payroll. I turned to get what he asked for.

When I returned with the champagne and shawl, Ginevra reached for the wrap. Her elbow suddenly knocked into the tray in my hands.

The sound of shattering glass rang out as ice-cold liquid soaked through my clothes. Ginevra let out a startled cry. "Oh! Ms. Ricci, why did you bump into me on purpose? You nearly ruined the dress Matt gave me."

Mattia spun around immediately, pulled Ginevra close, and examined her gown from top to bottom. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, just startled." Ginevra's voice trembled.

Only after confirming she was unharmed did Mattia turn to look at me. His eyes were cold with impatience. "Catalina, what's wrong with you? You can't even handle something this simple."

I opened my mouth to explain that she was the one who bumped into me.

"Enough." His voice cut through the air. "Apologize to Ms. Bellini. Don't ruin her evening."

There was no concern in his eyes—only disdain and irritation.

"I didn't bump into her."

Mattia's expression darkened completely. "You're going to lie about it?"

"I told you, I didn't bump into her."

"Catalina!" He raised his voice. "What the hell is wrong with you tonight?"

I met his gaze head-on. "Mattia, I said I didn't bump into her. I won't apologize for something I didn't do."

He scowled. "Go change your clothes. You're embarrassing yourself."

I laughed, cold and sharp. "No need to kick me out. I wouldn't stay another second in this suffocating place anyway."

Outside the ballroom, my phone buzzed. A message from Papa appeared on the screen. "Everything's ready. In two days, the Vitale casino will be yours."

I stood in the hallway, staring at those words, and laughed. The laughter turned to tears.

Mattia, the game was finally over.

I had just returned to the villa in my wine-soaked clothes when the lock turned.

Mattia was home.

He walked straight up to me and pressed a cold hotel keycard into my palm."Catalina, stay at a hotel tonight."

He paused. "Ginevra is moving in tomorrow. I don't want her to see anything of yours. It'll upset her."

Then he added, "I know this is hard on you. I'll make it up to you later, I promise."

Later? Our future had just been sold off at that auction for 15 million dollars with a price tag attached. I walked past him to the nightstand and calmly picked up the framed photo of us.

Mattia must have thought I was feeling sentimental, because his expression softened. "Don't be difficult, Catalina. Now's not the time."

"There won't be a later." Right in front of him, I threw the frame into the trash bin.

Mattia froze. Fury flashed across his face. "Catalina! What the hell is wrong with you?"

I ignored him and opened the closet, tossing my meager belongings into a suitcase. It had been five years. Everything I owned fit into a 20-inch bag.

He'd probably never seen me like this before, cold and unyielding. For once, he had nothing to say. I pulled my suitcase past him and walked out.

The taxi drove through the empty late-night streets. I'd just given the driver the hotel address when a deafening roar erupted from behind us.

Several motorcycles forced our car off the road. A group of thugs swarmed around us, leering at me.

The leader, a guy with bleached hair, banged on the window and whistled at me. His words were crude and arrogant.

"Hey there, pretty thing. Don't be scared. Ms. Bellini wants us to take really good care of you and snap some nice pictures for Mr. Vitale. Let him enjoy the show too."

The driver's face went white, his hands trembling on the wheel. I stared at those disgusting faces through the window, ice forming in my chest.

Ginevra really couldn't wait. I pulled out my phone and called Mattia.

"Mattia, help me. Some men stopped my car. I'm scared."

My voice shook, but my eyes stayed flat as I looked out the window.

On the other end, Mattia's tone was impatient. "Catalina, are you that addicted to playing victim? Stop pulling these pathetic stunts for attention. I'm sick of it."

It was a life-or-death situation, and all he could think was that I was begging for attention. He'd crushed this last chance himself.

Before I could say anything else, a cloying female voice slipped through the line, breathless and suggestive.

"Matt, stop worrying about that bitch. Focus on me."

It was Ginevra.

Mattia hung up. I stared at the screen, at that final call record, and slowly wiped the tears from my eyes.

Outside, the men were still shouting. When I didn't react, they started pounding harder on the window.

I took a deep breath.

The game was over. I pushed the door open and stepped out.

The thug grinned when he saw me emerge. "That's more like it. Cooperate early, and we'll be real gentle with…"

His expression froze mid-sentence. Four black sports cars emerged from the darkness and surrounded us silently. Headlights blazed to life, blinding the thugs.

Car doors opened in unison. A dozen men in black suits stepped out and slammed the thugs to the ground in seconds.

The leader, so arrogant moments ago, now had his face pressed against the asphalt, letting out muffled groans of pain. I walked over and looked down at him.

"Which hand did you use to bang on my window?"

He trembled. The smell of urine hit the air.

I stepped back in disgust. Turning to the leading man, I said, "Return this gift from Ms. Bellini. With interest."

"Yes, Principessa."

I slid into the back seat of one of the sports cars. Behind me, screams tore through the night.

Two days later, Mattia and Ginevra's engagement party took place at the most luxurious hotel the Bellini family owned. Nearly every power player in North Melcina had shown up.

Mattia stood onstage, basking in the crowd's praise. Backstage in the lounge, he had his arms around Ginevra in her white gown.

"Ginnie, after tonight, with your family's money and that mystery buyer's capital, the Vitale empire is mine. The old bastards won't be able to tell me what to do anymore."

Ginevra leaned against him shyly. "Matt, I knew you were the best."

He smiled, but my face had flashed unexpectedly through his mind. I'd vanished without a trace after that night, and he felt strangely hollow, like something was missing.

How ridiculous. He thought that woman who'd clung to him, who couldn't survive without him, was hiding in some dark corner and crying her eyes out right now.

Mattia shook off the absurd thought and refocused on the beauty in his arms. The party reached its peak as the host delivered his blessings.

The ballroom doors slammed open from the outside. The room fell silent, and every head turned toward the entrance. I walked in wearing a black velvet gown.

The smile froze on Mattia's face. His expression darkened as he stormed off the stage and grabbed my wrist.

"Catalina! Who said you could come here? What game are you playing now? Get the hell out!"

I pulled free and smoothed the sleeve he'd wrinkled.

"Mr. Vitale, such a temper." My tone stayed even. "Is this how the Vitales treat their guests?"

"You bitch! How dare you show your face here!"

Ginevra rushed over, clutching her dress, and swung her hand at my face. I caught her wrist mid-strike.

"You…"

Before she could finish, I slapped her across the face. Ginevra shrieked and stumbled backward, hitting the floor. She clutched her cheek and stared at me in disbelief.

"Ginnie!" Mattia rushed over and pulled her into his arms.

He pointed at me and roared toward the entrance. "Security! Throw this crazy bitch out! Break her legs!"

Dozens of security guards surrounded me. The guests scrambled backward in fear.

Mattia held Ginevra close, cruel satisfaction spreading across his face. But then, in the next moment, all the guards stopped three steps away from me.

In the silence that followed, they bent low in perfect synchronization. Their voices echoed through the ballroom in unison.

"Principessa!"

Mattia and Ginevra looked like they'd been struck. Every guest in the room froze. I pushed past Mattia and walked onstage, taking the microphone from the stunned host's hands.

I looked down at the pale-faced couple below and smiled. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Catalina Ricci. My Papa is Leonardo Ricci, Don of the Ricci family."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Mattia went rigid.

"By the way, Mr. Vitale, I should inform you that five minutes ago, I completed the acquisition of every casino under the Vitale name. So now…"

I looked at him and Ginevra, then pointed toward the exit. "Get off my property."