The line went dead.

Armored SUVs blocked every exit. Alexander stepped out of the lead vehicle.

"In this territory, who would dare pick you up but me?" 

He tossed a signal jammer at my feet.

"Ivy, your audacity is growing," Alexander’s voice held zero warmth. "You dared to touch the only male heir of the Camorra family? Did you want Lily to die in pieces? " 

My knuckles turned white around the grip of my gun. "Luca started it! He used Lily to test poison! He deserved to die!" 

"Alex! She's lying to you! Luca was just playing with Lily." Sophia ran out from behind him, wailing. She threw herself into Alexander’s arms. "My brother is ruined for life! He was the only son to carry on our bloodline! You have to get justice for me! Kill Lily!" 

Alexander patted Sophia’s hand soothingly, but his brows knitted. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. He knew how important Lily was to me.

Sophia saw the hesitation in his eyes, and a flicker of jealousy crossed her own.

Sophia wiped away her tears, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her lips to Alexander's ear.

It's unclear what she said, but Alexander showed a relieved expression.

"Fine," Alexander said, his voice lighter now, almost casual. "If it will calm your anger, Sophia, do it. Teach Ivy a lesson she won't forget."

Alexander’s eyes remained cold and fixed on me. "Drop the gun. This is your last chance." 

I looked at Lily. She was barely breathing. 

For her... I had no choice. 

I dropped the gun. I raised my bloodied hands and slowly sank to my knees. 

"Godfather," I choked out. "I surrender. I hurt him. Kill me. Torture me. Just please... let Lily go." 

Alexander snapped his fingers. 

The bodyguards dragged Lily’s unconscious body and loaded her onto the chopper. 

"What are you doing?!" My pupils dilated in horror. I tried to lunge forward, but a soldier behind me slammed my face into the rough concrete. 

"Since Luca lost his legs, your sister's life will pay the balance." Alexander adjusted his bespoke cufflinks. "This is the explanation the Camorra requires. And this is your lesson for disobedience. Only this will stop a war between the factions." 

The helicopter climbed rapidly, hovering a hundred meters above the black water. 

The side door opened. 

"NO!!!" I screamed, a sound that tore my throat raw. "Alexander! She’s innocent! How can you be this cruel?! Please! DON'T!" 

I slammed my forehead against the concrete, over and over, until blood masked my vision. "I was wrong! Boss, I was wrong! I’ll be Luca’s dog! I’ll die for you! Please bring the plane down!" 

Alexander remained unmoved. He spoke one word. 

"Drop." 

High above, a tiny silhouette was pushed out of the cabin like a bag of trash. 

I watched the shadow disappear into the pitch-black waves. 

"Hrk—!" 

A mouthful of heart’s blood sprayed from my lips, painting the concrete red. 

Alexander walked over, his polished shoes stopping right in front of my face. He crouched down, gripping my chin and forcing me to look at him. There was no guilt in his eyes, only annoyance.

"Enough, Ivy. The show is over," he scoffed, wiping the blood from my lip with his thumb. "It was just a mannequin. A silicone doll. Did you really think I would kill your sister over this? I just wanted to show you what happens when you defy me."

A mannequin?

"It... it was Lily..." I whispered, my voice broken shards of glass. "That was my sister! That wasn't a doll! YOU KILLED HER!"

I looked at the dark water, then back at the man I had worshipped.

Alexander, I hate you. 

I curse you. May you lose everything you love. May you never find peace.

After Lily died, I didn't go crazy. I didn't scream. 

The trauma was so massive that my mind simply shut down. I engaged a kill switch on my emotions. 

I became an exquisite, soulless marionette. Alexander locked me in a villa on the Sicilian coast. 

No matter how he humiliated me, I did it.

Everyone thought the wildest dog in the family had finally been tamed. 

One month later. The engagement gala for the union of the Alexander and Camorra families. 

Alexander ordered me to attend as a server. To pour wine for Sophia. 

That night, I didn't wear a maid's uniform. 

I wore a deep V-neck red dress. I had bought it with the commission money I had saved for years. 

I looked like a poppy blooming on the edge of a cliff—dangerous and mesmerizing. 

Tray in hand, I wove through the crowd of Mafia royalty, stepping closer and closer to the perfect couple on the dais. 

Sophia clung to Alexander’s arm, beaming with triumph. When she saw me approach, her eyes glittered with malice. "Ivy. Pour the wine. Do it on your knees." 

"Of course, Miss Sophia." I obediently dropped to one knee, raising the wine glass. 

The moment Sophia reached out to take it— 

I thrust a sharp blade upward, aiming straight for Sophia’s heart. "Go to hell and apologize to Lily!!!" 

It happened too fast. Sophia’s smile froze into a mask of terror. 

But Alexander was faster. 

Just as the blade was a centimeter from her chest, the gunshot echoed through the ballroom. 

A blossom of blood exploded just below my left collarbone. He missed my heart, but the impact lifted me off my feet and threw me backward. 

Behind me was the terrace railing. Beyond that, a hundred-foot drop to the sea. 

As I plummeted, I looked up.

“No! Ivy!” Alexander cried out in terror, reaching out to grab me.

But Sophia clung to him, slowing his pace.

The corner of my mouth lifted in a smile of pure relief. 

Alexander. Never to see you again.