After I get abducted to an underground auction house belonging to a mafia family based in Aleroth, I become the most popular commodity ever in the live stream hosted on the dark web.

As the live comments flood the screen and the viewers keep tipping the live stream, I feel my legs being forced open inch by inch.

The electric chair beneath me keeps pulsing me with jolts of electricity, making me tremble uncontrollably.

Men keep rearranging my limbs however they want in various positions. Then, they put me through all sorts of torture, as if I'm not a human being at all.

Once everything is over, I can only curl into a small ball in a corner of the iron cage. My clothes are completely disheveled, and my gaze remains hollow and lifeless.

That's when I hear someone speaking in Elythran, a language I'm familiar with.

"Haha! That chick still thinks she can escape from this place!"

"To think that the mafia princess of Elythra ends up getting lured to this place and reduced to a common whore for us to toy with! Those brothers really are ruthless!"

"I heard the brothers did this just to appease their adopted younger sister, Emilia Ricci. That's why they ordered us to put up a show. Even the people tipping on the live stream are actors they've hired to make this show perfect."

"This idiot is still waiting for her brothers to come rescue her! Last night, she kept crying out to them in her sleep, begging them to save her!"

As the henchmen speak, they open the door to my room, only to be stunned by the blood-stained floor. Immediately, they dig out their phones and begin dialing numbers anxiously.

The moment I make out one of the numbers, I feel my blood turn into ice.

It appears that the so-called abduction is just a show that my brothers have put on just to appease Emilia…

I can feel blood rising in my throat. As my vision goes blurry, I think I see another man's gentle expression.

That's the memory that I've kept buried deep inside my heart—the memory of my actual older brother, Silvio Gallo.

Memories crashed over me like waves.

I wasn't really Sofia Lombardi. Or at least, not entirely.

My real name was Sylvia Gallo. I had a brother, Silvio Gallo, who was my whole world.

Three years ago, Silvio was diagnosed with leukemia. The treatment cost a fortune.

Just when I thought I was completely out of options, I accidentally wandered into a super VIP room in the hospital. There, I saw three men kneeling and crying beside a young lady covered with a white sheet.

The moment they saw me, their faces were filled with shock. They promised to save Silvio. But in return, I had to live on in place of the deceased young lady to offer them the emotional salvation and the presence they needed.

I agreed. I could do anything to save Silvio.

Three years passed, and Silvio's face started to fade in my mind. I tried to open my eyes, desperate to see clearly.

Warm blood suddenly flooded my mouth.

A doctor nearby shouted harshly in broken Elythran, "Massive hemorrhage! Code Blue! The patient has lost her will to live! The Don's son is on his way! We can't let her pass out!"

As soon as he said that, several hands pinned me down. They tried everything to keep me awake—slaps, electric shocks, and even adrenaline shots.

In pain, I curled up and trembled uncontrollably. My mind slipped, but deep down, a long-lost joy stirred.

Had Silvio come for me?

But before darkness could take me, sharp injections pierced my skin. The fog in my mind cleared, and I was dragged back forcefully.

As I lifted my head, I met a pair of eyes wide with panic.

"Antonio?"

The name slipped out instinctively the moment I saw his face.

Immediately, I regretted it.

The panic in my eldest brother Antonio Lombardi's eyes turned to sharp disgust when he heard me say his name.

Frowning, he pulled his wrist free from my grasp. "Don't call my name until you've apologized to Emilia!"

I was nothing but skin and bones now. My wrist cracked under the pressure of his strong grip.

Antonio froze for a moment. Something unreadable flashed in his eyes as he said, "I didn't use any force at all. How much longer are you going to keep up this act? Can't you learn from Emilia and just be sensible for once?"

Sensible?

Antonio used to praise me for being sensible. He used to act like I was the most precious thing in the world.

Once, I drove alone to the hospital while having a high fever and ended up in an accident. That same night, Antonio announced he was leaving the mafia life for good. He crawled up the church steps, severed three fingers, and begged God to forgive his sins and spare my life.

My second and third brothers, Orfeo and Carlo Lombardi, were no different.

Everyone in Elythra's mafia circles knew the three brothers spoiled me rotten. Even I firmly believed that I—the mere stand-in—would be their princess forever.

That was until Emilia Ricci appeared.

The day the Lombardi brothers brought her home, they swore to me solemnly, saying, "Sofia, Emilia looks just like our late sister, Isabella. We can't leave her alone. We promise Emilia won't take away a single ounce of love we have for you."

I nodded and accepted her wholeheartedly.

However, Emilia wanted to replace me completely.

She would wait until the precise moment Antonio walked by to slap herself across the face, then throw herself into his arms, crying out, "Sofia hit me…"

When Orfeo came into view from the second-floor balcony, she would jump down and whine, "Sofia pushed me."

Right in front of Carlo, she would drop to her knees and devour dog food while choking back tears. "Sofia, please don't be angry. I'm just a dog. I'll eat it. I'll eat it all…"

With each accusation, the disappointment in their eyes grew heavier, and their trust in me eroded.

It was Emilia's diagnosis of depression that finally tipped the scales.

Since she was afraid of the dark, the Lombardi brothers would take turns putting her to sleep every night.

Meanwhile, I'd collapse in pain from my period in my room, only to be found by the helpers the next day.

Emilia loved painting, so my sunlit bedroom became her art studio, while I was shoved into the cold, damp basement, living with rats.

She loved cleanliness, so I had to shower 100 times every day before appearing at home. Otherwise, she'd beat me mercilessly for being dirty.

That day, she suddenly dropped to her knees, clutching her head and screaming in tears, "Scusa, Sofia! I know you don't like me. I'll apologize on my knees. Please don't hit me anymore! I don't want our brothers to see me bruised."

Hearing the commotion, the Lombardi brothers rushed in and pulled her into their arms, soothing her gently.

They glared at me like I was the enemy.

Not long after, because I refused to apologize to Emilia, they tied me up and sent me to an underground auction to be used as a plaything for others.

Memories surged again, sending chills down my spine. I instinctively recoiled to dodge Antonio's outstretched hand.

"I-I'm not—" My voice was so hoarse.

I wanted to say I wasn't pretending. Here, dodging a beating was already a small win.

But before I could finish, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

Against the light, I saw Orfeo rushing in.

"Sofia! You know today is Emilia's birthday. Even if you want to die, don't do it today and ruin her day!"

So, that was why they'd been desperate to keep me alive. They were afraid I'd die on Emilia's birthday and ruin her day.

I wanted to laugh but had no strength. Darkness crept over my vision little by little.

When I woke up again, I was in Lombardi Manor.

I heard Orfeo's gentle coaxing from the next room. "Emilia, come on, one more bite. Just one more."

I glanced at the clock. It was already the next day. Emilia's birthday had passed, so I wouldn't ruin her day anymore.

Now, I could finally die, right?

At that thought, my eyes landed on a fruit knife not far away. I pushed myself up and tried to get out of bed.

The moment my feet hit the floor, a sharp, tearing pain shot through my private part, and I collapsed heavily to the ground.

It hurt so much. Tears spilled uncontrollably as I hugged my dirty self tight and curled into a ball.

If I died, it wouldn't hurt anymore. If I died, I could forget the pain and let my memories stop at the good times.

That thought kept me going. My arm stretched toward the knife.

The moment I yanked the tablecloth off, glass shattered everywhere, slicing my skin, but I didn't notice.

Finally, I grabbed the knife and slashed at my neck without hesitation.

My strength drained fast as blood poured out. I slumped against the wall, powerless.

I was free now.

"Silvio, I'm sorry. I can't stay by your side until your last moment."

That was my last thought.

After that, I was jolted awake by violent shaking.

As I stared up at the hospital ceiling, a cold wave of emptiness washed over me. I hadn't died.

What greeted me was Orfeo's sharp and angry voice. "Sofia!"

I turned to him blankly.

Orfeo stood at the bedside, looking like a wreck despite his white coat. His eyes were red, and his voice trembled as he screamed, "Are you crazy? You actually tried to kill yourself just to compete with Emilia for our attention? Do you know you'd be dead if I'd been a minute later?

"Emilia was right next door! She faints at the sight of blood! If you want to die, do it somewhere else!"

His yelling made me feel even more aggrieved.

In my memories, Orfeo was the most cheerful and lighthearted of the Lombardi brothers.

When I was sick and burning with fever, Antonio went to pray in the church. Meanwhile, Orfeo—who was a medical doctor—stayed up all night by my bedside. He'd tell jokes to cheer me up and bake cupcakes to make me smile.

Even when Emilia first came, he dismissed her and made his stance clear to Antonio. "Sofia's my only sister."

Until that one banquet, when Emilia suffered an allergic reaction.

After checking her over, Orfeo tested the wineglass I'd given her and found the allergen.

That was the first time he snapped at me. "Sofia! What do you have to say? You just can't stand Emilia, huh? Do you want to get rid of her so badly?"

I shook my head helplessly, unable to defend myself.

A sudden phone ring interrupted my thoughts.

When Orfeo saw the caller ID, all his anger vanished. A smile I hadn't seen in a long time took over his face.

"Emilia, don't be scared. Sofia's okay now. She wouldn't really want to die. She's just being childish. She knows you faint at blood and wanted to scare you. I've already scolded her harshly.

"Alright. I'll make you some cupcakes when I get home."

When the call ended, the gentleness on his face vanished instantly. He shot me a fierce glare.

"Emilia has been crying so much out of worry that she couldn't even eat. Her depression had just gotten better, and you almost made her relapse with this stunt.

"Stay here and think about what you've done! When you realize your mistakes, then maybe we'll think about taking you back."

With that, he gave me a harsh sedative injection and slammed the door behind him.

Watching his retreating back, I forced a bitter smile and thought, "Don't worry, Orfeo. I'll die far away. You won't have to take me back."

My gaze drifted out the window.

This was Elythra Sanatorium. Down below stretched an endless ocean.

Not bad. Dying here wouldn't scare anyone.

I grabbed the edge of the bed and slowly shuffled toward the window.

Farewell, Antonio, Orfeo, and Carlo.

As I jumped, the door opened. Carlo rushed in just in time to see it all. His face twisted with rage.

Carlo came looking for Orfeo and just happened to catch me jumping out the window.

"Sofia!" He lunged to the window, his face instantly draining of color.

I guess I was born unlucky. I couldn't even die properly.

When they pulled me from the water, I coughed so hard it felt like my lungs were tearing apart.

When Orfeo arrived, he grabbed my soaked collar and laughed in frustration. "Sofia, are you crazy? When will you stop?"

Before I could catch my breath, a slap cut through the air.

Half my face went numb, and the metallic taste of blood spread in my mouth.

Antonio's hand trembled as he pulled back, and his chest heaved. After a long pause, he spat out through clenched teeth, "Take her back."

They roughly threw me into the trunk.

In the darkness and jostling, my consciousness started to fade. In a daze, I thought I saw Silvio holding me and gently telling my stories.

After some time, Carlo's hesitant voice came from the front seat, "Sofia hasn't made a sound. Is she okay?"

"She's faking again." Orfeo sneered. "You know how good an actress she is."

Antonio stayed silent. Frowning, he took slow drags from his cigarette. His expression barely hid his irritation.

Suddenly, Antonio's phone rang.

Pietro Santini, the butler, sounded panicked. "Mr. Lombardi! Ms. Ricci is having a depressive episode!"

Then, Orfeo's phone rang.

Zetico Solomon, the family doctor, also sounded shaky. "Mr. Lombardi! Ms. Ricci tried to kill herself. There's blood everywhere!"

As the call ended, the car screeched to a halt.

Antonio slammed the door open and yanked me from the trunk. "You keep trying to kill yourself today over and over just to distract us so Emilia can have an episode, right?"

Rain poured down, washing away the blood on me.

Cold to the bone, I trembled uncontrollably. The voices around me grew muffled.

Just then, Orfeo stepped forward and grabbed Antonio's arm. "Antonio, Emilia's condition can't wait. Stop wasting time on her."

Orfeo motioned for the helpers to drag me inside and pressed me to the floor.

As his gaze swept over me, he sneered with a strange expression. "What are you staring at? Emilia's in this state because of you. Isn't it right to draw some blood from you?"

At the sight of the long, thick needle, the hellish memories of the past three years crashed down.

Overwhelmed by fear, I trembled uncontrollably, desperately shaking my head and kicking wildly with my broken leg as I tried to move backward.

"No… Please… Don't…"

But my struggles were futile. I was dragged back forcefully and held down by several hands.

The sharp pain of the needle piercing my skin made me scream.

Carlo looked away and reached out to cover my eyes. His voice lacked conviction as he said, "Sofia, hang in there. It'll be over soon. Emilia's your sister, too. You can't just stand by and see her suffer, right?"

My vision began to blur. I gasped, but no air reached my lungs. Tears and cold sweat mingled, drenching my entire face.

Seeing my agonizing state, Zetico turned an uncertain gaze toward Orfeo. "Her body… might not handle this much blood loss. Should we call the hospital for an emergency transfer?"

Orfeo frowned. His voice was laced with a newfound hesitation as he replied, "But the hospital's too far. Emilia can't wait."

Just then, Pietro stumbled in. "This is bad! Ms. Ricci says she feels worse and might not make it!"

The moment he said that, the Lombardi brothers' faces turned pale.

Antonio gritted his teeth, and his earlier hesitation vanished. "Keep drawing!"

Orfeo opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped. He pressed his lips into a thin line before saying, "Emilia comes first."

Carlo turned away and quietly added, "Sofia, hang in there."

With that, they rushed to Emilia's room.

The pain swallowed all feelings. In my fading vision, another gentle face appeared.

"Silvio…"

I stopped struggling. My raised fingers finally fell limp.

Only when Emilia fully recovered did they remember me in the corner. They approached and called my name, but I didn't respond.

"Sofia, drawing blood shouldn't make you like this. Stop faking and get up. We'll have Orfeo make you something you like to eat later."

Carlo seemed to notice something was wrong. He slowly crouched and reached out to check for breath beneath my nose.

But I had long since stopped breathing.

The next second, his face drained of color, and he collapsed to the floor.