When I was being harassed by the Romano family’s consigliere, my fiancé, Don Luca of the Villani family, was busy kissing and drinking with Gianna at a party.

To secure the partnership, I had no choice but to drink the glass the consigliere pressed against my lips.

My stomach churned violently, and I could barely breathe.

However, Luca never once looked at me.

Instead, he focused entirely on picking the lime slices out of Gianna’s drink, coaxing her gently into finishing it.

Once the party ended, Gianna casually mentioned she was bored, and Luca immediately made me get out of the car so he could take her bar-hopping afterward.

“She’s been helping me manage the accounts lately, so I’m taking her out to relax.

“You don’t even like bars, so don’t come along.

“And I’m staying with her tonight until she has fun. So we’ll postpone the wedding again, since I can’t make it to the church tomorrow.”

Our wedding had already been delayed for eight years. This was the ninety-eighth time Luca had canceled it on his own.

I simply nodded.

Since he was always too busy, maybe this wedding didn’t need to happen.

The convertible’s window was rolled halfway down as Gianna leaned out and apologized to me.

“Sorry, Isabella. I casually mentioned wanting to go clubbing, and Luca insisted on taking me out. He spoils me too much. But don’t worry. When he gets back, I’ll make him buy you a gift to apologize!”

Before I could respond, Luca smiled and rubbed her head.

“Gianna, you’re too innocent. You think everyone’s like you?”

“Don’t mind her. She’s probably about to pretend to be pitiful again and beg me to stay. I’m not falling for that act.”

So it turned out he had noticed the hurt on my face earlier. He just thought I was acting jealous again.

Usually, at times like this, I would’ve already broken down crying, arguing with Luca while trying to explain myself.

This time, however, I said nothing.

I simply nodded. “Okay. Have fun.”

Luca froze for a moment after hearing that, but soon his teasing expression returned.

“Good. At least you’re not making a scene.”

Then the car sped away.

Still, I noticed that before driving off, Luca thoughtfully lowered the entire roof because he was worried Gianna would feel stuffy.

I got carsick easily, especially in Luca’s car. He had never been willing to open the roof for me, though, only saying, “The wind will blow dust into the car. Can you stop being so dramatic?”

At that moment, I finally understood how obvious it was between true love and not.

I took the engagement ring off my finger and threw it into the dark waters of the Landford River.

Early the next morning, I went to the family headquarters to hand over my work.

Ever since Luca became the don of the family, I had been working as his secretary.

“You’re resigning? Does Luca know?” The committee members were shocked after hearing that I was leaving.

“He’ll know once the new secretary arrives.”

After saying that, I left the office and returned to the estate.

Right then, I ran into Luca dressed in a white suit, the scent of women’s perfume all over him.

He rolled his wrist slightly before lowering his gaze toward me.

“I drank too much last night, and it wasn’t safe to drive. I booked a room to rest by myself. That’s why I didn’t come home.”

This was the first time in all these years that Luca had ever voluntarily explained himself to me.

I nodded and didn’t say anything.

“You suddenly had work this morning?” he asked again.

I looked up at him and remembered how every morning after his parties, I would wake up at five or six to prepare a hangover meal for him.

I had always done that since we got together.

So it was no surprise that he found it strange that nothing was prepared this morning.

“Something like that,” I replied.

I was just about to leave when Luca, who had been frowning since earlier, suddenly grabbed my wrist with a dark expression.

“Isabella, enough already.

“We just changed the wedding date. It’s not like we’re not getting married anymore. If you keep making a fuss, it’s going to get annoying!”

However, I wasn’t making a fuss, and I truly wasn’t planning on marrying him anymore.

I thought it might be better to tell him clearly right then, but before I could speak, a sweet yet slightly annoyed voice rang out.

“Luca! This is all your fault!

“The bra you bought me this morning is totally the wrong size! I already explained it clearly to you!”

Gianna stood not far away with her hands on her hips, stomping her foot in anger, her cheeks puffed up.

The moment Luca saw her, he immediately shoved past me and quickly walked over, lifting Gianna into his arms.

His tone turned anxious and serious.

“You’re not feeling well, and you’re still running around barefoot? Are you purposely trying to upset me?”

Several memories couldn’t help but flash through my mind.

Earlier this month, my knife wound got infected. I was curled up in bed with a high fever, begging Luca to help me get painkillers and antibiotics.

Back then, he had frowned impatiently.

“It’s just a fever. Why can’t you endure it? So troublesome!”

By the time I came back to my senses, Luca had already carried Gianna far away.

I looked away, suppressing the dull ache in my chest, and picked up my phone to contact the Anderson family, who had been trying to recruit me for a long time.

After booking my flight, I happened to see that Gianna had posted a photo on social media.

The caption read: [My stomach hurts so much, but Luca’s hands are so warm…]

In the photo, a large hand rested against Gianna’s stomach.

There was a scar on that hand, the same as the scar on Luca’s hand.

I glanced at it briefly before silently removing the couple’s photo of Luca and me from my phone’s lock screen.

Today, several other mafia families had come to headquarters for negotiations and discussions.

Most of the ongoing handover work still needed me to handle it personally.

I led them into the lounge to settle in first.

The moment the group walked in, they immediately noticed Luca and Gianna sitting together on a sofa in the corner.

He was supposedly “feeding” her fruit, but it looked more like flirtatious teasing.

Gianna leaned against the armrest while Luca held a strawberry out to her with a fork.

She turned her head away stubbornly instead of eating it, so Luca leaned closer and whispered something to her. Instantly, Gianna blushed and finally took a bite.

The mafia members from the various families were all professionally trained, so they quickly looked away.

Still, I could hear their whispers drifting into my ears.

“I heard long ago that Don Luca got engaged to Miss Isabella years ago. I didn’t expect them to be so loving.”

“Right?! Did you see that? He fed Miss Isabella with his own hands. Don Luca!”

Yeah. Ever since we got together, I had taken care of everything for him.

I personally served him every meal and ironed every piece of his clothing.

Him, however?

Not only had he stood me up and postponed our wedding, but he was now flirting openly with another woman.

Eventually, the admiring voices around me reached the two of them as well.

The moment Gianna saw me standing at the front of the group, she immediately complained in a spoiled tone.

“Isabella, look at Luca! He keeps forcing me to eat. I’m getting fat because of him!”

Luca didn’t even glance at me. Instead, he gently wiped the corner of Gianna’s lips.

“Be good and eat more fruit. It’s good for your health.”

The discussions around us instantly stopped.

I met everyone’s awkward gazes and maintained my smile as I guided them to their seats.

After arranging everyone properly, I took out my phone and continued organizing my plans for leaving the country.

At some point, Luca appeared behind me.

When he saw my screen, his brows immediately furrowed in confusion.

He asked coldly, “Leaving the country? Who are you arranging that for?”

Before I could think of an answer, he suddenly grabbed my hand. His voice overflowed with shock.

“Isabella, where’s your ring?! Don’t tell me you accidentally left it at home!”

I knew why he reacted that way.

For the entire eight years of our engagement, my ring had never once left my finger.

His own ring, on the other hand, had never once appeared in public.

When he saw my expressionless face, a flicker of unease clearly passed through his eyes.

He gripped my hand tightly and stared directly at me.

“Answer me!”

I was planning to tell him the truth.

However, at that moment, Gianna suddenly let out a scream.

“Ah! It hurts so much, Luca…”

Everyone immediately turned toward the sound.

Gianna had fallen on the stairs, and there was a bleeding cut across her open palm.

Luca shoved me aside and immediately rushed over to pull her into his arms.

“My God, how were you this careless?!”

Tears streamed down Gianna’s face as she hid in Luca’s arms. Then she glanced toward me several times, looking frightened and wronged.

“I don’t know either… Isabella should’ve checked everything last night… I really don’t understand why there would be such a large piece of broken glass here… Luca, it hurts so much…”

Luca’s gaze landed on the bloodstained glass shards scattered across the floor, and anger immediately appeared on his face.

The next second, he turned toward me and roared furiously.

“Isabella, have your schemes really gotten so vicious that you’re hurting people now?!

“Get over here and apologize right now!”

Ignoring the contemptuous looks everyone else was throwing at me, I walked over to them.

“I didn’t do it.”

“Who else could it have been? Everyone knows how controlling you are. Haven’t you always personally handled and inspected all family affairs yourself?!”

Luca stared into my eyes and lowered his voice. “You’re truly disgusting.”

Then he turned to the men beside him.

“Teach her a lesson.”

Right after speaking, he raised his gun and fired at the glass nearby without hesitation.

The glass exploded instantly.

A sharp shard scraped across my cheek, and warm blood immediately slid down my jawline and into my collar.

Luca held the frightened Gianna tightly in his arms.

For the first time, I saw nothing in his eyes except cold disgust. There was no room for forgiveness.

The entire room fell silent.

I raised my hand and pressed against the bleeding wound, my fingertips smearing red.

I looked at Gianna, who was curled up in Luca’s arms while secretly peeking at me ‌over his shoulder.

Suddenly, all the years I had spent holding on felt like a ridiculous joke.

I didn’t apologize, nor did I defend myself.

I simply wiped the blood from my face and looked directly at Luca.

“If you’ve already decided it was me, then there’s no point in anything I say. How do you plan to punish me?”

Luca’s breathing suddenly faltered. His brows tightened further, and he opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak.

However, Gianna whimpered softly in his arms and shrank closer to him, and he immediately swallowed his words back down.

Grinding his teeth, he ordered the men beside him, “Force her hand onto the glass.”

The two bodyguards hesitated before stepping forward and grabbing my arms.

I didn’t struggle and simply allowed them to drag my hand down onto the shattered glass scattered across the floor.

Both of my hands were instantly covered in blood as countless shards embedded themselves into my flesh.

“You need to learn! Clean this place up with your own hands, and nobody is allowed to help her!

“I’ll wait for you to reflect on your mistakes. You can come apologize when you’ve figured things out!”

His voice wasn’t loud, but everyone in the lounge could hear him clearly.

Dozens of eyes were fixed on me.

Some looked pleased by my humiliation, while others turned away, unable to keep watching.

Gianna stood behind Luca, covering her eyes as her voice trembled.

“Luca… isn’t this too much…”

Luca didn’t look at her. He only stared at me.

“If this place isn’t cleaned properly, you can deal with the consequences yourself.”

After saying that, he picked Gianna up in his arms and left without looking back.

Gradually, the crowd dispersed.

My eyes burned uncontrollably, and my vision slowly blurred.

Tears fell one by one onto the shattered glass beneath me.

My wounds hurt terribly, but the pain in my chest was even worse, so painful I could barely breathe.

When I lifted my hand to wipe my tears away, my gaze accidentally landed on the Cupid statue beside the fountain.

Luca had specifically taken it to a church for a priest’s blessing when he proposed to me.

It still looked just as intact as before.

However, I knew some things had already shattered.

After finishing the cleanup, I went to treat the wounds on my hands.

As I passed a corner in the hallway, I vaguely overheard two family elders speaking in low voices.

“Don Luca went too far today. Isabella is still his fiancée, after all.”

“Haven’t you noticed? Don Luca no longer wants to go through with this marriage. That girl… Gianna has been receiving a lot of his favor lately. Isabella has neither family backing nor Don Luca’s affection anymore. I doubt this wedding will happen.”

I stopped walking and leaned against the cold wall, suddenly feeling incredibly foolish.

Actually, the ending had already been written long ago, in the endlessly postponed weddings and every illness he ignored.

I had only been clinging to those pitiful old feelings, deceiving myself for eight whole years.

I quietly sniffed back my emotions and didn’t go in to greet them. Instead, I silently walked away.

When I passed through the main hall, Luca was entertaining guests while holding Gianna’s hand.

Luca looked confident and charismatic as he moved through the crowd with Gianna at his side, looking almost like a married couple.

Not long ago, I had accidentally overheard someone asking him, “Isabella worked herself to exhaustion as your secretary for so many years. She’s both your partner and your fiancée. Why don’t you let her be your date for the gala?”

Back then, Luca had answered with clear disdain.

“She comes from an ordinary background and has never attended any high-end events. Wouldn’t bringing her along just embarrass me?”

My thoughts returned to the present.

Gianna stood beside Luca on stage, smiling brightly.

Under the lights, the two of them really did look well-matched.

At that moment, my phone notification suddenly rang. My travel approval had officially gone through.

Halfway through packing my luggage at home, Luca returned.

He tossed a half-used bottle of brown antiseptic solution toward me.

“Here. Brought you some medicine.”

I picked up the bottle.

It was the exact bottle I had seen Gianna privately showing off to her friends, saying proudly, “Luca personally treated my wound for me.”

However, I was allergic to iodine.

Back when Luca was eighteen and had just started getting involved in family affairs, his talent and leadership had already made him stand out among everyone else.

Some members of rival mafia families had grown jealous because of it and deliberately hired people to cripple his hand.

Back then, I had risked my life and stood in front of Luca to protect him.

Although I had only suffered minor injuries, the family doctor accidentally used iodine to disinfect my wound.

I went into anaphylactic shock immediately and was rushed to the hospital. The surgery lasted almost an entire day and night before they finally saved me.

I heard from others that while I was in critical condition, Luca stayed outside the operating room the entire night. They said his eyes had been frighteningly red.

Later, when we returned home, Luca had flown into a rage. He threw away every bottle of iodine in the family estate and even established a rule banning it completely.

But now, he himself had broken that rule.

Lowering my gaze, I tossed the bottle into the trash can.

When Luca saw that, he merely let out an indifferent scoff. “Use it or don’t.”

Just then, Gianna called him.

The moment he answered, his expression softened again as he spoke gently into the phone.

“Baby, remember not to let the wound touch water. And watch what you eat for now. Once you recover, I’ll take you out for something good.”

Perhaps because he found my silence strange, Luca glanced at me several times from the corner of his eye.

Finally, he couldn’t help speaking first.

“What happened today was only meant as a warning to others. You know how many dirty things happen within the family.

“Punishing you like that was to warn everyone else. And the reason I’m caring for Gianna now is also so people won’t gossip about you.”

I nodded without arguing or explaining anymore. “I understand.”

Luca visibly froze.

A strange feeling slowly spread through his chest.

He looked like he still wanted to say something else, but by then, I had already walked into the bathroom to pack some toiletries.