The entire casino exploded into noise.

"Reserved? Don Lanzi just has to say the words, and any item can be locked in no matter the price!"

"Oddio! Ms. Noemi actually got Don Lanzi to step in personally?"

"No wonder she dared to compete with Ms. Tania. Turns out she had the Lanzi family backing her. Is she going to become the Lanzi family's Madre?"

Noemi froze for a second, then her shock turned into pure delight. She asked shyly, "May I ask where Don Lanzi is? I'd like to thank him in person."

The Underboss nodded respectfully. "Don Lanzi is occupied. He will meet you at the proper time."

Only then did Noemi turn to Tania with her chin slightly lifted. "Tania, are you going to continue gambling with me?"

She tilted her head innocently. "Oh, right. I almost forgot. Don Lanzi already reserved the wedding dress. Even if you win again, it won't matter. In this world, no one has more say than Don Lanzi."

Tania's expression didn't change. She slowly turned toward Simone beside Noemi. He stood in the shadows, his gaze calm and unreadable.

But when he looked at Noemi, the corner of his lips curved faintly.

The casino was still buzzing when Tania turned and walked out first.

Outside, dozens of black Maybachs lined the street. The emblems bore the exclusive crest of the Lanzi family.

One by one, bodyguards stepped out, each carrying an elegant tray.

On them lay priceless gifts—rare pink diamond jewelry, antique paintings, couture gowns, and even the title deed to a private island.

"My God! Are these all from Don Lanzi to Ms. Noemi?"

"Hundreds of millions of dollars just to make her smile?"

"Look at Tania, though. She fought so hard to win and in the end got nothing. She didn't even get the wedding dress. Who would actually marry her?"

The surrounding guests erupted into whispers, their gazes pricking Tania.

She walked toward her car without any expression, though her fingers slowly curled tight.

"Tania, wait for me!" Noemi hurried after her with Simone following close behind. "Tania, look at all these gifts. They're way too much. I feel bad taking them."

Tania glanced at her coolly. "Feeling bad now? You already accepted them."

A look of hurt crossed Noemi's face.

Simone's throat tightened as he prepared to speak up for her, but at that exact moment, Tania's phone began to ring.

She answered, and her best friend Rita Ludovici's voice came through. "Talia, there's a street race on Ridgeway Road. You in?"

"Yeah." Tania agreed without hesitation. She hung up and went straight for the driver's seat.

"A race? I want to go too!" Noemi immediately clung to Simone's sleeve, acting cute. "Simone, I've never seen racing before. Come with me, please?"

Simone looked at Tania, asking her if it was fine with his gaze.

Tania let out a sneer and pulled open the car door. "My car doesn't take outsiders."

With that, she drove off.

"Why is Tania so petty?" Noemi's eyes reddened as she looked at Simone. "I just wanted to join the fun…"

Simone said nothing. He switched cars, opened the passenger door, and said to her, "We'll just follow behind her."

…

After getting out, Noemi and Simone walked behind Tania. Their conversation carried clearly to her ears.

"Simone, do you think Don Lanzi really wants me to marry him? I heard the Lanzi family's Madre is incredibly respected."

"It's very possible," Simone replied gently. "You're so wonderful. You deserve the best of everything."

"What about you?" Noemi suddenly turned to him with an intense gaze. "Would you give me your blessing if Don Lanzi proposed to me?"

Simone smiled. "As long as you're happy, that's all that matters."

A dull ache spread through Tania's chest.

It was unmistakable. Simone's gaze held a world of tenderness for Noemi, yet it offered Tania nothing but a frozen detachment.

She curled her lips in a bitter smile.

Ridgeway Road was lit up like daylight. Rows of modified race cars lined up side by side.

Tania entered her private lounge and came out shortly after in a new outfit.

The black racing suit hugged her waist and long legs, adding a wild edge to her usual cool beauty. For a brief moment, the area around her fell into stunned silence.

She walked straight toward her silver-gray car. Just as her fingers touched the door handle, footsteps sounded behind her.

"Tania, your car is so cool!"

Noemi walked over arm-in-arm with Simone. Her white dress fluttered softly in the night breeze. "Simone, look! Tania's car is prettier than all the others."

Simone glanced at her. "If you like it, you can learn more about it later."

Tania watched them coldly and opened the car door. Just as she was about to get in, Simone called out, "Wait."

He stepped closer, frowning slightly. "It rained last night. There's water on the curves. Watch your speed."

Having stayed by Tania's side for all these years, he knew her habits better than anyone. Whenever she drove, he was always her navigator.

When she trained, he'd scout the road in advance, memorizing every dangerous turn.

But this time, Simone stayed beside Noemi. He only offered a reminder, with no intention of taking the navigator's seat.

"Thanks for the reminder," Tania replied flatly.

Before putting on her helmet, she glanced at Noemi. "You should watch the person next to you. Don't let her wander around."

Noemi's eyes immediately reddened. She tugged at Simone's sleeve, sounding wronged. "Simone, I didn't mean to bother Tania. I was just curious about racing…"

"Va bene," Simone said, patting the back of her hand. He looked at Tania with a hint of helplessness. "It's her first time. She's just curious."

Then, he looked toward an unused white race car nearby and said to Noemi, "I'll take you for a lap. We'll go slow. It won't be dangerous."

Noemi's eyes lit up. "Really? Simone, you can drive race cars too?"

"I picked up a bit back when I used to train with Ms. Tania."

His tone was casual, but no one knew how much effort he'd put in behind the scenes just to better protect Tania. His driving skills were already on par with professional racers.

Tania watched as he opened the white car's door and carefully helped Noemi into the passenger seat. Something stung lightly in her chest.

A navigator was the racer's other half.

All these years, Simone had been by her side. They worked in perfect sync. Even off the track, when she rested in the seat after training, he'd quietly hand her water and a towel, sometimes even offering a few pointers.

But now, the man who had once been her other half had effortlessly given that important place to someone else.

The rich heirs around them immediately started egging them on. "Why not make it a friendly race? Ms. Tania versus Mr. Lanzi. Let's see who's better!"

Tania didn't respond. She started the engine, and the car let out a deep, low roar.

Simone settled into the driver's seat as well. He turned to remind Noemi, "Hold on tight. Don't be scared."

His focus was steady, yet the corner of his eye kept drifting toward Tania. When he noticed a man leaning in to talk to her, his grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.

He knew he didn't have feelings for Tania. And yet, seeing someone else get close to her stirred an inexplicable irritation.

The feeling unsettled him. To cover it up, he poured an even more patient tenderness into comforting Noemi.

The race was about to begin. The two cars lined up at the starting line.

The moment the starting gun fired, Tania floored the accelerator. Her car shot forward like an arrow, carving a flawless arc through the first curve at breathtaking speed.

Simone followed close behind. He had to watch Noemi in the passenger seat, yet his attention kept drifting to Tania ahead, afraid she might push too hard and lose control.

The road twisted sharply.

Tania stayed in the lead. Just as she was about to take the final sharp turn, she caught something in the rearview mirror.

Simone's right rear tire ran over a broken piece of guardrail and burst instantly. His car lurched out of control and hurtled toward the cliff's edge.

"Watch out!" Tania shouted instinctively. Without hesitation, she yanked the wheel. Her car slid sideways, slamming into his path and forcing itself between his car and the cliff.

A loud bang thundered through the valley.

When Tania's racing car airbags deployed, she slammed into hard surfaces in rapid succession. Pain tore through her instantly.

Blood blurred her vision. Her left arm felt shattered, completely numb.

Simone's car was stopped by the impact, coming to a halt just inches from the cliff.

Ignoring the cuts on his arms from shattered glass, he kicked the door open and ran toward Tania's car like he'd lost his mind. He wrenched the twisted door open with brute force.

"Tania!" His voice shook with panic he'd never felt before. He reached out to check her breathing. Relief flashed through his eyes when he felt it.

But the sight of her covered in blood and her ghostly pale face made his chest tighten so hard he could barely breathe. "Hang in there. I'm calling an ambulance!"

He was reaching for his phone when a soft sound came from behind him.

Noemi, clutching her forehead, whimpered weakly, "Simone. I feel dizzy…"

He hesitated for a moment.

The next second, he turned to the people rushing over. "Presto! Take Noemi to the hospital first. She's badly shaken!"

He turned back, scooped Noemi into his arms, and hurried toward a car by the road.

Through blurred vision, Tania watched his frantic retreat. Blood seeped from the corner of her lips.

The man she had protected with everything she had chose Noemi, who'd barely been hurt, while her own life hung in the balance.

It turned out that all her sacrifices never weighed as much to him as a single tear from Noemi.