No, that couldn't be right. I definitely went, and we had a pleasant conversation. We even exchanged contact information and agreed to meet again.

Hearing me say this, Stefano sneered coldly from the side. "Principessa Anita must've met him in her dreams."

He didn't believe me, let alone believe that I went to meet another man.

"Dad, I really did go. In fact, this necklace was a gift from him," I insisted firmly.

I placed the necklace in front of Dad, and Stefano's expression stiffened slightly.

After leaving the study, Stefano suddenly pulled me into a corner and said, "If you behave and stop scheming, I can treat you like a sister. I'll even have meals with you and spend time with you."

I let out a light laugh and replied seriously, "Stefano, I don't love you anymore. In fact, I'm interested in someone else now."

After hearing this, Stefano pressed closer step by step. "Then, tell me. If you don't love me anymore, why are you still wearing a necklace with elements of my family?"

I took a step back and snapped loudly, "This necklace has nothing to do with you! It's late—you should get some rest."

In the shadows, Anna was staring intently at my back, her face cold and grim.

…

The wedding ceremony was set to take place in seven days. Just when everything seemed perfectly prepared, chaos erupted right before it began.

Anna's wedding gown had been sabotaged. When she opened her wardrobe, she found it replaced with a nun's habit, with a crude skull drawn on the inside.

She wept pitifully, and everyone crowded around to comfort her.

I walked over to take a closer look at the details of the wardrobe, but Anna suddenly grabbed my hand.

"Anita, I know you've liked Stefano since we were young, but he's your future brother-in-law. We're family, so how could you let your obsession drive you to curse me?

"That day in Dad's study, you even said yourself that you no longer had feelings for Stefano. Why go back on your word on the day of our wedding?"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room fell silent and fixed their eyes on me.

My feelings for Stefano were once so openly and unabashedly worn that they were practically a public secret.

And now, with Anna's wedding dress sabotaged like this, it was only natural that I, as the bridesmaid, would be the prime suspect.

I was left speechless for a moment, unsure where to even begin explaining.

But just as I was about to speak, I saw Stefano—dressed in a tailored suit—walk in and immediately pull Anna into his arms.

Taking the cue, Anna tearfully pleaded, "Stefano, maybe you should just marry Anita instead. I'm so frightened that I'll be jinxed."

As soon as she finished speaking, Stefano kicked me hard, sending me crashing into the closet.

My body slammed against the solid wood, and for a moment, the pain was so intense I could hardly breathe.

This wasn't the first time Stefano had rejected me. But it was the first time he had laid hands on me in front of everyone.

Shame and pain washed over me, deepening my disappointment in him once again.

Lowering my head, I mustered what little strength I had left and asked hoarsely, "Stefano, have you ever truly believed me?"

Stefano stood still, his gaze utterly indifferent as he looked at me. "Never. Anita, since you've repeatedly hurt Anna without regard, don't blame me for being merciless."

With that, he gave a cold wave of his hand.

Several bodyguards stepped forward and restrained me firmly. As I lay there unable to move, they stripped my clothes and used a knife to carve a skull on my arm.

Stefano said this was only a fraction of the pain Anna had suffered.

When the blade cut through my skin, the sharp pain brought tears streaming down my face. I wanted to beg for mercy, but my mouth was covered, leaving me unable to utter a word through the agony.

Just as I was on the verge of passing out, a figure dressed in black suddenly appeared.

"Stop!"

The newcomer swiftly kicked away the bodyguard restraining me and pulled me into his protective embrace.

I heard Stefano furiously shouting, "Who are you? How dare you interfere with the affairs of the Marino family? Do you have a death wish or something?"