Luca mockingly laughed, his eyes looking cold.

“So I see it now. You can't handle being thrown away, so you found some fake cold stone to make me react? Is that the idea? Elena, if you really want me that badly, I would not mind letting you stay around as a spare woman.”

Was he actually dreaming?

I let out a cold laugh and raised the ring right in front of him. "Look carefully. This is a flawless, bespoke-grade diamond. Do you really believe my world stopped moving just because you walked away?”

His pupils shrank into tiny points, and his jaw locked so tightly that I thought his teeth might break.

Standing beside him, Sophia stepped forward and pushed my hand away. "Bespoke? Please. It’s clearly cheap glass. You seem younger than I expected, but your pride already reaches the sky.”

She was covered in designer jewels like a Christmas tree. Compared to her, a plain long coat covered my body.

“Our matter does not concern you,” I said, my tone cold. "Keep your mouth shut."

Sophia stumbled over her words, her well-kept face turning bright red. Her eyes changed into a hunting stare. "You stole something from this family. You aren't leaving today!"

I frowned. I was only there for my cat. Now I was a thief?

Sophia gestured toward the console table in the foyer. "I left an emerald necklace right there this morning. The moment you came in, it disappeared. Who else could have taken it?"

“You really dared to take something from the Moretti Family,” she said coldly. “Do you want to die?”

The moment her words ended, several large Mafia men stepped forward and surrounded me. Luca looked at me with fake disappointment on his face.

“Elena, I allowed you to return for that useless cat out of sympathy, not to steal from us!”

Two men grabbed my arms. Sophia rushed forward, snatched my bag from my shoulder, and dumped everything onto the floor.

Right there was the emerald necklace, lying among my personal items.

Before I could understand what was happening, her palm struck my face. A loud crack sounded, and my right ear buzzed painfully.

“Bitch! You’re caught in the act and still pretending to be innocent!”

I tasted blood in my mouth. I looked straight at them and spat a mouthful onto the floor.

“Luca, when have I ever asked you for a single cent? I don't give a damn about this junk, and I sure as hell didn't steal it."

Luca hesitated for a brief second. In my past life, I’d practically lived on breadcrumbs just to help him save money to manage his territory. If he had any sense, he would know I wasn’t a thief.

But I had clearly expected too much from him.

“Maybe you’re just that desperate. Elena, you’re a goddamn embarrassment."

My eyes turned red. The hatred in my chest felt heavy and real.

“I’m getting married tomorrow. I wouldn't touch your garbage. I’m warning you, tell your dogs to let me go right now, or you are finished.”

I believed bringing up the wedding would make them stop. Instead, Sophia and Luca looked at each other and broke into wild laughter.

“In this city? I would like to see who holds more power than me!” Luca said with a mocking smile.

At that moment, the screech of tires tore through the courtyard. A bulletproof Rolls-Royce stopped suddenly. The door opened, and a tall figure covered in shadow stepped out.

Vincenzo’s voice moved through the air like a very cold winter, cold, strong, and deadly.

“What the hell is going on here?”

As soon as Luca saw him, his face immediately changed into a flattering smile.

“Uncle Vincenzo! What are you doing here? It’s nothing, really, just teaching a little lesson to a common thief who doesn’t understand her place.”

Vincenzo stopped where he stood. His eyes skipped over Luca and settled directly on me. When he noticed the blood on my lips, his eyes darkened.

“Who hit her?”

Sophia stepped forward proudly. “I did. Someone had to teach that bitch a lesson. She’s so stubborn. My hand even hurts.”

She tried to move closer and lean against Vincenzo like a victim. Vincenzo pulled away with obvious disgust. He walked toward me, grabbed my wrist, and looked coldly at the men around us. They stepped back immediately as if burned.

“Who gave you the fucking permission to touch her?”

Fear flashed in Luca’s eyes. He forced an awkward laugh, his voice shaking.

“Uncle, you don't understand what’s happening. She’s my ex. She slept in my bed for years. She’s gone insane. She’s been stalking me, trying to force me to marry her. She came here today just to make trouble. I had no choice but to deal with it.”

Those words struck me like a real hit. Ten years of life-and-death loyalty, and from his mouth, it became nothing more than “stalking.”

My chest tightened, but before I could snap back, Vincenzo’s face shifted into something deadly. The force around him pressed down heavily.

“Luca, she is not someone you have the right to 'teach.' Say sorry. Now.”

Since childhood, Luca had been trained as the next heir. He was arrogant and spoiled; he’d never been humiliated like this. He looked at his uncle with confusion, unable to understand why the Don was standing on my side.

Vincenzo was the ruling Don of the Moretti Family. The entire underworld bowed to him.

Luca had no choice but to swallow his pride. He clenched his teeth and gave me a short, forced apology, his eyes showing hatred as he watched us leave.

Vincenzo drove the bulletproof SUV without speaking, the engine roaring as he pressed the pedal hard toward the family’s private clinic. While the doctor treated my face, the pulse on Vincenzo’s neck could be seen clearly. He suddenly burst out and kicked a steel trash bin across the room.

“That arrogant little bastard... I’m going to break his legs!”

“The wedding is tomorrow,” I spoke quietly. “I don't want blood on the floor right now.” After I became the true Lady of the family, I would have plenty of time to push Luca and Sophia into the dirt.

That evening, I returned to my apartment carrying the garment bag with my couture wedding gown. As I reached the door, someone suddenly rushed at me from the shadows.

It was Luca.

Suspicion filled his eyes, but when his gaze moved to the dress bag, it changed into sarcasm.

“Elena, you really don't know when to give up, do you? Still dreaming about marrying me?”

I laughed coldly. “There are many men out there eager to marry me, Luca. You’re not the only choice.”

He didn’t believe me at all. He pulled a black card from his pocket and threw it onto the ground near my feet.

“I know the game you’re playing. You went to flatter my uncle so he’d pressure me, everything just to pull my attention. But hear this clearly: we are finished.”

“Even if Vincenzo keeps pressing me, I will never take you as my wife.”

My eyes lowered toward the bank card lying in the dirt. I lifted it and broke it into two pieces right before his eyes.

“Take your dirty money back. Spend it paying for Sophia’s costly habits.”

He frowned and moved his hand toward me, yet my Rottweiler burst from the apartment, barking like a monster. Luca jumped back in fright, slipped, and fell straight into a muddy pool beside the road.

“You’ll regret this, Elena!" he shouted.

The next morning.

Vincenzo personally arrived in a bulletproof Maybach to pick me up. When our eyes met, I noticed a restrained warmth in his gaze. Remembering Luca’s insults from the previous night, my determination hardened as I firmly took Vincenzo’s hand.

The wedding became the biggest topic in New York. Influential figures from both lawful society and the underworld attended. While Vincenzo went backstage to handle some family business, I stood at the entrance of the ballroom, greeting guests.

Suddenly, an angry look fell on me. Luca, wearing a neat suit, walked through the crowd, his face red with anger.

“Elena! Didn't I warn you last night? It’s over! I don't care if you showed up in a wedding dress. I am not marrying you!”

Sophia walked over slowly, a glass of champagne in her hand. They didn't even try to hide the suggestive looks they were giving each other.

“You really are like a piece of gum stuck to a shoe," Sophia mocked, looking at me from head to toe. “Luca already said he didn't want you, but you still dared to show up at the church.”

Her words were full of hate. In my past life, I’d never known how much she hated me. I’d been foolish enough to think all the “accidents” on our land were just bad luck. I had been blind.

When I stayed silent, Luca’s jaw grew tight. “Can you not hear? Sophia’s talking to you. You show no respect. I don't understand why I ever brought a street rat like you into this family.”

I looked toward both of them while a mocking smile rested on my lips.

“Who said I was here to marry you?”

The room fell into complete silence. Then Luca burst out laughing.

“Then whom? Everyone already knows you’re obsessed with me." He laughed until tears nearly formed. “This is the biggest joke of the century.”

Sophia laughed softly, her crimson-nailed hand resting closely against Luca’s chest. “Elena, stop pretending. You didn't show up in a gown to perform some act. Begging for a man to take you back… that is embarrassing.”

My eyes narrowed while my stare pierced through Sophia’s fake, beautiful face.

“Who appears embarrassing here? Antonio hasn't even been in the ground a week, and his widow is already in bright colors, cleaning herself up to climb into her brother-in-law’s bed.”

“Sophia, when speaking about a desperate, shameless prostitute, nobody across the East Coast can compete with you.”

The ballroom became quiet enough that even a small pin could be heard falling. The Mafia leaders, the political figures, the rich guests, they all froze, their glasses stopped halfway near their mouths. Whispering began right away.

“My God, Antonio just died...”

“She did not even wait for the body to turn cold. It almost feels like she wanted him gone.”

The gossip struck Sophia again and again. Her proud face turned a bruised purple, her features twisting with rage. Luca, seeing his prize insulted, let his thug instincts take over.

“Shut up! Where’s security? Tear that dress off this crazy woman and throw her out into the street!”

He lunged toward me, his hand raised to slap me.

Suddenly, the massive carved oak doors at the end of the hall were thrown open.

“I'd like to see anyone try to touch her.”