I dodged. The wine splashed all over the carpet instead.

"You bitch, how dare you dodge!"

Valentina's voice shot up several octaves. That delicate face twisted with rage.

"Don't think that pretty face will get men to protect you forever. Marco and I are getting engaged soon. I'm the future Donna of the Castellano family!

"Now get on your knees and apologize to me. Otherwise, one word from me, and you'll disappear from the Castellano family. I'd love to see what you can accomplish without the family backing you!"

She screeched like a lunatic, jabbing her finger at my chest over and over, practically trying to pierce through my skin.

Right then, Nico burst through the door drenched in sweat. He glanced at the wine-soaked carpet, shot me a sympathetic look, and then steeled himself to report to Valentina.

"Signorina Accardi, the boss of the Silver Triangle's Lombardi family just called. For that arms deal, he'll only negotiate with Benedetta."

Nico lowered his voice and leaned closer to Valentina's ear to explain, "Her situation is special. Ever since she joined the family, every deal has gone smoothly, and profits have more than doubled. Everyone calls her the 'Fortune Consigliere.'

"I know you don't like her, but for the family's interests…"

"Enough!" Valentina cut him off harshly as she rolled her eyes. "Are you an idiot? What Fortune Consigliere? I see nothing but a slut in heat. You think the Castellano family can't function without her? What a joke!"

She shot me a look full of malice. "Even this old fool is speaking up for you. What, did you sleep with him too? Will you spread your legs for anyone who throws you a bone?"

That line finally ignited the last of my patience. I looked straight at her, my voice dropping to ice. "I don't need to trade my body for anything. Just because you're dirty doesn't mean everyone else is.

"How did the boss of the Castellano family end up with a woman like you? You throw around 'whore' and 'slut' every other sentence. Are you that scared I'll steal your man?

"Then again, I'm not surprised. I heard all those deals you tried to close fell through. They wouldn't even let you through the front door. Does someone like you really deserve to be the family's Donna?"

I didn't hold back. I was leaving anyway. Why should I put up with her?

Hearing this, Valentina trembled with rage and glared at me through gritted teeth.

"So that's it! No wonder Marco keeps praising you lately. You shameless woman, you really are trying to seduce him!"

Mystery solved. She'd pegged me as the mistress and came here specifically to teach me a lesson.

Valentina stared at me like she wanted to flay me alive with her eyes. Then, she whirled around and screamed at Nico, "Did you hear that? This is your brilliant consigliere! Starting today, transfer all of Benedetta's deals to someone else! Send her to the club to work as a stripper!"

Nico looked horrified, like he'd just watched someone torch the vault. Sending their cash cow to strip was suicide.

He was practically begging, "Signorina Accardi, those important clients only recognize Benedetta. If we replace her, they'll be furious…"

Valentina waved him off impatiently. "Who turns down money in business? You think they'll dare complain if we replace her? Do what I said now!"

Then, she looked smugly at the envelope on the desk, a smile curling at her lips. "What's this? Your apology letter to me?

"I don't read printed garbage. Take it back and rewrite it by hand, and make it 30,000 words. You're not going home until you finish."

I let out a cold laugh and slapped the papers in front of her.

"Hate to disappoint you, but this is my resignation letter. I'm leaving the family."

After hearing my words, Nico nearly fainted from shock.

His face went pale. He grabbed my sleeve and practically begged in a low voice, "Benedetta, you're a core member of the family. The annual dividend from the Cirrane smuggling route hasn't been paid out yet.

"If you leave now, you're just handing that money to someone else! Please don't be impulsive!"

Valentina let out a scornful laugh. "Oh, please, stop the act! Core member? Who do you think you are?

"What other mafia family would pay you a six-figure salary? You've been spoiled rotten. That's why you have the nerve to threaten me with resignation."

She made it sound like a six-figure salary was some incredible gift. Too bad she had no idea that six-figure deals were just my starting rate in the underworld.

If it weren't for the fact that Nico had saved my life once, I'd already be sunbathing at the Cilian Island estate Lorenzo offered me. But explaining this to her was a complete waste of breath.

Once I left, the Castellano family would inevitably decline anyway. She'd understand exactly how valuable I was soon enough.

I said calmly, "I'll finish transferring all the partner contacts this week. Next week, I'm officially out."

Valentina looked at me mockingly. "Perfect. I'd love to see which family would take in trash like you, someone who only knows how to climb up by selling her body."

Nico was sweating bullets. Without the Fortune Consigliere, how long could the Castellano family's business even last? He was already calculating his exit strategy.

I didn't say another word. I turned and walked out. The moment I reached the hallway, several family members swarmed around me.

"Benedetta, are you okay? That woman's voice carried through the entire floor."

I shook my head and gave them a small smile.

"I'm fine. If she wants to throw a tantrum, let her. I'm leaving the family next week."

The announcement caused an uproar.

"You're leaving? What are we supposed to do?"

"Is she insane? She's actually driving out the Fortune Consigliere?"

"Maybe we should leave with Benedetta. The Castellano family is done for."

The chatter reached Valentina's ears. Her face flushed with rage as she stormed out and roared, "Don't you all have work to do? Who gave you permission to stand around gossiping?

"Everyone's getting fined 2,000 dollars. If I hear anyone else running their mouth, you're out!"

Her venomous gaze landed on me as she hissed, "Benedetta, go negotiate the contract with the boss of the Silver Triangle's Lombardi family right now. If you don't close the deal, you're not getting a single cent this month."

Seeing how frantic she looked, I could guess the reason. The Lombardi boss had probably refused the replacement and insisted I be the one to negotiate.

I'd just bought a limited edition sports car a few days ago. I really didn't have much money left on hand. With that in mind, I grabbed my bag and headed to the agreed location.

The moment Antonio Lombardi saw me in the private room, he rushed over with a beaming smile. "Signorina Gallo, you're finally here! The day after we met last time, my men took down two armed strongholds.

"It's just a shame you're always so busy. It's hard to even get a meeting with you."

As he spoke, he pulled an elegant box from his jacket and pressed it into my hands. Inside was a sapphire necklace crafted with Arupean royal techniques, priceless and impossible to find on the market.

This wasn't just a "gift" anymore. I instinctively tried to refuse. But he immediately put on a stern face, pretending to be angry.

"Signorina Gallo, are you disrespecting me? Refusing my gift can be very dangerous."

He'd already gone that far. Refusing now would be asking for trouble. I had no choice but to accept the necklace and walk him through signing the hundred-million-dollar arms contract.

When I returned to family headquarters, I went to the finance department to get reimbursed for the day's entertainment expenses.

The finance officer, Maximo Rizzo, was about to approve my signature when Valentina suddenly barged in. She snatched the receipt and frowned.

"50,000 dollars for one meal? Are you working with the restaurant owner to inflate the bill on purpose?"

Was she an idiot? I couldn't take the client to a three-star restaurant for a hundred-million-dollar arms deal? Should I have brought him to a food truck instead?

Maximo explained carefully, "Signorina Accardi, this is the rule the boss himself set. Any deal over five million dollars has no cap on entertainment expenses. Benedetta followed protocol."

Being contradicted made Valentina's face turn ashen with rage. "Who gave you the guts to talk back to me? I bet Benedetta slept with you too!"

Maximo's eyes went wide with shock. "Signorina Accardi, how can you question my loyalty to the family like that?"

"Loyalty? You think you deserve to talk about that?" Valentina's face dripped with contempt.

She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't bother coming in tomorrow. Pack your things right now and get out of the Castellano family!"

At that moment, I found the whole thing absurdly laughable. Was the Castellano family really going to fire anyone who defended me?

I patted Maximo's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "It's fine. The Castellanos won't last much longer anyway. Go home and wait. Someone will offer you a better-paying job soon."

Maximo shot me a grateful look, nodded hard, and then turned and left quickly.

Valentina clearly had no intention of letting me off the hook. She shoved me out into the main hall, waved that receipt in the air, and shrieked at an ear-splitting pitch.

"I suspect Benedetta has been using family resources to embezzle assets and even sell intelligence to enemy forces! Anyone who can produce evidence of her betraying the family gets promoted to manager of the core casino immediately!"

The hall fell dead silent. No one spoke up, and no one stepped forward.

After all, she had zero credibility. Meanwhile, I, the Fortune Consigliere, had actually made real money for everyone.

After a few tense minutes, a sleazy-looking man crept out from the corner. Dante Caruso, a capo who'd tried to harass me more than once—a complete scumbag.

He rubbed his hands together and sidled up to Valentina with a fawning expression.

"Signorina Accardi, I've noticed some things! Benedetta wears a million-dollar watch every day, always has the latest phone, and gets delivery after delivery. Where does a woman like her get all that money? She must be stealing from the family!"

Valentina's eyes lit up when she heard this. "I knew something was fishy! How could someone like her afford top-tier luxury goods? She's got dirty hands for sure!"

She whirled around and barked orders at the soldati behind her. "Get her! Hold her down and strip-search her! I want to see what other stolen goods she's hiding!"

Watching the soldati close in, I gritted my teeth and explained, "Those things were gifts from business partners!"

"Liar!" she cut me off immediately. "Why would business partners give you such expensive things? You think I'm stupid? You clearly stole family money!"

She made a single gesture, and four hulking men lunged at me all at once. Before I could even resist, they pinned me to the ground like a criminal awaiting execution.

My bag was violently ripped open. The gemstone necklace Antonio had given me slid out and clattered to the floor. Valentina bent down, picked up the necklace, and trembled with excitement.

"Caught red-handed! A sapphire necklace of this quality costs at least eight figures! A peasant like you couldn't afford this even if you worked your whole life!"

She looked down at me with a smile that was both vicious and satisfied. "Today, I'm cleaning house for the Castellano family. I'll show you what happens to traitors!"

Before she even finished speaking, she grabbed a fistful of my hair and slapped me twice, hard. Her sharp nails tore across my cheek, and blood ran down my chin. The metallic taste filled my nose.

That still didn't satisfy her. Valentina pulled out a pair of scissors she'd prepared in advance, flashed a triumphant smile, and slashed toward my face.

"I'm going to ruin your face! Let's see what you use to seduce men after this!"

The blade cut into my flesh, and searing pain exploded instantly. Cold sweat poured down my body as I convulsed uncontrollably.

A few family members who'd always been friendly with me couldn't stand watching anymore. They quietly sent out an SOS to the boss, Marco Castellano, who'd just returned to the country.

I forced myself through the agony and glared at her, forcing words through my throat. "That was a gift from Antonio Lombardi! Valentina, you have no authority to punish me like this! I demand to see the boss!"

"Don't you dare throw the boss' name at me! Around here, my word is law!"

She leaned in closer, her eyes glinting with cold malice.

"What's that look in your eyes? Are you cursing me in your head? How dare you disrespect me, the future Donna!

"I heard you love sleeping. Shredding your bed probably wasn't enough. I'm going to blind you right now so you can sleep forever!"

She raised the blood-dripping scissors and aimed straight for my eyes. My limbs were pinned down tight, and I couldn't move.

All I could do was watch helplessly as the sharp point grew closer and closer in my vision. At the critical moment, the door burst open with a crash.

"Stop right there!"