Sofia strutted up to me, her eyes full of disdain. "The banquet's decent, but there's no carpet in the hall. My dress got dirty. Hold it for me and make up for your mistake."

I lowered my head. "There's a carpet backstage. I'll have someone lay it out immediately."

Her expression darkened. "How dare you refuse me?"

Just then, Cesare arrived. When he saw her displeasure, he immediately stepped forward to ask what was wrong.

Sofia pouted, then whined that I had refused to lift her dress and must be holding a grudge against her.

Cesare scooped her into his arms and looked upset. "Lifting a dress is part of your job. Can't handle such a small task?"

The guests around us started whispering too, saying I didn't know my place.

I swallowed my embarrassment and bent down to lift the hem of her dress.

Sofia wandered through the banquet with Cesare, up and down the halls. The pearls on her dress dug painfully into my arm, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.

But she still wasn't satisfied. Someone poured her several glasses of whiskey, and she gave it to me. "I don't want this. Drink it for me."

"I'm allergic to alcohol—" I started to protest, but she interrupted with a playful toss of her head.

Cesare looked at me and coldly said, "Take your allergy medicine first, then drink. You'll be fine."

My heart sank. I silently swallowed the pills and downed one glass after another. My stomach churned violently, and my vision blurred.

Suddenly, Sofia screamed. "Cesare! The family heirloom necklace you gave me is gone! She was the only one near me. She must have stolen it!"

My mind cleared slightly, and I panicked. "Don Valeri, it wasn't me!"

Cesare looked at Sofia and her reddened eyes, then said thoughtfully, "There are a lot of people around. Let's check first."

"Who else could it be?" Sofia spat, freeing herself from his hold. "If you don't search her, I won't marry you!"

Cesare quickly gathered her into his arms and barked orders to the family bodyguards.

Several guards immediately pinned me to the floor, tearing at my clothes. My dress was shredded, my skin bruised and scraped.

Just as they were about to tear off my undergarments, a maid ran over. "I found it! The necklace fell on the stairs!"

Cesare finally relaxed. He waved the guards off and personally placed the necklace around Sofia's neck.

Sofia wiped her tears into a smile, looking at my disheveled state with a teasing tilt of her head. "Do I need to apologize?"

All eyes were on me, and I heard Cesare's cold voice cut through the chatter. "No need. She's just a secretary. A little hardship doesn't matter."

That sentence cut through me like a blade, stabbing straight into my chest, leaving me gasping for air.

All I felt was numbness and emptiness. The hall slowly emptied, the glaring lights casting harsh reflections on the bruises and cuts across my body.

I gritted my teeth and stood, then wrapped myself in the coat a maid handed me and staggered out of the banquet hall.

It was pouring outside. Cold raindrops stung my face, sliding down like tears I could no longer shed.

I wandered aimlessly through the streets when a black car screeched to a stop beside me.

The window rolled down, and Cesare's face appeared.

"Get in."

I kept walking as if I hadn't heard him.

His brow furrowed, and his tone hardened. "Get in."

I stopped and lifted my pale face. "No need to worry, Don Valeri. I'm just a secretary."

For a brief moment, his chest seemed to tighten. He stepped into the rain and gripped my hand.

"Tonight was my fault, but I can't lose Sofia. Whatever you've suffered, I'll make it right. Don't be stubborn."

I yanked my hand free and took a few steps back. My voice was calm and flat. "Don Valeri, you must be joking. How could I ever be cross with you or Ms. Costa? I was naive before and didn't know my place. From now on, I'll remember I'm just your secretary and won't disturb you again. Are you satisfied?"

The more he listened, he angrier he got, and he lost control once I finished speaking. "You know that's not what I meant! I never belittled you. Those words were only to calm Sofia. In my heart, you and Luna—"

I couldn't hear the rest of it. My sight dimmed, my body gave out, and I collapsed as the world slipped away.

When I finally came to in a hospital room, my wet clothes were gone and my injuries had been taken care of.

A nurse smiled. "Your boyfriend stayed with you all night. He just left."

My cracked lips moved slightly, and my voice came out hoarse. "He's not my boyfriend. He never was."

From the very beginning, Cesare and I were just an accident.

To him, I was only ever his secretary. He never acknowledged anything between us.

I used to delude myself with hope. Now, all I want is to wake up completely, leave this place, and never look back.

I stayed in the hospital for a few days. Cesare never came to see me and only had his assistant send messages telling me to rest and fully recover before returning to work.

Meanwhile, the family chat was flooded with updates about him and Sofia.

He had rented a private Sicilian island to celebrate her birthday, with fireworks lasting three days. He brought her to the Family Council and gave her the heirloom ring. He even bought land to build a private ski resort, naming it after her.

I read every update without a flicker of emotion.

Once discharged, I returned to work as usual, meticulous and focused. Whenever something involved Cesare, I delegated it to other assistants. I did everything I could to avoid direct contact with him.

After a quiet week, he suddenly called and asked me to deliver encrypted files.

Once the delivery was complete and I was about to leave, he called me back. "I'm heading to a meeting with the Family. Sofia doesn't like eating alone. Stay and keep her company."

Sofia immediately issued orders. "I want steak. Cut it into small pieces and feed me."

Cesare shut the study door, and I swallowed my objections, moving to the table to cut the steak.

Once finished, she demanded walnuts and jackfruit. "I want some fruit after my meal. Peel them by hand."

The hard walnuts cut into my fingers and the jackfruit spikes pierced my skin. Blood ran between my fingers, but I endured and finished.

Then she sent me to the kitchen for the freshly cooked seafood chowder.

The steaming bowls burned my fingertips the moment I touched them. I couldn't hold it steady. My hand slipped, and the soup splashed down onto me. Several blisters formed instantly, and a wave of fiery pain tore through my hand.

Sofia laughed with delight at my misfortune, but as soon as the study door opened, she put on a fake scolding face. "Cesare said you're capable, but you can't even carry a bowl of soup without burning me."

Cesare rushed over, anxiously checking her reddened hands. Then he turned to me and berated me. "Sofia has been pampered her whole life and never hurt like this. How could you be so careless?"

When he noticed my injuries, he didn't say more. He scooped Sofia into his arms to get her treated and told me to follow them to the hospital.

Cesare drove hard and fast. Every time Sofia whimpered, he turned to check on her, his attention fixed on her alone.

Then suddenly, a speeding car slammed into us.

The impact slammed me against the car door, and a sharp pain tore through my side as blood soaked into my clothes.

Through the haze, I faintly heard the doctor's voice. "This lady just passed out from shock, but the passenger in the back is losing blood fast. If we don't treat her immediately, she may not survive."

"Take Sofia to the Family's private hospital first! I can't let anything happen to her. Nothing else matters!"

Cesare's urgent, furious roar was the last thing I heard before slipping back into darkness.

When I finally opened my eyes again, Luna was at my bedside, her eyes red and swollen.

"Elena, I just got back from Sicily when I heard what happened. The doctor said you were bleeding out. You almost didn't make it!"

She held me as she cried, and all the grief I'd kept bottled up finally spilled over. I clung to her, crying for what felt like forever.

Once my emotions had settled, she gave me water and started chatting. "Have the past few years been good? Did my brother ever bully you? What about your boyfriend? When will I meet him?"

I stiffened and replied softly, "Don Valeri separates business and personal matters. He never bullied me. My boyfriend... we've broken up."

Luna quickly comforted me. "It's okay. The next one will be better. I know plenty of reliable Capos in the Family. I'll introduce you!"

Just then, the hospital door opened, and Cesare walked in with a dark look. "Don't even think about introducing anyone to her. Every guy you know is a playboy. None of them are suitable."

"Cesare, stop talking nonsense!" Luna shot back. "You're hung up on Sofia, and you're trying to control who my best friend dates?"

Cesare's temper flared, and his voice came out sharp. "Feelings can't be forced. Stop trying to play matchmaker."

I tugged lightly on Luna's hand, then looked at Cesare calmly. "She was joking, Don Valeri. What brings you here?"

He looked at me, his tone softening a little. "Luna came straight to the hospital the moment she landed. I came to take her home and to check on you."

"Go already, will you?" Luna snapped at him. "Elena's seriously injured. Don't you dare dump any more work on her."

After Cesare left, Luna told me, "The nurses said yesterday you were hanging by a thread. My brother had people searching the whole city for blood to save you."

I froze for a moment before reality settled back in.

He did all that just so I wouldn't die.

If it ever came down to a choice between Sofia and me, he would never save me.

So, I was done fooling myself. I would never let myself hope anymore.