At the Gala in Palermo, I stood in a row with twelve other heiresses, waiting to be chosen. As Don Moretti's bastarda—his illegitimate daughter, I knew the stakes. If I didn't receive the White Lily from Lorenzo tonight, I would be shipped off to New York tomorrow for an arranged marriage. Lorenzo Rossi, the Heir of the Rossi Family and my childhood friend, had promised me this flower. But at the last second, he changed his mind. He smiled and handed the White Lily to the trembling charity case beside me—Mia, the scholarship girl he'd been sponsoring. He leaned in, his voice low against my ear. "Let Mia have the spotlight today, Elena. The poor thing has never known happiness. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one will dare arrange your marriage." I looked at him with pleading eyes, but he ignored me, placing Mia's hand on his arm. "Mia is elegant and noble," Lorenzo announced to the room, handing her the pristine White Lily. "She is worthy of this honor." Noble. That single word turned me into the evening's punchline. The room erupted in whispers. I stood empty-handed, the Don's bastard daughter, publicly discarded for a stray. The next day, I left for New York alone. And that was when he panicked—buying out every flight from Palermo's airport. Right now, Mia's hand rested elegantly on Lorenzo's arm. Under the spotlight, they looked like the perfect couple. My chest twisted, but I kept my face calm. He didn't see my desperation. When the crowd dispersed, I stood alone. No flower. My fate was sealed. Lorenzo approached me, wine glass in hand. "These idiots. I told them to at least save you one flower. They didn't even listen to me." I looked at the man I'd grown up with and took a deep breath. "Do you even know what tonight means?" The Gala wasn't just theater. The White Lily was a marriage proposal between families. As the Moretti bastard, Lorenzo was my only option. No other man would choose me. Donna Moretti had summoned me here to make one thing clear. Accept arranged marriage, or else. So I'd made Lorenzo a deal—protect me for three years, then he could love whoever he wanted. Yesterday, he'd agreed. Today, at the worst possible moment, he chose someone else. Eighteen years of friendship, gone in one night. Guilt flickered across Lorenzo's face. He sent Mia away. "You're used to these events, Elena. But Mia's poor—this is her one chance to feel special. Just this once. For me." He leaned down, his expression almost boyish. "Any other night would've been fine. Why tonight?" I stayed silent. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Today's her graduation day. After tonight, I can't sponsor her anymore. I promised her one unforgettable memory." Unforgettable for me too. But it was too late. "Lorenzo, do you understand what the gala—" Mia returned before I could finish, interrupting us. "Elena, did I ruin everything? Please don't blame Lorenzo. I begged him to—" Lorenzo saw her shrinking back and his expression darkened. Toward me. "Enough, Elena. It's just a flower. I'll buy you another one." He reached into a nearby vase and pulled out a rose and shoved it into my hand. "Roses suit you better anyway. A lily isn't worth throwing a fit over. This isn't like you." The rose was dripping wet. Its thorns had been cut, its stem snapped short. Just like me. But the White Lily meant honor—the wife of a Don. A queen. The red rose meant mistress. A woman you kept in the shadows. The laughter around me grew louder. "A bastard playing lapdog, thinking she could marry the Rossi heir? Didn't you hear him say 'noble'? Even a beggar was better than her." Lorenzo silenced the woman with one look. But the damage was done.
"Elena, I'm sorry," Mia said softly, still clutching her cake. "You've always had everything. I just wanted one night to feel special..." "Everything?" I stared at her. "I'm a bastard, Mia. Do you have any idea how the Moretti family treats me?" Mia's cake slipped from her hand and landed on her shoe. Her eyes filled with tears. Lorenzo frowned. "Look, it's already done. Let her enjoy tonight. I'll take her to change her clothes. You can go home if you want." Home? I didn't have a home. As soon as Lorenzo left my side, the vultures circled. Antonio Ricci, a low-level thug from a rival crew, sidled up to me, sniffing the air near my neck. "You smell good, Elena Moretti." Without Lorenzo, I didn't even get basic respect. "Lorenzo told me to give you a flower," Antonio smirked. "I didn't. I told you before—stop chasing him and try me instead. But you didn't listen. How's it feel now? Humiliating, isn't it?" I turned, shocked, staring at this man who barely reached my shoulder. Lorenzo had given him the task of delivering my flower? Knowing Antonio had been harassing me for months? My fists clenched. Another betrayal. I only asked for three years. Three years to build enough power to escape the Moretti family's grip. But Donna Moretti wanted me gone. She wouldn't even give me time to breathe. Antonio's sweaty hand landed on my shoulder. "Elena, if it wasn't for that pretty face, you'd be nothing. Just a bastard I could do whatever I wanted with. You think the Rossi family will protect you forever?" His hand tightened—and then Lorenzo was back, knocking it away. "Ricci. Did I not warn you? Don't touch my people." "Your people? You just picked the charity girl. What do you need Elena for?" "That's none of your business." Antonio spat and walked away. Lorenzo spun me around to face him. "He touched you and you didn't fight back?" I stared at him, exhausted. "Wasn't this your idea?" "Listen, I can protect you at events like this. But that doesn't mean I have to stand next to you every second, does it?" "But you knew what the gala meant—" Mia appeared again, all smiles. "Lorenzo, I'd love some champagne. Is that okay?" One woman was difficult. One woman was sweet. Lorenzo's choice was easy. "Of course. Tonight, you're the star. Whatever you want." He glanced at me. "We'll talk tomorrow. I'll come by your place." Tomorrow? I smiled coldly. Tomorrow, you'll have to come to New York to find me. Lorenzo left to greet the other capos, and Mia walked back to me holding a glass of wine. The timid scholarship girl was gone. In her place stood someone who'd tasted power. "You have everything, Elena," Mia said quietly. "Why do you need to take this one moment of glory from me?" I should never have helped Lorenzo choose her for the scholarship. "You grew up in luxury," she continued. "I only wanted Lorenzo's protection for one night." "Luxury?" I said. "You think I'm better off than you?" My mother died early. Don Moretti brought me back to the estate when I was small. Donna Moretti looked at me like she wanted me dead. My father had mistresses everywhere and didn't care about one more bastard daughter. I learned to read faces young. Without this face, I wouldn't have survived. I found Uncle Luca in the cracks and asked him to train me.
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