Chapter 2

One month later. In the banquet hall of the Royal Hotel, Sicily's most luxurious hotel, crystal chandeliers cast a dim, golden light. Godfathers from various mafia families clinked glasses, exchanging pleasantries on the surface, each harboring their own secret agendas.

Chiara Vitale walked into the hall arm in arm with Marco. Marco's face was still wrapped in bandages, and the burn scars were faintly visible through the edges of the bandages. His gait was somewhat stiff, but he was already able to move freely. Chiara deliberately straightened her back, wanting everyone to see her as a "victim."

"Look, isn't that the Vitale family's little princess?" someone whispered.

"I heard the Romano family heiress refused to save her lover, tsk tsk..."

Chiara raised her chin, ignoring the whispers. Her goal was clear—to find me, embarrass me in front of everyone, force me to apologize, and restore the protection of the Vitale family.

Soon, she saw my familiar figure.

I stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in a custom-made dark blue suit, a glass of red wine in my hand. I was still breathtakingly handsome, my sharply defined profile sculpted like a perfect sculpture under the light.

Chiara took a deep breath and helped Marco over.

"Mathew." She deliberately raised her voice to attract everyone's attention.

I turned around, my dark green eyes as calm as still water. "Miss Chiara."

The unfamiliar address stung Chiara, but she quickly suppressed the feeling.

“I’ve come to tell you,” she deliberately raised her voice, “that if you remain obstinate and refuse to apologize for your heartless behavior, then our engagement is over.”

The surroundings fell silent instantly. Everyone stopped talking and waited to see what would happen.

The marriage between Romano and Vitale has always been a vital link in the Sicilian underworld; if it were to truly break down…

Chiara glanced smugly at everyone's expressions. She was certain I wouldn't dare embarrass her in this situation, much less risk losing the Vitale family's support.

"Apologize?" I chuckled. "Why should I apologize?"

"You stood by and watched him die! You knew Marco was going to die, yet..."

"Is he dead?" I interrupted her, my gaze lingering for a second on Marco's mummy-like face. "He looks alive."

Chiara was speechless. She hadn't expected me to be so shameless.

"How...how could you say that?" Her voice trembled slightly. "Marco almost died!"

“That was his own choice.” I put down my glass. “Since Miss Chiara mentioned annulment…”

I suddenly started clapping.

“I completely agree.”

What?

Chiara was stunned. Everyone around her was stunned too.

This is wrong...this is completely wrong! I should beg her for forgiveness, I should apologize, I should promise to restore protection!

"What...what did you say?"

“I said, I agree to dissolve the engagement.” My smile was gentle yet cruel. “Thank you, Miss Chiara, for bringing it up; it saved me a lot of trouble.”

I turned towards the entrance to the banquet hall and clapped my hands twice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce myself..."

The banquet hall doors opened again, and a tall woman walked in slowly. She had long platinum blonde hair, icy blue eyes, and an expensive evening gown. More importantly, all the godfathers present recognized her.

“Isabella de la Cruz,” I said, walking toward her, “the heiress to Europe’s largest arms company, and my new fiancée.”

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

The de la Cruz family controls the arms trade from the Balkans to North Africa, far surpassing the power of any other family in Sicily. If Romano could form a marriage alliance with them…

Chiara felt dizzy. She stared intently at Isabella, a wave of immense humiliation washing over her. This woman was superior to her in every way—more beautiful, more powerful, more aloof and noble.

“Mathew,” she shrieked, “Are you insane? You think you can threaten me by changing women?”

I ignored her. I took out a ring from the inside pocket of my suit—it was the matriarchal ring passed down through generations of the Romano family, set with a blood-red pigeon's blood stone.

In her past life, this ring should have belonged to Chiara.

"Isabella." I knelt down on one knee and placed the ring on Isabella's ring finger in front of everyone.

Isabella gracefully extended her hand, allowing me to place the ring—a symbol of her status as a Yakuza Queen—on her finger. Her icy blue eyes swept over Chiara, carrying a condescending indifference.

“Thank you for stepping down, Miss Vitale,” Isabella’s voice was icy. “However, please speak to my fiancé properly in the future.”

Chiara's face flushed red. She wanted to retort, but found herself speechless.

All the godfathers present applauded and congratulated her; no one cared about her feelings. Her beauty, which she was so proud of, paled in comparison to Isabella, and her family background, which she relied on, was insignificant compared to De la Cruz.

“Mateo…” her voice trembled, “You’ll regret this.”

I finally looked at her, my gaze as indifferent as if I were looking at a stranger.

"No, Miss Chiara. You're the one who'll regret it."

I took Isabella's arm and left the banquet hall amidst everyone's blessings, leaving Chiara standing alone.

Late at night, at the Vitale family's core casino.

Chiara had just returned home, still furious about the humiliation at the dinner party. She told herself it was just a form of revenge, and she would regret it once she calmed down.

"Miss, something terrible has happened!"

The butler rushed in, his face as pale as paper.

"What's wrong?"

"The casino...the casino has been attacked! Unidentified assailants used heavy firepower to massacre the entire place! All the guards are dead, and all the funds have been looted!"

Kia's legs buckled, and she nearly fell.

Without the armed protection of the Romano family, the Vitale family was like a naked beauty, completely at the mercy of others.

And those enemies who had been coveting it for so long finally got their chance to strike.

“Mateo…” Chiara gritted her teeth as she uttered the name, “You really dare to do this? You think I’ll give in? Dream on!”

She remains convinced that this is just a trick I use to get her back.

If she shows even the slightest weakness, the man who has always revolved around her since childhood will definitely come back to her side.