Chapter 3

I lay on the floor, clutching my chest and gasping for air. 

Seeing me silent, Lewis swayed slightly as he stood up straight, reeking of alcohol. "Vanessa, do you have any idea what they call me behind my back for marrying you? A fucking joke!"

I fought through the pain and looked him dead in the eye. "Lewis, did you marry me because you loved me... or just to get your hands on Don Vittorio’s inheritance?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. Then, he collapsed onto the sofa, passing out cold.

Heavy tears fell from my eyes, leaving stains on the expensive Persian rug. 

It all made perfect sense now.

I had only found out when I contacted the family lawyer about the will.

The absolute condition for Lewis to inherit the Ravelli empire and the trust was simple: he had to marry me. 

Every cruel thing he did suddenly had a reason.

I sat frozen on the floor.

My fingers tightly gripped the Ravelli family heirloom diamond necklace.

Thirty-three flawless diamonds.

They sparkled brightly, but they no longer meant pure love.

I sat there in the dark until dawn.

The silence broke when the sharp click-clack of Marnie’s heels echoed through the estate’s grand living room.

She clung to Lewis, begging him to take her to the underground charity auction.

"I've never been to one! Please take me, Lewis!"

Lewis couldn't say no to her. "Alright, alright, baby. Go pick out a pretty dress."

Right before they left, Marnie suddenly grabbed my arm. "Vanessa should come with us too!"

Lewis glared at me with pure disgust. "Go change into something decent. Haven't you embarrassed me enough?"

But Marnie wrapped her arm around my shoulder. "I'll pick out a dress for Vanessa! I have the best taste!"

She picked out a champagne silk slip dress.

I had to admit, it complimented my skin tone perfectly.

Marnie dragged me to the vanity, applying light makeup and curling my hair into soft, loose waves. 

When Lewis saw my new look, he froze for a second.

Marnie smiled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Vanessa is so gorgeous. No wonder so many men drool over her."

It sounded like a playful joke, but it immediately shattered the softness in Lewis's eyes.

His expression hardened into ice. 

"After what happened to her? No matter how she dresses, she just looks cheap," he sneered.

He pulled Marnie by her slim waist, pulling her close. "You're the only pure one here."

My throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. I couldn't make a sound. 

During the car ride, I stared blankly out the window.

"Lewis, how come you and Vanessa never had a baby?" 

Even when I tried to stay out of it, Marnie wouldn't let slip a single chance to humiliate me. 

Lewis gave me a cold, sideways glance before looking away in disgust.

Not getting the answer she wanted, Marnie pushed further. "I heard that after... well, after being used by so many guys, some women can't get pregnant." 

She turned and grabbed my hand. "Vanessa, I know some really good gynecologists. I should introduce you..."

I pressed my lips together, my eyes turning deadly cold. "No, thanks." 

I pulled my hand away and kept staring out the window.

But Marnie wouldn't drop it. "Vanessa, you can't just hide from your health issues."

I took a deep breath. "Where exactly did you meet so many gynecologists, Marnie? Are you a regular at their clinics?"

That shut her up instantly. 

Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over.

She tugged at Lewis's sleeve. "How could she say that about me? I just graduated... I gave my first time to you..."

Lewis frowned. "Vanessa, she's just trying to be nice. Why do you have to be such a bitch about it?"

I laughed bitterly in my head. Nice? She was a venomous snake. 

Once Marnie had cried enough, she leaned softly against Lewis's chest. "Lewis... why don't I give you a baby instead?"

Lewis pinched her nose affectionately. "If you have a kid and ruin that pretty figure of yours, you'll just cry about it."

Marnie snuggled deeper into his arms. "I don't care! I want to have your baby. I can do what Vanessa can't!"

...

The gala was packed with half the elites and mob bosses of New York.

The organizers had reserved the center front-row seats for Lewis. 

From the moment the three of us walked into the hall, the whispers never stopped.

"The girl next to Lewis... that's not his wife, is it?"

"No, that's the college girl he sponsors. Everyone knows she's his little pet."

"Is that Vanessa walking behind them? She actually has the nerve to show her face? If I were her, I would've killed myself by now..."

I sat quietly on the side for the entire auction, watching Marnie excitedly bid on one priceless item after another. 

Until—

"Our final item for the night," the auctioneer announced. "An antique moonstone bracelet. Kept by an elder for decades, it carries a deep spiritual history. Starting bid: two million dollars!"

My head snapped up toward the stage. A memory flashed before my eyes—my mother's thin, pale fingers gently tracing the moonstones on her deathbed. 

Her tired eyes looking at me through the pain. "Nessa, wear this... it will keep you safe."

My voice tore out of my throat. "Three million!"

Instantly, every eye in the room darted toward me.

After a brief, stunned silence, a sickly sweet voice rang out. 

"Four million." 

Marnie turned her head to look at me, her eyes dancing with undisguised mockery.

My lips trembled. "Five million!"

Marnie didn't miss a beat. "Eight million!"

I grabbed Lewis's wrist.

I swallowed every ounce of my pride and begged. 

"Lewis, please. That bracelet was my mother's. I won't fight her for anything else. I just want this. Please."

The tension in Lewis's brow softened for a fraction of a second.

He was about to speak, but Marnie suddenly pulled him back. 

She leaned in, her lips brushing right against his ear, whispering something I couldn't hear. 

The next second, Lewis raised his hand and gave the auctioneer the signal for a blank-check bid—he would pay whatever it took to win it.

Bang! 

The hammer dropped. 

Marnie couldn't wait.

She stood up and swayed her hips as she walked onto the stage.

She just dangled it by the string, waving it in my direction like a trophy. 

And then, with a careless smirk, she yanked the string hard.

Clack—clack—clack—

The moonstones scattered across the hard floor.

All the blood rushed to my head. I lunged forward, trying desperately to catch the falling stones. 

Riiiip—

As I scrambled up, the delicate strap of my champagne slip dress snapped.