At the Colonetti family banquet in New York, I stood in the center of the grand hall with more than a dozen girls from different families, all of us waiting to be chosen.

Victor, the heir of the Colonetti family, was supposed to announce his fiancée tonight. Along with that announcement, he would present her with the family heirloom, a lily brooch. As an illegitimate daughter of the family, I understood that if I didn’t receive that brooch tonight, it meant I would be sent to Chicago for an arranged marriage.

Victor, who had once promised to marry me, changed his mind without warning. With a smile, he pinned the lily brooch onto the chest of the woman standing beside me instead.

Then, he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Let your sister Emily have her moment today. She’s also an illegitimate daughter like you, and she’s also never been valued growing up. Don’t worry. With me here, no one will force you into an arranged marriage.”

Even as I looked at him with pleading eyes, he reached out and let Emily take his arm.

“Emily is kind and gracious,” he said. “She deserves the lily brooch.”

Those words—kind and gracious—turned me into the joke of the entire evening.

The next day, I boarded a flight to Chicago alone, but Victor panicked. He used every connection he had and managed to ground every flight heading to Chicago.

At that moment, Emily’s hand was lightly hooked around Victor Colonnetti’s arm. Under the crystal chandelier, the two of them looked like a perfectly matched couple stepping out of a painting.

Something inside me ripped apart, but I could only force myself to stay composed. Yet, Victor didn’t seem to notice my struggle at all. By the time the guests began to leave, I understood that I would not escape the fate of being sent into an arranged marriage.

When Victor noticed me standing alone in a corner with a wine glass in my hand, he walked over.

“Why are you hiding here? Are you angry just because I didn’t give you the brooch?”

I looked at the man I had grown up with and let out a long, tired breath.

“Do you even understand what tonight means for me?”

Everyone knew that tonight, Victor Colonnetti, heir of the Colonnetti family, would announce his fiancée at this banquet. The Don had only invited me so I would finally give up and leave for Chicago for the marriage arrangement.

I had also promised Victor that as long as he gave me five years, he could love whoever he wanted and marry whoever he chose after that. Just yesterday, he had sworn he would protect me, but tonight, at the most critical moment, he chose someone else instead. Ten years of trust and relationship between us had shattered, just like that.

A trace of guilt flashed across Victor’s face. He waved lightly, signaling Emily to step away first.

“Lena, Emily is also an illegitimate daughter like you. She’s never had a moment where all eyes were on her. I just wanted to fulfill a small wish of hers.”

He leaned slightly forward, his expression almost pleading.

I bit my lip. “You can do whatever you want any other day. Why did it have to be tonight?”

Seeing my furrowed brows, he cleared his throat awkwardly. “It’s her coming-of-age night. I promised her I’d give her a night she would never forget.”

What he didn’t know was that this was a night I would never forget either. Only, everything was already set in stone.

“Victor, you really don’t understand what that brooch–”

Before I could finish, Emily quietly walked over again.

“Lena, did I ruin something for you? Please don’t fault Victor. I was the one who asked him…”

Seeing Emily shrinking her shoulders with a pitiful expression, Victor’s face immediately darkened.

“Enough, Lena. It’s just a brooch. I’ll get you another one.”

He casually pulled a rose brooch from his pocket and pressed it into my palm.

“Rose suits you better anyway. It’s just a lily brooch. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it? This isn’t like your usual carefree attitude.”

Around us, quiet snickers started to grow louder.

Someone even spoke openly in front of me. “You’re just an illegitimate daughter. He was just playing along with you anyway. Did you really think you could marry into the Colonnetti family and become the future Don’s wife? Didn’t you hear? They want someone kind and gracious. Emily may also be illegitimate, but she’s young, pretty, and clearly better in every way.”

Victor shot them a cold look, and the woman immediately shut her mouth after glaring at me.

Emily lowered her head. “Lena, I’m sorry. You’ve always been so proud, and it just happened to be my birthday. I just wanted one night where people would look at me. I didn’t think it would turn out like this.”

“I’m proud? I’m an illegitimate daughter. How the family looks at me every day, don’t you think Victor already knows that?”

The champagne in Emily’s hand trembled, spilling onto her dress. Her eyes immediately turned red, tears forming.

Victor frowned. “Since things have come to this, just let her enjoy the night. I’ll take her to get changed. You can go home first if you’re done here.”

Go home? Where exactly did I have a home to return to?

Marcolo, a reckless playboy from a mafia family noticed I had been left alone and immediately leaned in close. He pressed himself to my side and inhaled deeply.

“You smell good, Miss Lena. See? I told you Victor wouldn’t give you the brooch. I’ve been telling you for a long time to stop clinging to him and please me instead, but you never listened. So, how does it feel now? Embarrassing, isn’t it? Victor told me to keep you company so you wouldn’t get bullied. Come on, have a drink with me.”

I snapped my head toward him, staring at the short, plump man in front of me. Panic rose in my chest. Victor knew exactly what kind of intentions this man had toward me, yet he still sent him over.

My fingers clenched tightly around the fabric of my dress. Whatever remaining hope I had for Victor twisted further into disgust.

Seeing that I refused to even look at him, Marcolo placed his rough, hairy hand on my shoulder.

“Lena, if it weren’t for that pretty face of yours, I would’ve done whatever I wanted with an illegitimate daughter like you. You think Victor can protect you forever?”

Before his hand could move any further, Victor returned and slapped him away.

“Marcolo, didn’t I warn you? Don’t touch my woman.”

Marcolo scoffed. “Haven’t you chosen that little girl over there? What, now you want Lena too?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Marcolo spat on the floor and muttered a curse before walking away.

Victor turned me around sharply so I was facing him.

“He touched you. Why didn’t you move away?”

I felt a chill run down my spine as I rebutted, “Didn’t you allow this to happen?”

His expression darkened. “Listen carefully. On a night like this, I can protect you, but that doesn’t mean I have to stay glued to your side every second.”

“But you know exactly what this lily brooch meant–”

Emily interrupted again, stepping in with a bright, flawless smile. “Victor, I’d like a drink. Is that okay?”

One of us was filled with indignation, while the other was beaming with joy. The answer to who Victor would pick was obvious.

“Of course,” Victor said. “Tonight is your night. You can do whatever you want. Lena, if anything comes up, I’ll see you at your place tomorrow.”

Tomorrow?

I let out a cold, quiet laugh. Tomorrow, he’d only be able to see me in Chicago.

After Victor left to attend to other guests, Emily returned, holding a glass of wine. The timid look on her face was gone. In its place was something more composed, almost like the future lady of the Colonnetti family.

“You already have everything. Do you really need to steal even this little spotlight from me, Lena? It’s my birthday. I only wanted Victor with me for one night. Is that really too much to ask?”

I shook my head. “But I’m not much better than you, am I, Emily?”

My mother died young, so I was taken back into the Moretti family when I was still a child. Madam Moretti looked at me like she wished I had never been brought into the house, but my father, the Don of the Moretti family, had countless lovers. Naturally, he never cared whether the illegitimate daughter he brought home lived or died.

From a young age, I learned how to read people and to survive. Without this face of mine, I wouldn’t have made it this far at all. I survived in the cracks of that family, and eventually, I went to my uncle, begging him to train and protect me.

Luca Moretti, my uncle, was never a man of many words. I forced myself not to tremble as I faced him, like I was negotiating with a predator.

“Your father has more than twenty children. Why should I believe an illegitimate daughter like you can make it to the end?”

“Because I have nothing to lose. I can risk my life if I have to.”

However, now wasn’t the time, and he had no intention of helping me.

The heir of Chicago’s Anthony family was said to be ruthless—someone who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anyone who crossed him. The Moretti family wanted access to that power, but they couldn’t bear to send their favored daughter into danger. So naturally, I, the unwanted illegitimate daughter, became the one pushed forward.

Luca must have already known how the banquet ended, because all he sent me was a message.

[Figure it out yourself.]

A chill ran through me. I wrapped my arms around myself, shrinking slightly.

Emily lightly touched my freezing hand with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Lena, do you think Victor even knows what tonight’s banquet was really about?”

I wasn’t someone who spiraled into self-doubt easily. I just needed a way to stay in New York.

So, I went to Victor and asked him directly, “Victor, did you actually know what tonight’s banquet meant?”

“Of course. It’s just a formality for an arranged meeting. But how many people over the years have actually ended up with the person they received a brooch from?”

So he did know.

“Don’t worry,” he added. “I’ll talk to the Moretti family. I won’t allow them to send you to Chicago for marriage.”

“Then can you tell Emily to return the brooch? Just for one night. I’ll give it back tomorrow.”

Victor looked at me, slightly surprised and then conflicted.

“That’s not really appropriate. I already gave it to her. How about I buy you another brooch instead? Just don’t fuss over this one with Emily.”

However, that lily brooch wasn’t just any accessory; it was the Colonnetti family’s symbol.

The anger I had been holding in all night finally broke through.

“Victor, you know full well I wouldn’t cling to you. I’m in love with someone else, and I’ve told you that I’ll give you your freedom in five years. Do you really have to humiliate me tonight of all nights?”

He stopped smiling and, with a stern look on my face, pressed me against the wall.

“You’re lying again. Lena, who would want you, except me? You can only have feelings for me. Everyone in New York knows you’re mine.”

Being his shadow and “his woman” was all just for survival in my family. However, hearing it from his mouth made it feel like humiliation. I stepped back half a step and accidentally bumped into Emily, causing her to stagger slightly.

“Lena, don’t be mad at Victor…” she said softly.

The moment Victor heard her voice, he immediately pulled her into his arms.

“Lena,” he said, “be good, just this once. Don’t be difficult.”

However, the look in Emily’s eyes said she had no intention of letting go of this opportunity.

Not wanting to speak to him anymore, I turned and left the banquet hall, getting into the car that Luca had sent for me. Inside, Luca was dressed in black, his presence cold and suffocating. There wasn’t a trace of warmth on his face.

“You lost. Tomorrow you fly to Chicago. What happens after that is up to you.”

“I’ll come back,” I said.

“That depends on whether you’ve got what it takes.”

A thin, cold smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth, one that told others to keep their distance from him.

Back at the Moretti residence, Madam Moretti glanced at Luca standing behind me, maintaining her elegant composure.

“You’ve lived off this family for twenty years. It’s time to repay it. Since the Colonnetti heir’s fiancée has already been decided, you’ll go to Chicago tomorrow for the marriage arrangement.”

Nothing in this house had ever belonged to me. I even had to buy the plane ticket I was expected to leave on.

Luca said nothing. He simply turned and left. So, I went back to the smallest bedroom and started packing.

Emily leaned against the doorway, admiring her freshly done nails.

“Lena, if I were you, I wouldn’t have embarrassed myself at that banquet tonight. Mother told me to keep an eye on you. You’re not allowed to take anything valuable. Even the dress you wore tonight has to stay. She said you’ve enjoyed enough of the family’s benefits. From here on, you’re on your own. Oh, she also said that the man in Chicago might have had his heart taken by his first love. Good luck.”

I changed out of the dress in front of her, removed every piece of jewelry, and placed them neatly on the tray. When I was left in nothing but sleepwear, I walked into the bathroom. Only then did she lose interest and leave.

I unlocked my phone and saw Emily’s social media post. She was smiling brightly.

The caption read: [Thank you for giving me such a wonderful night. I’m so happy.]

In the photo, the hand resting on her shoulder wore the watch I had given Victor. With that, I turned off my phone and left every gift Victor had ever given me behind in the room.

Before dawn the next morning, I was already awake. I left without saying goodbye to anyone and headed straight to the airport with my luggage. Check-in, security, and boarding went smoothly. As the plane taxied down the runway, I shut off my phone completely, leaving New York behind.

Then, suddenly, the intercom crackled to life.

“I’m very sorry, ladies and gentlemen. Due to an unexpected situation, this flight must return to the terminal. We’d appreciate your cooperation.”