His expression hardened. He narrowed his eyes, trying to see through my facade. "I'm in no mood for your games, Isabella."

Just then, Daisy smiled sweetly. "Calm down, Nico. Isabella's just throwing a tantrum. It's my fault. I forgot to prepare a gift for our first meeting," she cooed, rubbing his arm.

With that, she removed her ruby earrings and held them out to me. They were an exquisite, signature Falcone design. "Nico gave these to me. They're a bit too flashy for my taste, but they'd suit you perfectly."

"Take them! Don't be shy. I have plenty of jewelry. Once you're back with the Falcone family, you can come to my room and pick out whatever you like!"

I watched her pathetic little performance with a blank face.

Nico frowned and ordered, "Just take them. It's a kind gesture. And your family could use something to keep up appearances. And you should get rid of that cheap piece of junk around your neck. It’s embarrassing."

Cheap junk? I instinctively touched the pendant.

This was no cheap junk. It was a platinum pendant personally designed by Colter, engraved with the initials of our son and the Moretti family's griffin crest.

To hear this fool call Colter’s gift ‘cheap junk’… I’d completely lost interest in dealing with the artist. I turned to leave.

"Stop!" Nico roared, enraged at being ignored. In a flash, he reached out and ripped the pendant from my throat.

A sharp pain shot through my neck as the chain snapped.

"Get rid of that trash!" he demanded.

"Daisy, put yours on her!"

"Give it back!" I yelled, lunging for the platinum pendant in his hand. If Colter found out I'd lost the gift he gave me, he would "punish" me in his own way.

My desperation only fueled Nico's rage. He threw the pendant onto the marble floor and crushed it under the heel of his expensive, custom-made leather shoe.