Gabriele's face turned deathly pale as he whispered, "But Marcella is already engaged."

Matteo sneered coldly. "What does that matter? Once Mr. Alonzi has chosen someone, even if she were married, she'd still have to marry him!"

Gabriele collapsed onto the floor in fright, while my Madre, Ginerva Fontana, fainted on the spot.

I stared at the betrothal agreement in my hands, its cover boldly inscribed with the words, "A Match Made in Heaven."

How utterly ironic.

Helping Mamma up, I forced a bitter smile and murmured softly, "I'm willing to marry Giovanni."

"Mr. Alonzi dislikes publicity. Before the wedding, the Alonzi family does not wish to hear any ambiguous rumors, understood?" Matteo added sternly.

Gabriele nodded, trembling.

Satisfied, Matteo set down the betrothal gifts and left.

Mamma stared at the jewels and antiques scattered across the floor, overwhelmed with grief. "Marcella, what are we going to do? You're my only daughter. The Alonzi family is far from decent, and Giovanni is nothing but a violent, dying man.

"How are you supposed to live on from here? It's all your Padre's fault for dying so suddenly and leaving behind this wretched illegitimate child to stir up trouble! Now, anyone can just step all over us whenever they want.

"And you!" Mamma glared fiercely at Gabriele, her tone so full of hatred it felt as if she could devour him alive. "You ungrateful traitor! How could you help some outsider harm your own sister? Don't you have any conscience at all?"

A flicker of guilt flashed in Gabriele's eyes as he silently lowered his head.

I wiped away Mamma's tears and forced down the ache in my heart to comfort her.

"Mamma, don't worry. To put it bluntly, his short life might just be my chance at a long one. As long as I can endure, I'll eventually be free."

Just then, Elena and Riccardo walked in hand-in-hand. When she saw the betrothal gifts scattered on the floor, a trace of envy flashed in her eyes.

"Marcella, how impressive. Even if you can't marry Riccardo properly, you're still willing to throw in so much."

Riccardo wrapped his arm around Elena's waist and smiled mockingly at me. "Just moments ago, you turned me down. So, what's with the eagerness now?"

Mamma stood up and shouted at Elena angrily, "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, Marcella wouldn't have—"

Just as her hand was about to strike Elena's face, Riccardo landed a sharp blow across my cheek.

Then, he snapped at Mamma, "From now on, Elena is my wife. You are an elder, I won't disrespect you. But whatever you do to Elena, I'll do to Marcella. This slap is a warning."

Clutching my face, I fell to the ground.

A flicker of smug satisfaction flashed in Elena's eyes before she buried herself in Riccardo's arms, sobbing pitifully.

"If my Madre were still here, she would've protected me just the same."

Riccardo held Elena close, comforting her. "Don't be afraid. From now on, I'll stand up for you. No one will dare to bully you again."

Mamma helped me up and glared furiously at Riccardo. "After all the years you and Marcella spent together, how could you treat her like this now?"

Elena leaned weakly against Riccardo, weeping softly. "As long as Marcella doesn't mistreat me, I'm willing to share everything with her."

Before I could speak, Riccardo roared, "No! Elena, you're simply too gentle-hearted. If I don't teach Marcella a lesson and keep her in check, she'll surely target you again."

I stared coldly at the loving couple and sneered. "As if I'm dying to marry you. Just who do you think you are? How dare you boss me around like this?"

Riccardo tightened his arm around Elena and sneered back at me. "Let's see if you'll regret it in three days' time."

Before leaving, Riccardo threw the wedding dress I had custom-made onto the floor and walked away without looking back.

As I watched them leave, I let out a cold laugh.

In three days, I would indeed be getting married. But unfortunately, it wouldn't be to Riccardo.

I instructed one of my household staff, Sofia Bianchi, to burn the wedding dress Riccardo had thrown aside on the spot.

Gabriel hesitated, his words caught in his throat. "Marcella, I never imagined things would turn out this way."

I scoffed at him and said, "You abandoned me the moment you chose Elena. From now on, I have nothing to do with this family anymore. I only hope you'll treat Mamma kindly after I leave."

Gabriel sighed and closed my door.

···

The thought of having to marry the rumored-to-be cruel, cold-blooded, and merciless Giovanni tomorrow filled me with deep sorrow.

Marrying into the Alonzi family would be a stain I could never erase in this lifetime, and there was no guarantee I might even make it out alive.

I turned to Violetta Bellario, who was supposed to be my maid of honor, and whispered, "Violetta, perhaps you shouldn't attend my wedding. Getting involved with the Alonzi family won't do you any good."

Violetta wiped away her tears. Upon hearing my words, she let out a bitter laugh and playfully smacked my shoulder.

"What are you talking about? We promised each other that even if we were marrying Hades, we'd still be each other's maid of honor. Besides, my family isn't one to be easily pushed around either, so I'm not afraid!"

As I watched Violetta's tears falling one after another, my heart softened. "Alright, then come shopping with me at the mall. The Alonzi family has sent over so many things, so we can't afford to look shabby."

Violetta and I had just stepped out of the car when we saw Riccardo accompanying Elena as she browsed for jewelry in the shop.

I had just picked out a bracelet to buy for Violetta when Elena leaned against Riccardo and cooed, "Riccardo, this necklace is so beautiful."

Just as I was about to pay, Riccardo snatched the bracelet and fastened it around Elena's wrist.

"Given your fair complexion, wearing this will really bring out your glow," he said with a smile.

"Riccardo, I was the one who saw this bracelet first," I responded coldly.

Elena pulled off the bracelet pitifully, her wrist red and sore from the tightness. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whimpered, "Riccardo, it hurts so much."

Riccardo glared at me angrily. "It's just a bracelet. Do you really have to make such a fuss? Get this straight—that Elena is my legal wife now, while you and I are only engaged in name.

"If you don't want the Alonzi family to catch wind of anything, you'd better let Elena have what she wants."

Violetta clenched her fists in anger and shouted at Elena, "Stop playing the innocent victim! You take this, you snatch that—must you really steal everything Marcella likes? Have you no shame at all?"

Elena buried herself in Riccardo's embrace, tears streaming down her face. "Riccardo, even an irrelevant friend dares to scold me. If I continue to bear the title of your wife in vain, I fear I'll suffer even more in the future."

Riccardo chuckled coldly and shouted at me, "Marcella, if you can't keep your low-class friend in check, I'll do it for you!"!

He raised his hand to strike Violetta, but I swiftly stepped in front of her. Riccardo's slap landed squarely on my face. I collapsed to the ground, gasps of shock ringing in my ears.

"Marcella!"

I pressed a hand to my cheek, cold sweat breaking out all over as the taste of blood filled my mouth.

Riccardo scoffed coldly. "Trying to play the hero, are we? Take this as a lesson so you won't let Violetta bully Elena again in the future."

Violetta shouted at Riccardo angrily, with tears streaming down her face. "You're delusional if you think Marcella would ever be your mistress! She's about to—"

"Violetta, that's enough." I shook my head softly, signaling for Violetta to help me up. Then, I stared coldly at Riccardo and said, "Don't worry, no one will dare to bully your precious Elena from now on."

A glint of triumph flashed in Elena's eyes, while Riccardo uttered arrogantly, "It seems that slap knocked some sense into you. Once this whole matter is over, if you can get along well with Elena, I'll still treat you as kindly as I did before."

With a bitter smile, I turned and walked out of the jewelry store without looking back.

Riccardo called after me, "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. Wait for me at the side gate, and I'll settle you in before I head to the wedding."

Violetta muttered a curse under her breath as she helped me into the car.

Elena caught up and tossed the bracelet at me. Then, she said with a smirk, "Marcella, consider this my gift to you as Mrs. Moretti. Starting tomorrow, I'll be Riccardo's rightful wife. Do you really think I'll ever give you another chance to get close to him then?"

Violetta flung the bracelet out of the car window.

Riccardo erupted in fury. "Marcella, Elena was kind enough to give you a gift, yet you dare show such ingratitude? After the wedding, I'll make sure Elena teaches you a proper lesson!"

A car ran over the broken bracelet, just as the love between Riccardo and me was completely shattered.

Elena looked at the fragments on the ground and sobbed. "Riccardo, how can I ever treat Marcella as a sister again after the way she humiliated me today?"

A flash of cruelty passed through Riccardo's eyes as he pulled me out of the car and snarled through gritted teeth, "Marcella, are you determined to defy me? Fine, let's see how long you can keep this up!"

I struggled to break free from his grip, ordering coldly, "Let go of me! Riccardo, you no longer have the right to touch me!"

Violetta rushed forward and pushed Riccardo away. "You shameless scoundrel! You still have the nerve to harass her? Get lost!" she shouted angrily.

Provoked, Riccardo turned livid and pointed at me. "Marcella, if I don't teach you a lesson, you'll never learn!"

Riccardo turned and stormed toward the SUV parked on the street and yanked the door open.

After he jumped into the driver's seat, Elena paused briefly before quickly following and slipping into the passenger seat.

"Riccardo, just let it go. We shouldn't stoop to her level," she said softly.

But Riccardo ignored her and slammed his foot on the accelerator. The SUV roared straight toward Violetta and me.

"Marcella, watch out!" Violetta screamed, pulling me backward.

However, the SUV was moving too fast, its tires screeching sharply against the road as it hurtled toward us. Violetta and I were forced against the roadside barrier with nowhere to retreat, our hearts almost stopping in terror.

At the critical moment, a black car sped in from the side and executed a precise drift to block the SUV's path. Riccardo slammed on the brakes with a piercing screech, and the SUV came to a halt less than three feet away from us.

My legs gave out, barely able to hold me up. Violetta steadied me, both of us gasping for breath and still shaking from the shock.

The door of the black car swung open, and a man stepped out, dressed in a black suit that accentuated his tall, lean frame. A pair of sunglasses sat perched on his nose, where a tiny mole was visible at its tip.

After making sure that Violetta and I were safe, he turned to face the SUV.

Riccardo jumped out of the car, his eyes bloodshot, and asked defiantly, "Who are you? Why don't you mind your own business?"

"You're suspected of attempted murder, and I've already called the police," the man replied coldly.

Riccardo froze.

Elena sobbed from inside the SUV. "Riccardo, let's go! The police will be here soon."

Seeing that I was safe, the man nodded to me and drove away.

Still shaken from the shock, it wasn't until he had left that I realized I hadn't gotten his contact information.

After being childhood sweethearts with Riccardo for more than ten years, all it took was Elena whispering in his ear for a few months to turn him against me. Because of her instigations, he was even willing to see me dead.

From this moment on, I was cutting him out of my life for good.

The next morning, I put on the custom wedding dress sent by the Alonzi family and waited in my room, restless with anxiety.

The Alonzi family's bridal procession stretched imposingly in front of the main gate. Along with the betrothal gifts, they had added priceless jewelry and luxury cars that filled the entire street.

Meanwhile, Riccardo parked his car by the side entrance of my house.

"Marcella, come out quickly! I don't want to be late!" he shouted.

Sofia flung a bucket of leftover dirty water from cleaning toward him.

"Dreaming, are you? Ms. Marcella has already left through the main gate and get on the Alonzi family's car.," Sofia said with a laugh.

Soaked and furious, Riccardo shouted, "Stop joking around! Get Marcella out of here now! How could she possibly marry that dying man?"

Sofia ignored him and closed the side gate.

Riccardo noticed the unusual commotion on the street. He drove to the main gate and saw the Alonzi family's wedding convoy lined up for blocks.

Rows of luxury cars gleamed, and a fortune in jewels glittered on display.

A sudden panic gripped him, causing his heart to race uncontrollably.

This couldn't be real, could it?

Dressed in a black suit and wearing aviator sunglasses that covered half of his face, Giovanni sat inside the stretched bridal car, his presence chillingly distant.

When he noticed Riccardo, a mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Riccardo stared at the wedding procession, watching as Violetta directed the line of cars into place. The panic in him swelled uncontrollably as he wondered whether I had actually gotten into the bridal car.

Staggering out of his car, he rushed toward the wedding procession and grabbed Violetta.

"Violetta, is Marcella really in there?" he shouted. "How is that possible? Stop this right now. Today is my wedding with Elena, so Marcella's not the bride. Why is she putting on such a show?

"Tell her to come out and leave with me now. I still have to pick up Elena at the hotel. I don't have time to waste on this nonsense!"

Violetta shoved him away and slapped him hard across the face. "Are you an idiot?" she roared furiously. "It's your fault Marcella had to marry Giovanni!

"On the day you registered your marriage with that manipulative pick-me, Marcella received the Alonzi family's betrothal agreement. You're the one who ruined her life, yet now you have the nerve to act clueless here?"