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?"