The evening wind blew in from above and chilled her to the bone.

Alicia had planned to be alone for a few minutes, but Sophia quickly followed.

At the far end of the terrace was a suspended glass walkway. Below them, the club’s courtyard stretched out. Lights glittered, and people moved like ants.

Normally, this spot was a favorite for guests to take photos. Today, it was just the two of them.

Sophia wrapped herself in Matteo’s jacket. Her smug face was hard to hide. “Alicia, you saw that clearly, right? When something happens, I’m the first person he protects.”

Alicia leaned on the railing without turning her head.

“Someone who sneaks into another person’s marriage by scheming and by taking advantage of situations shouldn’t act like the attention they get is some kind of honor.”

Sophia’s face turned cold. “You really think highly of yourself. Do you know why he married you back then? It was because you could handle the Vitale family’s dirty work. You’re useful, not special.”

“Is that so?”

Alicia glared at her coldly. “Then, why hasn’t he married you yet? Doesn’t he want to? Oh, right! He told me it was just for fun. Free things are always more exciting.”

Sophia’s face twisted at Alicia’s words. She reached out to grab her.

As they struggled, a sharp crack came from the far end of the walkway.

It sounded like a heavy object had hit the glass.

The next second, cracks spread across the transparent floor beneath them like a spiderweb. Alarms blared at the same time. The sound was so sharp it made their skin crawl.

Sophia went pale and held onto the railing with all her strength.

Alicia stepped back.

The walkway began to tilt. The support beams groaned under the weight, and metal scraped against metal. The sound filled the air with alarm.

Someone shouted from a distance, “Don’t move! The walkway is failing!”

But it was too late.

With a deafening crash, the front section of the walkway collapsed.

Alicia and Sophia were thrown downward. They did not fall straight into the courtyard. Hanging steel frames and safety nets caught them first.

Alicia slammed into something with impact. Her vision darkened for a moment. Her lower back and belly felt like they had been beaten with a hammer. Sophia screamed on the other side and trembled in fear.

They were separated by twisted, broken steel beams. Below them was a drop of several floors. One wrong move could send them falling again.

People quickly crowded around.

Rescue ropes were lowered from above. The staff shouted instructions as they checked the anchor points.

Matteo’s voice came from above. It was deeper than usual. “First, check which side is more stable.”

The lead rescuer looked up. “The steel frame is bent. We can only secure one side first. There’s not enough time. We have to pull one person up first, or the whole structure will collapse.”

For two seconds, the air felt completely still.

Alicia heard her own heartbeat. She also heard Sophia crying in panic. “Matteo! I’m scared! I can’t hold on anymore!”

Matteo stood at the edge of the break. His face was pale.

He looked at Alicia first.

For a moment, it seemed that he remembered that she was his wife. He said, “Pull Alicia up first.”

Alicia felt her heart flutter.

The next second, the rope on Sophia’s side slipped again. Her body dangled halfway in the air.

She screamed until her voice nearly gave out. “Save me! Matteo, save me!”

Matteo’s expression changed instantly. Almost instinctively, he shouted, “Save Sophia first! Now!”

That tiny, foolish hope she had just felt vanished in an instant.

Alicia closed her eyes. Her heart felt painfully empty.

Soon, Sophia was secured with a safety rope and pulled up. Chaos erupted above. Everyone surrounded her.

On Alicia’s side, the weight shifted again. The steel frame beneath her sank suddenly.

Someone shouted, “This side is going to break!”

Matteo finally turned his head. His voice shook for the first time. “Alicia, hold on!”

Before he could finish, the steel frame completely collapsed.

Alicia fell with half of the safety net onto the platform below.

The moment she hit the floor, her belly felt as if it had been ripped open. Warm liquid spread down her legs.

Before she fell unconscious, only one thought crossed her mind.

Her child would never even have the chance for its father to know it existed.

Alicia woke up to a cold that seemed to reach her bones.

She opened her eyes slowly. The pale hospital ceiling came into view. A doctor stood beside her bed.

“Mrs. Vitale, you’re awake.” The doctor’s voice was heavy with regret. “We’re very sorry about your pregnancy. We couldn’t save the baby.”

When she heard him, she did not react with the hysteria she had expected.

Perhaps she had already known the outcome the moment she fell.

She was quiet for a long time. Then, she said, “Please, preserve the baby separately. I want to take it with me when I leave the hospital.”

Since she never got the chance to tell Matteo herself, at least he would see with his own eyes the child he had made her lose.

This might be the cruelest and most dreadful surprise she could give him.

The doctor looked momentarily shocked, but he nodded and agreed.

After the room fell quiet again, she placed her hand on her empty belly. She felt as if even the last warmth had left her.

Footsteps came from outside. Matteo pushed the door open. He looked ragged and more exhausted than he had the last time he was in the hospital.

He saw her pale, sickly face. He paused for a moment before stepping closer. “The doctor said you woke up. I…”

The words stuck in his throat.

Alicia looked at him. Her gaze was calm and still, like a motionless pool.

That look made Matteo feel panicky for the first time. He lowered his voice and said, “When the walkway collapsed, the weight was uneven on both sides. Sophia was half-suspended. That’s why I had her rescued first. I didn’t leave you behind on purpose.”

“Not on purpose…” Alicia repeated softly.

She did not get angry. She did not cry. She asked quietly, “Matteo, do you remember the gunfight at the Booklyn warehouse?”

His voice caught in her throat. He did not say anything.

Memories came rushing back. He could almost see the fire lighting up the night sky. Bullets flew everywhere. He ran against the fleeing crowd and charged back into the burning warehouse to find her.

He found her trapped in thick smoke, coughing and struggling. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward safety.

He was only twenty-five then. His face still had the sharp edges of youth. His eyes burned with reckless intensity. He held her hand tightly. Among the crackling flames and roaring gunfire, he said sincerely, “I won’t let you face any danger. Even if the chance is one in a million, I’ll make sure you’re completely safe.”

Those words had burned into her heart like a brand.

They made her believe that this was the man she could entrust her life to.

But now? In a life-and-death situation, he could abandon her for Sophia's sake without hesitation.

The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the monitors.

Matteo’s face turned pale. He reached out to touch her, but she turned her head away.

He rarely looked this helpless. Not even during the family conflicts years ago had he felt so lost.

“Alicia, I’ll make it up to you.” His voice was hoarse. “Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

Alicia finally smiled, but the smile was cold and empty of warmth. “I want you to choose to save me without hesitation, like you used to. Can you do that?”

Her words hit Matteo like a blunt knife in the chest.

He froze in place and could not speak for a long moment.

Alicia did not look at him. She stared out the window at the gray sky. “Leave. The last person I want to see right now is you.”

For the next few days, Matteo stayed at the hospital almost every day.

He turned down many meetings. Even several important family council sessions were done via video calls. He tried to make up for everything by giving her nutritionists, caregivers, the best doctors, and the most expensive supplements.

But Alicia did not respond.

That afternoon, the sun finally came out.

A caregiver pushed her wheelchair to the lake behind the hospital so she could get some fresh air.

The wind was cold.

Matteo noticed her fingers were cold. He said softly, “I’ll go get a shawl. Stay right here. Wait for me for two minutes.”

He turned and walked away. Not long after, Sophia appeared.

A bandage still covered her forehead, but her face looked healthier and more vibrant than anyone else’s. She had clearly been well cared for.

She stood by the wheelchair and looked down at Alicia. Her voice dripped with mockery. “Top lawyer, how does it feel to be in a wheelchair? You look worse than I expected.”

Alicia could not be bothered to lift her eyes.

Sophia refused to give up. She said slowly, “Are you still refusing to accept it? When the walkway collapsed, he called your name first. But when it was time to choose, he saved me!

“You’re smart. I assume you know what that means. You understand, don’t you?”

Alicia finally met her gaze. Her eyes were calm and cold. “It means you know very well that you can only ever prove your worth in moments like this.”

Alicia pushed the wheelchair and prepared to leave.

Sophia’s smile disappeared completely. She stepped forward and pressed her hands on the wheelchair’s armrest. “Stop that! Alicia, do you think you still have any dignity left? You’re nothing but—”

She froze. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone nearby. Her expression changed instantly.

She fell to the ground with a pitiful look and then grabbed a rock. She smashed it against her own forehead.

Blood immediately poured out. It stained the bandage and her pale cheek.

Everything happened too quickly.

Alicia watched without surprise.

The next second, Matteo rushed over. “Sophia!”

Sophia ran to him with teary eyes. Her voice shook in just the right way. “I only came to see Donna Alicia, but she said it was my fault that she got hurt so badly… and then, she hit me with a rock!”

Matteo looked at the wound on her forehead and then at Alicia. His brow furrowed. “Alicia, did you do this?”

Alicia said calmly, “Don’t you already have the answer?”

Matteo stayed silent.

Alicia felt a deep exhaustion spreading through her.

She did not want to argue. She no longer tried to explain the truth.

She bent down and picked up a rock from the ground. It was larger and sharper than the one Sophia had used.

As Matteo and Sophia watched in shock, Alicia raised the rock. She struck Sophia’s forehead without hesitation. She hit exactly where Sophia had hurt herself moments ago.

Sophia screamed. Her body went limp.

Alicia looked at Matteo. Her voice was calm and chilling.

“That proves it now. Satisfied?”