I have been hopelessly in love with Don Lorenzo Greco since the first time I saw him ten years ago.

As the only daughter of the long-established Messina mafia family, I have set aside my pride and chased after him for a decade.

On my 25th birthday, the way Lorenzo looks at me finally changed. He's not seeing a child anymore. He's looking at a woman.

Lorenzo says yes to me, and I finally kiss the mouth I've been dreaming of all this while.

The next day, Lorenzo announces to the world that he will hold the wedding of the century. 9,999 roses, fireworks all night, and a spectacle so grand it will shock every family in Northern Darvent.

I stand there with tears in my eyes as the fireworks spell out another woman's name. Elena Lagioia.

The assistant who has always been at Lorenzo's side, the girl I have never once taken seriously.

I plan to confront Lorenzo with a gun in my hand. However, I stop outside the door when I hear him speaking to his consigliere.

"Elena's parents are gambling addicts and owe a large debt. If I don't marry her, she'll be sold to a brothel in Malicuria tomorrow. Let's keep Cinzia in the dark for now. After this is over, I'll divorce Elena and marry Cinzia. After all, she loves me so dearly."

On Lorenzo's wedding day, I'm wearing a wedding dress and resting in the arms of a far more powerful Don of the Argento family from Southern Darvent. I look at Lorenzo and smile.

It drives him crazy. He swears to do whatever it takes to win me back.

Lorenzo Greco finally accepted me on the night of my 25th birthday.

The next day, fireworks lit up the sky the whole night, and roses piled everywhere. It was an extravagant display of love that sent shockwaves through Northern Darvent.

I deliberately set aside the family business and rushed back just to see it. However, the fireworks bloomed into his assistant's name, Elena Lagioia.

…

I had barely stepped through the door when my mamma, Rochelle Coppola, called. She said angrily, "Your papa and I knew long ago he was not a good man. What kind of man lets a girl chase him for ten years, only to cheat right before the wedding?

"Don't be upset, amore. There are plenty of good men in this world."

I smiled bitterly, surprised by how calm I sounded.

"You and Papa went to Southern Darvent to meet my arranged match, didn't you? If everything is satisfactory, then finalize it as soon as possible."

Mamma fell silent, startled by my decisiveness, then tried to coax me into slowing down. However, how could I make it in time for Lorenzo's wedding if I slowed down?

Did Lorenzo think that I, Cinzia Messina, would marry no one but him? And that I would foolishly wait for him?

I had already wasted ten years of my life. He had saved me when I was kidnapped at 15 years old, and now, I was 25 years old.

When Lorenzo's deal went wrong, I covered the losses with my family's transport routes.

When his assignments were challenging, I volunteered to take the lead.

When a traitor attacked him with a knife, I stepped up and took the blow for him. The scar still rested on my chest, 1.2 inches from my heart. And yet, the man I had loved and chased for a decade left me devastated.

"Dominic is a great man. Shouldn't you at least meet him before deciding?"

"It's alright. I agree. Schedule the wedding as soon as possible."

"What wedding? What schedule?" Lorenzo's voice suddenly came from behind me. The scent of roses was unmistakable.

I hung up the phone, lying without a flinch, "My cousin is remarried. We were just talking about when to visit her."

Lorenzo's tense shoulders relaxed. Why was he anxious? Was he worried I'd force him into marriage by holding a wedding?

After all, I'd done far too many reckless things while chasing him. I'd confessed my feelings more than ten times. But that wouldn't happen anymore.

Lorenzo held out the flowers he had been hiding behind his back. "This is for you. To celebrate us officially being together."

Seeing my lack of response, he continued, "Why are you so quiet? Are you too happy to speak?"

I lowered my gaze to the cloying pink roses in my arms. How could he celebrate with me while being engaged to another woman?

"I hate pink roses."

Lorenzo was taken aback by my reaction. After all, in the past, I would have been happy just to receive a tissue from him.

"You don't like it? You told me last week this was your favorite kind."

Last week, I had been a fool, knowing nothing. However, when I checked Elena's social media today, I realized that Lorenzo had also given her bouquets of flowers, and I only received it as a byproduct or alongside her orders.

Every gift he gave me, Elena had one, too. He had even learned how to send flowers only after Elena

became his personal assistant a year ago.

Moreover, I was slightly allergic to pollen. I didn't actually like flowers. I had only ever been thrilled because the man I loved had finally gotten it. Even if my body suffered, my heart was overjoyed.

I had forgotten that Lorenzo had known me for so long. If he had just paid the slightest attention, he would have noticed that every time I walked past the gates of his estate, the pollen from the flowers would make me sneeze uncontrollably.

I suddenly realized how pointless it all was. "It's nothing. I just don't like it anymore."

Just like I didn't like you anymore.

Lorenzo was slightly displeased at my rare rejection. After all, I had never refused him anything in all these years.

"Did you read about something online again? It's just a bouquet of flowers."

I could tell Lorenzo was sounding me out. He didn't think I would be upset over a flower. He suspected I had seen something about him and Elena online, and that was why I was acting out.

I shook my head and replied, "I've been busy with family matters lately. No time for my phone."

He heaved a sigh of relief and ruffled my hair. "I've been busy, too. Once this is all over, we'll register our marriage and go on our honeymoon. I almost forgot that I came to give you this."

Lorenzo reached for his suit, pulled two musical tickets, and waved them teasingly in front of me. Then, he leaned close and whispered in my ear, "Come with me. It's compensation for not being able to get engaged right now."

If I hadn't heard what Lorenzo told his consigliere with my own ears, I might have been swept away by his sweet gesture.

But I didn't need that anymore. Before I could speak, Lorenzo's phone rang. He moved fast, but I caught a glimpse of his caller ID. It was Elena.

Lorenzo glanced at his phone, quickly slid the tickets back into his pocket, and pressed a hurried kiss to my forehead.

"Something happened at the port. I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow night. I'll pick you up."

He lied to me again. I stared blankly at the calendar. Tomorrow night? Was that really necessary?

This was the final performance of the musical troupe I had supported for five years. After the lead retired, the troupe would disband forever. Three months ago, I had casually complained to Lorenzo about not being able to get tickets. I hadn't expected him to remember.

There was nothing wrong with attending the musical. So, the next afternoon, I put on my makeup and got ready early. Lorenzo texted me saying something came up and that I should head there first. He'd be there soon, he said.

I waited at the theater entrance, dressed in a skirt and heels, from dusk until nightfall.

Three and a half hours passed. The show ended. Yet Lorenzo never came.

A notification of Elena's latest social media post popped up. There was a blurry video of a cheering

crowd.

"I suddenly felt like going to the music festival, so I dragged my husband along! The one who loves you will never ruin the fun!"

Although the video was blurry, I still saw Lorenzo's face.

Hah! He lied to me again.

I had stubbornly waited outside in the cold, my feet blistered from heels, while he celebrated with another woman. Yesterday, I had wanted to give him one last chance. How foolish of me to do so.

I quickly turned around, intending to leave. But my legs were stiff from standing too long, and the heels I wore today didn't help.

"Ah!" I lost my balance and fell. My knees and elbows scraped against the ground, and it hurt like hell.

Tears streamed down my face, though I couldn't tell if it was from the pain or the humiliation.

And then Lorenzo's call came through. "Cinzia, why did it take you so long to pick up? I came to your place, and the housekeeper said you weren't back yet. Where are you?"

"At the theater entrance."

He was momentarily lost for words. "I'm so sorry, tesoro. Some brazen men tampered with my shipment today, and I had to deal with it. You know how I—"

"Don't bother explaining."

With that, I hung up. I hobbled home, too exhausted even to change, and collapsed onto the bed, sinking into a deep sleep.

When I woke, I was in pajamas, and my wounds had been hastily bandaged.

Lorenzo held a cup of warm water and entered the room. He bent down and pressed his lips to my forehead. "Your fever's down, but you still need medicine. The doctor said your wounds are slightly infected."

I stared at him, stunned. How could he stand me up but act as if nothing had happened and care for me with such ease and tenderness?

Too many thoughts swirled in my head, but I ended up asking the most trivial question first.

"What are you doing here?"

Lorenzo frowned and placed the cup of water on my bedside table. "I called you over 20 times, and you didn't answer. I went around looking for you for so long, only to realize you'd gone back home. Where are your parents? You got hurt and had a fever. Why isn't anyone taking care of you?"

I took a sip of water. My parents had stayed in Southern Darvent to finalize the wedding plans since the day I agreed to the arranged marriage.

Seeing my silence, Lorenzo softened his tone, assuming I was still upset about last night. "Eat your medicine first. You didn't fall sick because you waited outside for three hours, did you?"

I swallowed the bitter pill, wishing I could splash the water in his face.

"Who do you think I was waiting for to get myself into this state? Get out! I don't want to see you."

Lorenzo stayed silent. He wanted to pat my head but failed. "I was busy yesterday. It's just a show. We can watch it next time."

Next time? Last night was the lead's farewell performance. Lorenzo didn't care about musicals, so he had no idea what it meant to me. And just as he didn't know that last night was my final chance for him.

I closed my eyes and repeated, "Get out!"

Lorenzo suddenly gripped my chin, forcing me to lift my head and meet his eyes. "Cinzia, have I spoiled you too much? Ever since we made things official, you've been giving me attitude.

"Now that we're together, you don't even bother pretending? Didn't you always want me to keep you company? Why are you playing hard to get now?"

"Get off me!"

The phone on the bedside table lit up. It was a message from Mamma.

Lorenzo was nearer to my phone, so he picked it up from the table and unlocked it effortlessly with his birthday.

"Give it back!" I tried to snatch my phone from him, but he was faster. His expression shifted from surprise to that smug, satisfied look. He let out a low chuckle and said, "As expected."

Lorenzo turned the screen toward me. Mamma had sent me pictures of wedding dresses. "Amore, take a look and see which one you like! You can change as many times as you want on the wedding day."

My stomach sank.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked.

Lorenzo bent down and ruffled my hair. He was smiling but the warning gaze in his eyes was unmistakable. "Listen, principessa. I'll propose when I'm ready. You know who I am. Stop with the tantrums and games. Do you understand?"

For a moment, I didn't know how to argue back. "Hold on. You got it wrong. Those—"

Lorenzo raised a hand, silencing me without a word. A few quick instructions to rest, and then he was gone.

I hurled the pillow against the door. Then, I took several deep breaths before picking up my phone and finally focusing on picking a wedding dress. The photos my parents had been sending kept piling up. Their text messages also seemed warmer and more approving than the last.

"Dominic already started preparing as soon as he got the news. He's really taking it seriously!

"He says everything will be done according to your preference."

After selecting the last dress, my phone exploded with messages from friends.

"Cinzia, you and Lorenzo just got together. Have you guys already broken up?"

There was a screenshot of Lorenzo's latest post. It was a close-up of two hands intertwined, fingers locked tight. The background was a church's stained-glass windows. He wrote, "Even God can't help but bless us early."

Everyone offered their congratulations except an observant friend who commented, "No way those hands belong to Cinzia. They don't have gun calluses! Lorenzo, what are you doing?"

Moments later, the post disappeared. Lorenzo had probably forgotten to hide it from mutual friends.

Before I could respond, a message from Lorenzo appeared. "Are you asleep?"

He was always so direct, so this seemingly casual question was clearly a probe.

I didn't answer and turned off my phone.