Whispers in the underworld mentioned that Jason Marino, heir to the Family with its hands in the cross-continental arms trade, supposedly loved women with slim waists.

Since his recent return to the country, his eyes had landed on Sonia Stewart—sworn sister to my fiancé, Andy Black.

When Andy found out, he disappeared for three whole days. I finally tracked him down in the Family's club, only to overhear a conversation that shattered my world.

"I'm not just going to stand by and watch Sonia marry that playboy Jason," Andy was telling his lieutenant. "On the wedding day, you need to swap Sonia's wedding car with Leona's. No one must find out!"

His lieutenant thumped his chest, swearing, "No problem, boss! I'll get it done. But... What about your fiancee, Leona?"

Andy let out a confident laugh, as if he were in control of everything.

"I'm the Don's hand-picked Consigliere. Jason knows Leona belongs to me, so he won't lay a finger on her. Once I've slept with Sonia, he'll have to give up on her. After that, we'll just send someone to pick Leona up. She won't suspect a thing. Instead, she'll be scared and trembling… Pathetic but adorable nonetheless. She'll come running right back to my arms!"

Every word was like a bullet leaving holes in my heart, every tone tearing it apart.

I stumbled away as fast as I could, praying they wouldn't hear the sound of my heart breaking.

When Andy tried to pick me up according to his plan later on, he broke down.

As soon as Andy finished speaking, the room echoed with the sound of a loud kiss landing on someone's cheek.

Sonia's smug voice followed right after. "Andy, I really don't know how to thank you! I never thought having a slim waist would get me into trouble... Good thing you're there for me!"

Andy grinned. "You're my sworn sister. I once made a blood oath to protect you. No need to thank me."

He paused for a moment, and his tone turned teasing.

"But if you really want to repay me, you can always give me a kid."

The moment he said that, his most trusted men burst out laughing, all of them in on the joke.

Sonia's voice sounded half-excited, half-embarrassed as she protested sweetly, "Oh, come on! How can you say that with so many people around? I might take it seriously! But... What if Leona finds out? She's never liked me. What if she comes after me just because the wedding cars got switched?"

Andy chuckled, his tone infinitely smug. He knew me all too well.

"Relax. Leona won't bother you. She's very obedient...especially in bed. She'll do anything to keep me happy. As long as I warn her at the right moment not to mess with you, she'll listen."

His men roared with laughter.

"God, boss! You really know how to keep Miss Leona under your thumb!"

"No wonder she does whatever you say! Looks like you've got her completely under your charm."

"You're really having a great time, boss. Your fiancée is Don Marino's adopted daughter, so your position is solid. Your sworn sister has your protection and devotes herself to you... You're the kind of man everyone should aspire to be!"

Andy just smiled coolly and said nothing.

He took a crystal wind chime from his jacket pocket and handed it to Sonia. "On your wedding day, hang this on your car's rearview mirror. When the driver sees it, he'll know you're my bride. He'll make sure you get to me safe and sound."

Sonia took the wind chime. She was so ecstatic, she couldn't say a word.

When I saw that wind chime, I lowered my gaze and gave a bitter, silent smile.

Andy's mother had given me that wind chime when Andy and I got engaged, saying it was a gift for her future daughter-in-law. I had always kept it carefully in my jewelry box; I only took it out to admire it every day.

Three days ago, Andy asked me for the wind chime. He said that it was for the wedding preparations, so I gave it to him. I never thought he would give it to someone else.

I turned and walked away. Outside, it was pouring.

My thoughts drifted back to five years ago...

It was raining at my father's funeral, too. I cried so hard that I nearly passed out.

My father had been the Family's top hitman. That day, he was sent to take out a powerful enemy. He pulled off the job, but took several bullets during the crossfire and died in a pool of blood.

The Don, Vic Marino, honored his loyalty by taking me in as his adopted daughter, giving me privileges no one else had.

Everyone respected me, but they all kept their distance.

Then, Vic asked if I would be willing to marry Andy, the genius Consigliere, as he wanted to keep Andy tied to the Family.

It was an open secret, a marriage to buy Andy's loyalty.

I thought it would just be a cold exchange of profit and interests between us, but everything changed because of a sudden attack about half a year ago.

My father's enemies came for me, and Andy didn't hesitate to take a bullet for me. He was shot in the shoulder, but he never flinched. He just held me tight against his chest.

"You're mine. Nothing's taking you from me," he breathed.

He only let go when backup from the Family arrived, collapsing in front of me.

That was the second time I cried for a man. The first was when I lost my father.

The second...was when I lost my heart.

Our political marriage started to change, turning into something dangerously real. Andy would hold my hand through my nightmares. When I said I missed my father, he would drive me out in the middle of the night to visit my father's grave.

I used to think he was the light in my life.

But now...

That light shone on someone else.

Fine, then. If that was what he wanted, then I would grant his wish.

I didn't know how long I had been standing in the rain...

Not until Andy finally walked out of that room.

When he saw me, he immediately put some distance between himself and Sonia, who was following behind him. He approached me with his familiar, gentle smile, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Why are you standing out here in the cold? Aren't you worried you'll catch a cold?"

He took off his jacket and put it over my shoulders.

"Come on, the family dinner's about to start. Don't keep the Don waiting."

The car took us into the family estate. Andy held my hand as we walked into the hall.

"Where have you been these past few days? You didn't even send me a message," I asked quietly.

"You've always wanted a custom dress from a master designer, right? I went to Manil to find him in the past few days. I left in such a hurry, I forgot to tell you," he replied.

I looked up at him. "So, where's the dress?"

The smile on his face was as perfect as ever. "It's not ready yet. Maybe we'll just save it to use as your wedding dress."

I managed a smile, but it never reached my eyes.

The dance began.

Sonia showed up fashionably late.

The moment she appeared at the entrance, the entire hall fell silent. She was wearing the wedding dress I had always dreamed of, stunning and radiant. It was so beautiful that everyone was left breathless.

As soon as Sonia spotted Andy, she hurried toward us. In her rush, she stumbled and twisted her ankle, falling to the floor and scraping her knee.

"How can you be so careless!"

Andy couldn't hold back anymore and rushed over. He took out his handkerchief and gently wiped the blood and dirt from Sonia's knee.

It was the handkerchief I had knitted for his birthday last year. He had never let it out of his sight. Now, it was stained with another woman's blood.

"I'm fine, Andy... It just hurts a little," Sonia said, her voice shaky as she sobbed.

Right then, the music started. All around us, the other couples began to lead their partners onto the dance floor.

Andy met my eyes, offering just the right amount of apology. "Leona, I'll take Sonia to get her wound treated first. Wait for me. I'll be back soon to dance with you."

He left me with those words as he helped Sonia up before quickly leaving the hall with her.

Couples after couples began their dances in each other's arms.

I sat alone in a corner, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. No one came near me. I could feel the stares. Some were sympathetic, some pitying, but most were sneering at me.

"Wow, even being the Don's adopted daughter couldn't help her keep her fiancé?"

"I heard a long time ago that it was a political marriage. She was just a pawn to keep Andy in the Family."

"How pathetic... Andy dumped her in front of everyone. He must really have had enough of her."

Their whispers pierced my heart.

I stood there the whole night, and Andy never came back.

The next morning, he rushed into my room, only relaxing when he saw I was there.

"Sorry, Leona. There was trouble at the casino on the West Side last night, and then my car broke down. That's why I couldn't go join you."

I didn't hear a word he said. My eyes were fixed on the silk scarf around his neck...and the faint reddish marks it barely covered.

...Were those what I thought they were?

I reached out, wanting to touch the scarf. Andy immediately jerked back, pulling it tighter.

"Does the scarf look strange? It's part of a blessing ritual for our marriage... It was supposed to bring happiness. I have to wear it before the wedding, so I can't take it off."

He lied so smoothly, as if it didn't need any effort to make things up at all.

I lowered my eyes and clenched my fists, barely holding back my tears. "It does look a little odd. It's crooked… Let me fix it for you."

"Don't touch it, or the blessing won't work!" His voice suddenly rose, eyes darting away from mine. "Anyway, don't you still need a pearl necklace to go with your dress? I've already booked the bay that produced the best pearls. Let's go pick out some pearls ourselves."

After changing the subject, he quickly turned and went outside to wait for me.

I tilted my head back and squeezed my eyes shut, but the tears still fell.

When I had changed and gone out, Andy had made sure the scarf covered his neck in its entirety.

As soon as we arrived at the bay, I heard shouting from the beach in the distance.

I looked up, and there was Sonia again.

Tears rolled down Sonia's cheeks as she stood surrounded and shoved around by several women.

Andy's fists clenched instantly as he watched the scene unfold. In the end, he didn't step in. Instead, he turned and looked straight at me.

I knew that look all too well. He wanted me to step in for Sonia again.

Ever since word got out that Sonia had caught Jason Marino's attention, she had become the prime target of every woman hoping to become his wife.

Once, they locked her in a basement wine cellar. I was the one who got her out. Andy wouldn't stop praising me. After that, any time Sonia got into trouble that Andy couldn't handle, it was always up to me to deal with the mess.

And now, he was using me as her shield once again.

"Still wearing a corset on the beach? Who are you trying to impress?" one of the women sneered. "Take it off. Let's see just how slim your waist is and how you got Jason's attention!"

"Please... Not in front of everyone..." Sonia's voice trembled as she hugged herself.

"Acting all innocent now? Weren't you showing off your waist at the club, trying to get every rich man to look at you? And now, you're acting all shy in front of us?"

"So? Are you taking it off, or do we have to help you?"

Seeing Sonia cornered with nowhere to run, Andy gave me a hard shove from the back. "Leona, get over there and make them shut up!"

The push nearly sent me sprawling on the sand. The humiliation burned hot up my neck.

But all his attention was focused on Sonia. He didn't even glance at me.

I shook my head at myself and walked over. As soon as Sonia saw me, she darted behind me.

"Leona, help me!"

I glanced at the women across from us and said coldly, "Do you really want to force Jason's fiancée to strip in public? Aren't you worried he'll come after you after this?"

The leader was a Capo's daughter, and she nodded politely at me. "Leona, we're not trying to be mean. We're just curious, that's all. She's not as innocent as she looks. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"That's right, Leona. We've seen her coming out of hotels with that Consigliere more than once. Aren't you worried at all?"

Sonia instantly grabbed my arm and shook her head. "No, Leona, don't listen to them!"

She clung to me and pulled me backward step by step. I couldn't break free no matter how I tried.

"Don't believe her? I think you just don't want to admit it!"

"Just yesterday, I saw you and Andy going into a hotel together..."

Before the woman could finish, Sonia yanked hard on my arm and threw herself backward into the sea with a scream, timing it perfectly when a big wave hit.

"Sonia!" Andy's shout cut through the air. He rushed past me and dove straight into the water.

A moment later, he came up to the beach, carrying a soaked and trembling Sonia in his arms. "Sonia, are you all right?"

Sonia looked stunned, staring at me in disbelief for several seconds before finally saying, "Leona, why did you push me? Did you really believe what they said? I never thought you were someone who can't tell right from wrong!"

Andy shot me with a cold, dangerous glare. "Leona, I told you to help her! Not push her into the sea!"

In Sonia's eyes, I caught a flash of smugness for just a split second. Only then did I realize why she had been dragging me backward the whole time.

"She jumped in herself," I said calmly.

Sonia quickly interrupted, "Yeah... Leona didn't push me. I just lost my balance..."

She trembled like a victim, as if I had threatened her into changing her story.

Andy pulled her tightly into his arms, his eyes burning with fury. "I saw everything! You pushed her. Don't lie to me."

The disappointment in his voice hit me hard. I realized this had all been Sonia's plan. No matter what I said, he would never believe me.

"If anything happens to her, you'll answer to me!" Andy snarled.

With that, Andy ignored everyone around him, scooped Sonia up in his arms, and walked toward the parking lot.

As they left, Sonia, curled up in Andy's arms, looked back and shot me a triumphant smile.