00:00I am the daughter of the most powerful Don in Corvina.
00:02My father worries I'll marry the wrong man on a whim,
00:05so he arranges for me to be engaged to Luca, the rising heir of the Marino family.
00:10It's an arranged marriage, but that doesn't mean I've lost all my say.
00:14The very least I can do is choose a ring I genuinely like.
00:17So, I go to the Mafia auction.
00:19When the diamond ring appears as the final jewel of the night,
00:23I lift my paddle.
00:24Just before the gavel falls, an arrogant voice comes from behind me.
00:29A country bumplin' like you thinks you can compete with me?
00:32Do yourself a favor and leave.
00:35The auction hall goes quiet for a few seconds.
00:38The only sound comes from the camera shutters clicking around the hall.
00:41I turn and see a woman in a gold couture gown.
00:44Her mouth curves in a casual smile as if she owns the place.
00:48Before I can say a word, the auctioneer rushes to close the bid.
00:51Sold!
00:52Congratulations to Miss Sofia Lopez for winning the final lot, the Eternal Star.
00:58My brows pull tight, and a hot spike of anger rises in my chest.
01:02You ended the bidding early.
01:04Do you even follow the rules here?
01:06Sofia turns around and gives me a once-over, her gaze sharp as a blade.
01:11Rules?
01:11She lets out a cold laugh.
01:13Come on.
01:14I'm Luca Marino's favorite godsister.
01:17Around here, I make the rules.
01:19I can't help but laugh.
01:21What a coincidence.
01:22So, she's my fiancé's godsister.
01:25I pull out my phone and call him.
01:27Luca.
01:28Your godsister just snatched the engagement ring I picked out.
01:32How are you gonna handle this?
01:36It seemed like Sofia Lopez wasn't just a godsister to Luca Marino.
01:40If Luca couldn't give me a good explanation, this engagement was off the table.
01:45I called the number I'd saved but never once dialed.
01:48Once the call connected, I went straight to the point.
01:52Your godsister is trying to snatch the engagement ring I chose.
01:55What do you have to say about that?
01:57Silence hung for a moment.
01:59Then, a cold, unfamiliar voice came through the line.
02:02Who is this?
02:04Whatever's going on between Sofia and me isn't something an outsider gets to question.
02:08Before I could say my name, he had already hung up.
02:11I stared at the dark screen for a second and let out an incredulous laugh.
02:15Obviously, he hadn't even saved my number.
02:18Sofia's laughter cut through the crowd, sharp with smug delight.
02:22Pathetic.
02:23You somehow got Luca's number and actually think that means he knows you?
02:28God, you're cracking me up.
02:30She tilted her chin and twisted a lock of hair around her fingers while looking me over again.
02:35Seriously, look at what you're wearing.
02:38Even the nannies in the Merino family dress better than you.
02:41The lackeys around her couldn't hold back and burst into mocking laughter.
02:47I had always believed comfort mattered more than designer labels.
02:51But in a hall drowning in diamonds and custom gowns, no one here cared about that belief.
02:56I pressed my lips together, heat rising up my chest.
02:59So, you're still judging people by logos?
03:02You're unbelievably shallow.
03:04Lucas sure had special taste when picking his god sister.
03:09Thanks to her stunt, I wasn't in the mood for the auction anymore.
03:12I turned to the auctioneer and pointed straight at the eternal star ring in the display case.
03:16I want to activate the automatic bidding system.
03:19Whatever she offers, I'll pay double.
03:23Miss, our automatic bidding service is reserved for clients with VIP cards.
03:28Sofia gave a sharp little snort.
03:29She reached into her clutch, pulled out a gold VIP card, and slapped it onto the podium.
03:35I spend seven figures a year here.
03:37And you?
03:39How exactly do you compare to me?
03:41I drew in a slow breath, took out a plain black card with no logo, and placed it beside hers.
03:47Unlimited credit black card.
03:50Is that sufficient?
03:51Open the VIP account and restart the bid.
03:56A wave of startled whispers rolled through the hall.
03:59Sofia's smile faded, and her tone turned colder.
04:02This is Marino territory.
04:04If anyone sides with her, I'll make sure they never work in this city again.
04:09The auctioneer's face went chalk white.
04:11His voice shook as he said,
04:13Miss, I'm just a staff member.
04:16I really can't afford to offend the Marino family.
04:19Several guests who'd seen the whole thing started trying to persuade me.
04:22Just let it go.
04:24I've run into Miss Lopez before.
04:26Mr. Martino indulges her in everything.
04:29Someone crossed her last month, and his entire business was gone the very next day.
04:34Miss, even if you've got money,
04:36don't fight the Marino family.
04:38Their reach isn't something people like us can survive.
04:41Just apologize and ask Miss Lopez to forgive you before this gets worse.
04:46Under all those cautious glances and hushed warnings,
04:49Sofia only grew more pleased with herself.
04:52She crossed her arms and came closer, wearing a smug smile.
04:56The amusement in her eyes practically sparkled.
04:58You heard them.
04:59Get on your knees and shout,
05:01I'm broke, and I know I was wrong.
05:05Do that,
05:06and maybe I'll let you walk out of here.
05:11In all 26 years of my life,
05:14no one had ever dared to talk to me like that.
05:16Say that again?
05:18What exactly do you want me to shout?
05:21Are you deaf?
05:22I said,
05:23I'm broke,
05:24and I know I was wrong.
05:26Got it now?
05:27Loud and clear.
05:28Since you admit you're broke,
05:30hurry up and get out of here.
05:31Before you drag down the Merino name.
05:34Sofia's face flushed as she finally realized what I'd done.
05:37You!
05:38You twisted my words!
05:39How dare you make fun of me!
05:41She screeched and hurled herself at me,
05:43arms flailing like a furious chicken.
05:45It would have been funny if she weren't so noisy.
05:48I had trained with my family's bodyguards in Corvina for 10 years.
05:52I wasn't about to be intimidated by a woman whose punches were nothing but a performance.
05:56I drove a clean sidekick into her ribs.
05:59Sofia went down hard,
06:01holding onto the carpet with a pained groan.
06:03Regret.
06:04Next time you open your mouth,
06:06remember whose territory you're standing on.
06:08Gasps rickled through the hall.
06:12Oh my god!
06:14She actually hit Mrs. Lopez!
06:16When Mr. Merino hears about this,
06:18he'll have her chopped up and thrown into the bay.
06:21She's done.
06:23Not even God can save her now.
06:25I tuned their chatter out.
06:27The Merino family only stood where they did today,
06:30because my father had pulled them up when they were nothing.
06:32In this city,
06:34there wasn't a single person I needed to be afraid of.
06:37I slapped my black card on the podium again.
06:39Like I said,
06:41whatever she bids,
06:42I'll pay double.
06:44Wrapped the ring and hand it over.
06:45The auctioneer's knees visibly buckled.
06:48Hands shaking,
06:49he hit the authorization button and personally presented the velvet box to me.
06:53I put it into a bag and turned to leave.
06:55Only for Sophia to drag herself upright and stumble back into my path.
06:59Don't you dare leave!
07:01I tapped the toe of my heel against the floor and glanced down.
07:05What is it?
07:07You want another practical demonstration?
07:09She instinctively took a step back.
07:11I let out a soft dismissive laugh and pivoted toward the exit.
07:16But I didn't get far.
07:18A wall of men in black suits suddenly filled the doorway,
07:21blocking every way out.
07:23Before the guests could even process what was happening,
07:25the line of bodyguards split cleanly down the middle.
07:28A man walked through the gap they made.
07:30I looked up and for a second my heart actually skipped.
07:33The overhead lights fell across him,
07:36outlining every inch of his frame.
07:37He had the kind of build tailors dreamed about.
07:40Broad shoulders,
07:41narrow waist,
07:42long legs.
07:43His face was all sharp planes and clean edges.
07:45So perfect it looked like someone had carved it out of stone.
07:49Sophia immediately switched on the waterworks and ran to him,
07:52tears glistening.
07:53Luca,
07:54she stole my ring
07:57and hit me.
07:58So,
07:58this was my fiancé.
08:00No wonder my father had sworn up and down that I'd like him.
08:03He knew me too well.
08:04I was hopelessly shallow when it came to looks,
08:07and Luca fit my taste a little too perfectly.
08:10Seeing that face alone,
08:11I almost felt like forgiving his earlier attitude on the phone.
08:14I straightened,
08:15gave him my most confident smile,
08:17and introduced myself.
08:19Hi,
08:20I'm Isa Borgia,
08:22your fiancé.
08:24A ripple of shock moved through the crowd.
08:27What did she say?
08:28She's Mr. Marino's fiancé.
08:31Well, obviously,
08:32the fiancé matters more than a godsister.
08:35Not really.
08:36It depends on who Mr. Marino actually favors.
08:39Luca's cold gaze settled on me.
08:41Don't flatter yourself.
08:43That engagement was my father's decision.
08:45I never agreed to it.
08:47Sophia leaned into Luca with her head on his shoulder,
08:49her eyes sparkling with a challenge she wasn't bothering to hide.
08:52Look at you in those cheap clothes.
08:55You really think you deserve to marry him?
08:58You're not even qualified to shine my shoes.
09:00Someone in the crowd eagerly piled on.
09:03Exactly.
09:04If Mr. Marino ever gets married,
09:06it'll be to a real heiress.
09:08Why would he choose a nobody from the countryside?
09:11She looks dirty.
09:12I feel like the air smells worse already.
09:15She's nowhere near Miss Lopez's level.
09:17I'd worn something simple.
09:18There was nothing dirty about it.
09:20But in their mouths,
09:21I'd somehow turned into a walking trash heap.
09:24People always did love kicking whoever they thought was at the bottom.
09:30I lifted my eyes slowly and let my gaze sweep the entire auction hall
09:34before bringing it back to Luca's face.
09:37In that case,
09:38go home and tell your father to call off the wedding.
09:41And the reason?
09:42I don't want you.
09:44My father told me that Luca's father,
09:46Antonio Marino,
09:47had pulled every string he could to make this engagement happen.
09:50If he ever learned it all blew up because of Luca,
09:53I'd pay to see the look on his face.
09:55That thought eased my irritation.
09:57I couldn't be bothered arguing with this pack of idiots anymore,
10:00so I turned to leave.
10:01But Sophia wasn't done.
10:03She came stomping toward me in her stilettos like a hyena
10:06that had caught the scent of blood,
10:07with two bodyguards following closely behind her.
10:10The black pistols peeking from their holsters
10:12were enough to freeze the room.
10:14You bitch!
10:16You think you can just walk away?
10:18You snatched my ring and laid hands on me?
10:21We're not done!
10:22I gave her a cold look.
10:23So what exactly do you want to do?
10:25She mistook my patience for fear.
10:27Her hand snapped up toward my face.
10:30I'll hit you until...
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