The Politics of Desire

Elvira Corleone was the precious daughter of the Corleone family, a breathtaking beauty well-known in their inner circle. Whoever dared provoke her either ended up submitting to her or as a body at the bottom of Bayton Harbor. One day, her best friend, Lilian Allen, made a daring bet. "Vira, make my brother fall for you, and I'll give you the power of judgment over Bayton Harbor's underground scene." Elvira grinned, bold and confident. She pressed the cigar out in the ashtray. "Lilian, you know I've never failed to get what I want." Yet, plans never worked out the way one would expect. Chapter 1 The very day they made that bet, Elvira followed a lead from her informant and headed to a hidden warehouse at Bayton Harbor. It was a secret base belonging to the Allen family and the place where Vincent Allen handled his business. She had planned to stage a "coincidental encounter," but she never expected to push open the door and see Vincent burning with fever. He was completely disoriented and clearly drugged. The scent of a powerful sedative filled the air. Two bodyguards lay unconscious on the ground, and a Lucero family emblem was left behind in the corner. Obviously, a rival family had planned to abduct Vincent and use him to threaten the Allens. Elvira's pupils constricted. She moved to step back out and call for help, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist. His skin was burning hot, and the calm in his deep eyes had vanished. What remained was pure, primal desire. "Help me..." His voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of vulnerability that was hard to ignore. Elvira's heart skipped a beat. She knew this was the perfect chance to get close to him. … That night, desire twisted through the warehouse's shadows as Elvira became Vincent's antidote. From then on, their relationship grew wildly in the dark over the next three years. In the hidden chamber of Vincent's office, inside a private jet's storage cabin, in the prep room of an underground boxing ring, every secret corner controlled by the Allen family held traces of their entanglement. Elvira thought she had already melted this cold, unfeeling man. That was until the day she stood outside a private room during a secret family gathering and heard the conversation that destroyed her. She had found Vincent's obsidian cufflink, a symbol belonging only to the Allen family's inner circle. She planned to return it, but before she could knock, the voices inside drifted out. "Vincent, Elvira's completely devoted to you. When are you planning to make her your wife?" The person teasing him was one of Vincent's closest friends. Elvira's heart clenched. Her fingers turned pale from the strain. The next moment, Vincent's cool voice rang out, light and careless, yet every word was ice-cold. "She's just a sexual partner. Why would I marry her?" Silence fell inside the room. "But it's been three years... Do you still have feelings for her?" someone asked cautiously. "Yeah." Vincent's tone was faint, but laced with unmistakable longing. "When we broke up back then, she told me to give her three years. She said she'd try to be with other people, and I should do the same. Now, three years are up. She should be back by now." Elvira felt like she had been struck by a bolt of lightning. Her body went cold. These three years of passion, every moment she thought they were connected, were just him "trying to be with someone else". She couldn't hold back anymore, and she shoved the door open. Everyone fell silent, all eyes turning toward her. Elvira's face was as white as paper, her gaze pinned on Vincent sitting in the main seat. He looked calm, as if her presence meant nothing at all. That cold indifference hurt more than any cruel insult. If he liked her even a little, he wouldn't be looking at her like this now. "Vincent, don't you have anything to say to me?" Her voice was hoarse, choked with emotion. Vincent lifted his eyes, meeting hers with a cool stare. "There's nothing to explain. It's exactly what you heard. We're just sexual partners. I always thought you understood that." He paused, pulled a black card from his suit pocket, and pushed it toward her. "Here's ten million dollars. Consider it payment for three years of being available whenever I needed you. From now on, we're even." Vincent rose, preparing to walk out. Elvira lunged forward, gripping his wrist so tightly her fingertips dug into his skin. "But... I've fallen for you!" She remembered the countless nights when he came home after business dinners. He smelled like alcohol but still pulled her into his arms because he knew she was afraid of thunder. She also remembered waking up wounded from a gunshot, and the first face she saw was his. He had been waiting by her hospital bed with dark circles under his eyes. She also remembered him crouching down, holding her cold ankle in his warm palm as he helped her into her shoes. Those tiny moments surged like a tidal wave and threatened to drown her. Vincent's lips parted. He was just about to speak when his phone suddenly chimed. The screen lit up, and the notification preview was clearly visible to Elvira. "Vincent, it's been three years. I tried, but you're still the one I like. Let's get back together." In that instant, Elvira's world shattered completely. Vincent stared at the screen for a moment, then pried her fingers off one by one. His tone was detached. "Sorry, but you were just a sexual partner." He turned and left without a shred of hesitation, leaving Elvira behind as she drowned in agony. Chapter 2 Elvira didn't remember how she even got out of the club. The chilly wind at night caused the tear tracks on her face to freeze. She flagged down a taxi and rasped to the driver, "Follow that Maybach." She needed to see for herself who that woman was—the one Vincent had been thinking about for three years and the one to whom she had lost so completely. The driver, an Associate of the Corleone family, saw the state Elvira was in and said nothing, hitting the gas to keep up. Vincent drove fast, much faster than usual. Clearly, he couldn't wait to see that person. His car finally stopped at the VIP entrance of Kressida Airport. The Allen family had controlled this place for years. It served as a hub for welcoming international partners and a discreet cover for transferring certain "cargo". Security disguised as travelers was stationed everywhere. Elvira paid, stumbled out, and hid behind a pillar, her heart pounding out of control. She watched Vincent hurry to the exit, his gaze full of a warmth she had never seen from him. … A moment later, a woman in a white dress with a delicate, gentle presence walked out, dragging her suitcase behind her. It was Elena Corleone. Elvira froze, feeling her blood turn to ice. That woman was her half-sister, the person she hated most in the world. Back then, Elvira's mother died in a car crash engineered by the Lucero family while protecting her father, Antonio Corleone, the Don of the Corleone family. Yet, shortly after her mother's death, Antonio brought his first love, Camilla Scorsese, and his illegitimate daughter Elena back home, using her mother's wedding gift and inheritance to build a comfortable life for them. Elvira knew better than anyone that Antonio only secured his position as the Don thanks to her mother's family connections and resources. Now, he was repaying that by protecting his mistress and his bastard. As for Vincent, he could've fallen for anyone. Why did it have to be Elena? Elena threw herself into Vincent's arms. He caught her firmly, leaning down to kiss her hair. That scene cut through Elvira's chest like a dull blade, over and over. Vincent took her suitcase and wrapped his arm around her waist as they headed for the parking garage. Elvira, like someone possessed, grabbed another taxi and continued following. The distance was close enough that she clearly saw him tilt his head and whisper to Elena, then reach up to tuck her hair behind her ear. That kind of tender attention was something she never once received in three entire years. It felt like her heart was being crushed under a tire, painfully grinding again and again until she couldn't breathe. Her tears blurred her vision, and she kept her eyes locked on the car ahead. She didn't notice the situation at the intersection ahead. A loud crash exploded. The cab slammed straight into the rear bumper of the car in front, and another car smashed into them from behind. The impact sent her head forward, smashing against the seatback. Warm liquid spilled instantly down Elvira's face, blurring her vision. Through the chaos and the cracked window, she saw Vincent's Maybach stop. He got out first, then rushed to the passenger side, and carefully lifted Elena out of the car. His brows were furrowed tight, his face full of worry as he checked her injuries. Elena only had a small scrape on her skin, but she clung to him weakly. "Vincent, I'm okay. Don't worry about me..." Vincent held her close and started to walk away. His steps paused when his eyes accidentally met Elvira's from the crushed back seat of the cab. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly disappearing. "What is it?" Elena noticed his hesitation and followed his gaze. A cruel glint flashed in her eyes. "Ah, you saw your lover. Don't worry about me. I can get myself to the hospital..." She tried to push herself up. Vincent stayed quiet for a few seconds, then looked away and tightened his hold around Elena. "She's not my lover. She's a stalker!" With that, he turned and left with Elena in his arms, his back gradually disappearing from Elvira's view as her world collapsed all over again. For the past three years, she was nothing more than a stalker to him. Chapter 3 When Elvira woke up again, she was in a private hospital owned by the Allen family. Sunlight stabbed at her eyes. There was an IV line in her hand, and every wound on her body ached faintly. "Ms. Elvira, you're finally awake." A nurse adjusted the IV for her while speaking with concern. "You're badly injured and need to stay for observation. Your medical bills have already been taken care of." Elvira stared blankly at the ceiling, silent. She didn't need to guess who paid. Just then, a deep voice came from the door—one that was achingly familiar. "I came to check on you." Elvira turned sharply and saw Vincent standing in the doorway in his suit, looking tall and composed. There was no expression on his face. He merely glanced at her bandaged wounds. Then, he reached out, as if to touch her forehead. "You didn't fall for me, so why bother visiting a stalker?" Elvira turned from him, her tone sharp with mockery. Vincent halted, withdrawing his hand. "If I don't come, who else will care about you?" His words struck a nerve. He was right. Besides a dead mother, a biased father, and a pretentious stepmother, Elvira had no one else in her corner. That house stopped being her home long ago. These three years, it was always Vincent who appeared when she needed someone. She got used to relying on him and fooled herself into thinking she had found a safe harbor, yet he ended up pushing her into the abyss. "Even if no one comes, I don't need you." Elvira drew a deep breath, holding on to the last bit of her pride. "You're the one who said we were done. I'm not pathetic enough to cling to you." Her tone deliberately took on a cutting edge. "Did you think I meant it when I said I fell in love? I was just talking. I was just a sexual partner to you, and you were just an outlet for me to vent my desires. Besides, your skills are mediocre. Once I've recovered, I'll find someone younger and better in bed." Vincent stared at her red-rimmed eyes and her forced bravado. His brow twitched almost imperceptibly. At that moment, the nurse rushed back in. "Mr. Allen, Ms. Elena is done with her check-up, and she's been asking for you." Hearing that, Elvira flung the cup beside her at his feet. "Get out. I don't need you here!" Vincent looked at her for a few seconds. Then, he spoke, his voice distant. "I'm here because Lilian is your friend. She asked me to look after you." Elvira couldn't help but laugh, trembling so hard it pulled at every injured muscle. "Don't worry. I'm not that delusional." Something flickered faintly in Vincent's eyes, so fast it was barely noticeable. It was the first time he had ever seen Elvira cry. Even when he pushed her to her limits in bed, she only bit her lip stubbornly. Her eyes would be slightly red, but she'd never shed tears. His throat moved, as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he simply followed the nurse out the door. When his back disappeared, Elvira collapsed against the bed, the pillow silently soaking her tears. … The next few days were torture. She stayed in the hospital alone. Changing dressings hurt so much that she broke out in cold sweats. Food tasted like nothing, and she didn't have a single person around to pour her a glass of water. Meanwhile, the VIP ward next door was overflowing with care. Sometimes, she would overhear the nurses whispering in the hallway about how lucky Elena was. Vincent fed her himself, wiped her hands, and watched over her through the night. For her peace of mind, he even called in the Allen family's elite bodyguards to guard the door around the clock so tightly that not even a fly could get in. Once, while passing that room, Elvira saw through the slightly open door that Vincent was peeling an apple at Elena's bedside, slow and patient. Elena leaned on his shoulder with a soft smile. She was playing with the diamond bracelet Vincent had once given Elvira. That sight felt like a bullet ripping straight through her heart, but she didn't cry. She was Elvira Corleone, the Corleone Principessa. Even if she lost everything, she would not lose her pride. From this day forward, she vowed never to shed another tear for Vincent. … On the day she was discharged, the sun was bright and warm. Elvira removed the hospital gown and slipped into a striking dress. She didn't return home. Instead, she headed straight to the embassy and applied for an emergency visa. Norwell held everything she had ever loved and everything she had ever hated. Now, she wanted only to leave it behind. Chapter 4 After finishing her visa paperwork, Elvira returned to the Corleone residence. The moment she stepped through the door, she ran into her perfectly made-up stepmother, Camilla. "Elvira, you're finally home. You've been out all night for days. Do you have any idea how disgraceful that looks?" Camilla lifted her chin in her usual condescending manner, with disgust dripping from her voice. To her, Elvira was nothing more than a useless girl who had lost her mother's protection and would eventually be thrown out of the family. Elvira didn't even spare her a glance. She walked straight to the entryway, raised her hand, and slammed the vase onto the marble floor. A loud crash echoed as shards flew everywhere. Camilla shrieked and stumbled backward in fear. "And what exactly are you?" Elvira's voice was cold enough to freeze, her eyes sharp with unmasked hostility. "You're nothing but a mistress who wrecked my parents' marriage. How dare you lecture me? Remember this, Camilla. As long as I'm still in this house, you'll never be able to lift your head in this family." Every word struck deep. Camilla's face turned pale, and her body trembled. "Elvira, what are you up to this time?" Upon hearing the commotion, Antonio rushed out of the study and quickly helped steady the shaken Camilla. He glared at Elvira in anger. "You cause a scene the second you come home. Can't you behave yourself for once?" Watching him shield Camilla, Elvira felt nothing. Her heart had long been frozen to the core. "I'm causing a scene? Fine. Just give me back my mother's inheritance. I'll leave the country immediately and never bother you again." Antonio froze. Then, he feigned concern. "What are you saying? Why would you leave? Stay here. This is your home." "Home?" Elvira let out a laugh of pure mockery. "Cut the act, Antonio. You, Camilla, and Elena—you're the happy family. I don't have a home anymore, not since my mother died." She pulled a document from her bag and tossed it on the coffee table. "Name your price. I want my rightful share. My mother's inheritance, including the shares in the overseas accounts, and the profits from the three Aelorian smuggling routes." Antonio's expression darkened instantly. "You're insane! Absolutely not. You're trying to gut half of the Corleone family's assets!" "Insane?" Elvira walked to the window and stared at the garden below. Her tone was calm, but the determination in it was unmistakable. "You forced me into this. You used my grandfather's money to secure your position as the Don. My mother died saving you in that planned car crash, and now you're using her wealth to support a mistress and her bastard, living in the house she bought. Do you think I'll just sit back and watch?" She turned back, her eyes sharp enough to slice through boulders. "Either sign this agreement and return what belongs to me, or we all die here today. I buried explosives in the basement. I don't want this house anyway." Antonio's pupils shrank. His finger trembled as he pointed at her. "Y-You lunatic!" He knew her too well. Elvira always meant what she said. His fear of death crushed everything else. He collapsed onto the couch, cold sweat streaming down his back. He grabbed a pen and scribbled his name on the agreement. "There… Now, get rid of the bomb," he said shakily. Elvira picked up the document and confirmed his signature. A mocking smile tugged at her lips. "Relax. There isn't one. After all, isn't this how you tricked my mother into marriage? Like father, like daughter." Realizing he'd been played, Antonio nearly passed out from rage, but he couldn't utter a word. Elvira didn't glance at him again. She turned to go upstairs and pack her things. "Stop right there!" Antonio barked, suppressing his anger. "Your sister's bringing her partner home for dinner tonight. I don't care what kind of trouble you've stirred up before. This time, you will behave." He emphasized, "Her boyfriend is Vincent Allen, the Don of the Allen family. We can't afford to offend him, so don't you dare cause problems." Elvira's steps halted. Her entire body went rigid, and she found it hard to believe that Vincent was paying them a visit as Elena's partner. The next second, the doorbell rang. A housekeeper opened the door, and Elena walked in, clinging to Vincent's arm with a bright smile. The moment their eyes met, Vincent's brows drew together. Clearly, he had just realized that Elvira was Elena's sister. Elvira's heart twisted sharply once again. Chapter 5 At the dining table, the atmosphere was tense. Elena and Vincent sat together on one side, looking like a picture-perfect couple. Antonio and Camilla hovered around them with flattery written all over their faces, while Elvira sat alone across from them like the outcast. Throughout the entire meal, Elvira had to watch Vincent carefully place food on Elena's plate, slice her steak for her, and even gently wipe the sauce from the corner of her mouth with a napkin. That tenderness was a side of him she had never seen before. "Elena, how did you and Don Allen meet?" Camilla's voice carried a smug excitement as she asked. A soft blush spread across Elena's face as she replied shyly, "It was at a family charity dinner. I saw a stray cat stuck in a tree and tried to help it, but I almost fell. Vincent caught me. After that, he asked for my number." She turned to him with a gaze overflowing with affection. Elvira couldn't stop a small laugh from escaping. The room went silent at once, and everyone looked at her. Elena had hated animals since she was little and had killed Elvira's cat back then. There was no way she would ever help a stray. Either she staged the whole thing, or she planned to hurt the cat later. "What's so funny, Elvira?" Antonio's face darkened as he barked at her. She ignored him, curling her lips into a bright, bold smirk. "I'm laughing because some people lie so badly you can't even pretend to believe them." Elena's expression shifted. "When will you bring a partner home then? Let us see what true love looks like for you." "Bring one home? That won't work," Elvira drawled lazily, her eyes flicking briefly toward Vincent before settling back on Elena. "There are just too many. Unlike you, I'm not lacking in charm. It doesn't take me three years to snag a single man." She paused, as if boasting but also mocking herself. "Men who are interested in me can fill the entire Corleone residence to the brim. Mafia bosses and CEOs of multinational companies, it's hard to choose which one to bring first." "Elvira!" Antonio slammed his hand on the table, making the dishes clatter. "Can you stop running your mouth for once?" Camilla's chest rose and fell in anger, but with Vincent present, she didn't dare make a scene. Meanwhile, Elena looked pitiful, her eyes reddening as she sought comfort from Vincent. Vincent set down his fork, wiped his hands with a napkin, and, under everyone's gaze, gently took Elena's hand from the table. "Elena doesn't need to compete with anyone," he said, his voice low and firm, filled with possessive adoration. "To me, no one can compare to her. She's the best, and one of a kind." The words hit like a knife to the chest. Elena brightened immediately, squeezing his hand back and even lifting her head to shoot Elvira a triumphant glance. Elvira stared at their intertwined hands, forcing her face to remain composed as her heart twisted painfully. She lifted her wine and downed the entire glass. The burn felt like nothing compared to what she felt inside. This family dinner was nothing but a humiliating farce. After dinner, Antonio and Camilla stayed in the living room with Elena and Vincent, chatting cheerfully like a happy family. Elvira had no interest in pretending. She stood and walked into the garden. The night wind brushed across her skin. It did nothing to ease the weight in her chest. Before long, Elena followed, voice soft and sugar-coated with poison. "I've known about you and Vincent being sexual partners for three years." Chapter 6 Elvira's shoulders stiffened. She didn't turn around. "To be honest, I was a little worried at first," Elena continued as she circled Elvira like a vulture, openly examining her. "You're so beautiful. Any man would be tempted, but what a waste of a pretty face. Your mother couldn't beat my mother, and you'll never beat me. These past three years were nothing more than charity on my part. Now that the real deal is back, it's time for you to get off the stage." Elvira slowly turned to face her. Under the moonlight, her eyes gleamed with a chilling sharpness. There was no anger, only ice-cold mockery. "Charity? Elena, did you forget what you are? "You're a bastard who only got into this family because your mother was a homewrecker, a sad little schemer who can only hold onto a man through manipulation. You think you get to talk to me about charity? She stepped closer, her presence overwhelming. "Your mother picked up what my mother didn't want, and you're following in her footsteps. Like mother, like daughter. You two have a real talent for collecting leftovers." "You—" Elena's smile froze, her face turning pale then red with rage. She hadn't expected Elvira, even in this situation, to be so stubborn. Just as Elvira turned to leave, Elena suddenly let out a scream. Elvira spun around to find Elena on the ground, clutching her forehead as blood soaked through her fingers and dripped down her white dress. A solid stone bench sat right next to her. Antonio, Camilla, and Vincent rushed out at the same moment. "Elena! My baby!" Camilla dropped to the ground and cradled her, panic written across her face. Antonio's face twisted with fury as he pointed at Elvira. "Elvira, you ungrateful brat! What did you do to your sister this time?" Elvira stared at the setup, her heart numb. Her gaze swept past Antonio and Camilla before finally landing on Vincent. He was crouched over Elena, inspecting her wound with extreme care. Concern twisted his face, then he looked up. Those calm eyes now contained nothing but judgment and disgust. At that moment, Elvira's heart sank in disappointment. He didn't believe her. Of course, he didn't. Elena was the one he cared for. Why would he believe Elvira? She let out a soft, sudden laugh. If they wanted to frame her, then she might as well make it real. The next second, she strode over. Under everyone's horrified stares, she grabbed a heavy ceramic planter beside the path and brought it down hard toward the exact place Elena had hit her head. There was a dull, sickening crack, followed by Elena's shrill scream and the sound of everyone else gasping in terror. "Listen up." Elvira dropped the shattered pot and said calmly, "I didn't touch her before, but now I did." Everyone, including Vincent, froze. He never imagined she would go this far. Elvira let the broken pieces fall from her hand and turned to leave, but a hand clamped down on her wrist with enough force to crush bone. Vincent held her in place, his face darker than the night around them. He turned to Antonio, his voice icy cold. "Antonio, if she isn't properly punished after what she just did, I won't let this go. The Allen family does not tolerate anyone harming my woman." Antonio, torn between his pity for Elena and his fear for Vincent and the Allens, quickly bobbed his head in submission. "Of course. I'll make sure she learns her lesson." He motioned to the bodyguards. "Grab this disgraceful girl and lock her up in the basement!" "Don't you dare!" Elvira resisted, glaring at Antonio. She had been down there once as a child. It wasn't just a weapons vault. It was where the Corleones punished traitors and enemies, a dark and terrifying place filled with torture devices. Antonio looked to Vincent for confirmation. "Don Allen, do you find this a fitting punishment? Locking her down there to reflect on what she's done?" Vincent lifted Elena into his arms, her blood still flowing. His eyes were colder than steel as they swept past Elvira. His lips parted, and the words that followed were merciless. "That's too light a punishment. I saw a riding whip hanging in the study earlier. It shouldn't just be for decoration." Without another word, he left with Elena in his arms. Elvira stood frozen like she'd been struck by lightning, staring at his fading figure. He actually suggested they whip her. This was the same man who once stayed by her bed when she was injured, who held her in silence whenever she was sad. Now, he was condemning her to a hell she couldn't escape. Chapter 7 "Do as Don Allen says!" Antonio barked. Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, pinning Elvira despite how violently she struggled. They dragged her into the study. Camilla entered holding a thick riding whip, satisfaction and cruelty flickering across her face. She had been waiting far too long to teach Elvira a lesson. "You brat. Just like your dead mother, you never seem to know your place. Today, I'll discipline you on your father's behalf." She swung the whip, the strike landing hard across Elvira's back. A sharp burst of pain shot through her, the severity of it making her vision go dark for a moment. She clenched her jaw and bit down on her lip, refusing to let a single sound escape. Even if she was going to die, she wouldn't give them the pleasure of seeing her break. Camilla struck her again, then again. Years of resentment fueled every blow. Each lash felt like Elvira's flesh was being torn apart, the pain driving tremors through her entire body as cold sweat soaked her clothes. Her awareness blurred, but memories surfaced on their own. Vincent had once sensed the tension between her and Camilla and asked, "Do you need me to take care of it?" She remembered sneaking to her mother's grave late at night, and he had somehow found her and wrapped her in his coat in the pouring rain before sending her home. She remembered those rare moments of tenderness she once believed meant he cared. Back then, had he ever imagined a day he would force her into a situation like this? Blood filled her throat. She coughed, then a low, broken laugh escaped her. Camilla shuddered at the sound and grew furious. "What are you laughing at, bitch?" "I'm laughing because you and your daughter will always be picking up somebody else's..." She lifted her face, streaked with sweat and blood, eyes blazing as she spat out each word like poison. "Trash." "You little…" Camilla shook with anger. She threw the whip aside and shouted toward a housekeeper, "Bring the electric baton!" "No, Mrs. Corleone. You mustn't! Ms. Elvira will die," Martha Leavitt, Elvira's maid, pleaded. Marta had been brought here by Elvira's mother. She had watched Elvira grow up and had always been loyal to her. "Get out of my way." Camilla shoved Martha aside, grabbed the electric baton from a bodyguard, and swung it into Elvira's body. The electric shock shot through her, forcing a strained groan from her throat. Elvira clearly heard something crack inside her chest. Blood sputtered from her mouth, and she fainted. … When Elvira opened her eyes again, she was lying in her own bed. Her body ached everywhere, so intensely it felt as if she had been crushed. Martha was secretly applying medicine to her wounds, wiping tears from her cheeks as she whispered, "Ms. Elvira, please just give in to Don Corleone. You don't have to suffer like this." Elvira's voice was hoarse as she shook her head. "Give in to him? If I bend to this family, they'll leave nothing of me." She paused and gave a faint smile that looked more painful than crying. "It's just a beating. Elena now has a wound, too. It's fair. I can handle it." She reached under her pillow, pulled out a bank card, and pressed it into Martha's hand. "Take this. I'm leaving the country soon, and I won't be back. You belong to my mother. Once I'm gone, they won't treat you well. This is enough for your retirement. Quit and leave." Martha stared at the card, then at the injured Elvira, her tears falling uncontrollably. She tried to bow, but Elvira quickly stopped her. "Martha, I feel like having the mushroom soup you used to make," she said weakly, a trace of her younger self in her tone. "Alright, I'll make some right away." Martha wiped her tears and hurried off to the kitchen. Once the room was quiet again, Elvira gritted her teeth through the pain and packed her luggage. She gathered every gift Vincent had given her. He didn't love her, but he was extremely generous. The jewelry and luxury car keys were bought with dirty money and were worth hundreds of millions. She had originally wanted to throw everything away, but changed her mind and decided to auction them off instead. She knew there was a "charity auction" tonight at a high-end club controlled by her family, a place mainly used for laundering money. As evening fell, Elvira carried several large suitcases into the club. After delivering the items to the auction handlers, she turned around and saw Vincent and Elena walking in together. Elena leaned close to Vincent, and when she spotted Elvira, a hint of pride and provocation flashed through her eyes. Elvira paid them no heed. She was about to find a seat when a drunk man approached her. He was an Associate from a minor family who had long been thinking about her. "Ms. Corleone, it must be lonely sitting here by yourself. Let me keep you company." He reached for her waist as he spoke. Elvira pushed him away. "Get lost!" The next second, the man was kicked aside and quickly dragged out by the staff. Elvira recognized the person who struck—Vincent's personal bodyguard. She instinctively looked toward Vincent. The lighting was dim, making his expression unclear. He still had an arm around Elena, as if none of this had anything to do with him. The lights brightened, and the auction began. The first item presented was Elvira's jewelry. The starting price was 10 million dollars, shocking the entire room. Vincent recognized them immediately, his gaze sharpening. Elena tugged his sleeve. "Vincent, that necklace is so pretty. I like it." He remained silent for a moment before raising his paddle. The entire lot of jewelry ended up being sold to him for 100 million dollars, and he gifted it all to Elena. Elvira snickered inwardly. It was the most ironic form of returning things to their rightful owner. Chapter 8 Elvira left her seat at intermission to touch up her makeup. When she stepped out of the restroom, she saw Vincent leaning against the wall in the hallway, smoking. She tried to walk past without looking at him, but he grabbed her wrist. "Why did you sell the gifts I gave you?" His voice was quiet, with a hint of roughness. Elvira lifted her eyes, her tone edged with sarcasm. "Why did you step in earlier? Are you going to say it's because I'm Lilian's friend, or maybe because I'm Elena's sister?" Vincent pressed his fingers against his brow, a hint of fatigue flickering across his face. "You're always like a hedgehog, prickles out all the time. How does that help you?" How did that help her? If she didn't protect herself like that, this family and Elena would have devoured her long ago. "My matters have nothing to do with you," Elvira answered, jerking her hand free. "And as for men, I can have as many as I want. You don't get a say on it either." His voice dropped lower. "Where are you going?" She didn't answer him. She turned and walked away. She returned to her seat, wanting this farce to end so she could leave Norwell for good. However, when the next auction item appeared, her expression froze. It was a blue diamond ring. The design was vintage and elegant. Inside the band, she could see the account password for a secret bank in Norwell engraved into the metal. That ring had been her mother's most cherished possession. It was the last form of protection her mother left for her. Her gaze shot to Elena, and the smug look in Elena's eyes said everything. Antonio must have stolen her mother's ring and given it to Elena, who then gave it to a charity auction just to humiliate her. Elvira forced herself to stay calm and took part in the bidding. She couldn't let her mother's ring fall into anyone else's hands. After several intense rounds of bidding, Elvira went all in and finally won the ring. Relief washed through her as she stood to collect the ring. Just then, Elena suddenly rose. "Wait." Her tone was gentle, but the malice behind it was clear. "I made a mistake. I brought the wrong item. This ring is my personal keepsake, and I must've mixed it up. Sorry, but I'm not planning on auctioning it." With that, she took the ring, flashed Elvira a smile of victory, and turned to leave. Elvira hurried after her, catching her outside the club. "Elena, give the ring back. I'll pay you whatever amount you want." "I'm not short on money." Elena toyed with the ring, smiling cruelly. "You've always been so proud and cared so much about appearances. If you want it, you can go down there and pick it up yourself." She walked to the edge of the man-made lake and tossed the ring into the dark water. Elvira jumped into the freezing lake without a second of hesitation. Mud clung to her clothes and smeared the makeup across her face, but none of that mattered. She searched the bottom blindly, her fingers scraping against sharp stones. That ring was the only remaining piece of her mother. She couldn't lose it. … When Vincent came out after finishing his cigarette, the first thing he saw was Elvira struggling in the lake. His brows tightened, and he hurried toward the water. He reached his hand toward her, his voice tinged with suppressed fury. "Elvira, get out of there!" She pushed his hand away and kept searching. Finally, her fingertips brushed something solid and cold. She grabbed it and clutched it tightly, dragging herself out of the lake, soaked from head to toe. Vincent looked at the ring in her hand, his eyes dark. "You donated hundreds of millions like it was nothing, yet you're willing to throw your life away for a trinket like this?" "You don't understand anything!" Elvira was trembling from the cold and from anger. "You're the one who said we were done, so do me a favor and leave me alone, Vincent. Don't talk to me either." Her words pierced straight through him. His body stiffened, his pupils constricting. Just then, Elena approached, reaching immediately for the ring. "Thank you for retrieving it for me." "This belonged to my mother!" Elvira held on tightly, refusing to release it. "Vincent, my mom gave it to me…" Elena said softly, turning to him with wet eyes. Vincent looked at Elvira's stubborn grip, then at Elena's expectant gaze. His hand closed around Elvira's wrist. "Let go," he demanded sharply. Elvira glared at him, her eyes bloodshot. "No!" Vincent used more and more force, practically relying on brute strength as he pried her fingers open one by one. A sharp crack sounded, and Elvira let out a stifled cry of pain. Her wrist had been snapped by him, just like that. Agony rushed through her entire body. Her face turned completely pale as she stared at the cold and ruthless man in front of her, unable to believe what he had just done. Elena took the chance to snatch the ring, shot Elvira a triumphant look, and walked off while holding onto Vincent's arm. Elvira held back the pain and tried to chase after them, but as soon as they stepped back into the club, the lighting rig above suddenly came loose and dropped straight toward Elena. Vincent reacted immediately and shoved Elena out of the way. The side of the heavy frame ended up scraping against the back of Elvira's head. "Elena!" His expression shifted dramatically. He lifted Elena into his arms and ran toward the parking lot without once looking at Elvira, who was curled up on the floor in pain. The pain had her on the edge of losing consciousness as she clutched at her fractured wrist. Fortunately, she was taken to the hospital by a kind passerby. When the doctor examined her injuries, he couldn't help but ask, "Who did this to you?" Elvira didn't respond. She stared out the window, her tears falling silently. Her heart hurt far more than her body did. Chapter 9 Elvira had barely settled into her ward when Vincent walked in with a dark expression on his face. "Elvira, I checked the security footage. You bribed the club staff and loosened the lighting rig on purpose because you wanted to kill Elena, didn't you?" His voice was cold enough to cut. She found it ridiculous and looked at him coolly. "No, I didn't." "Who else would harbor this much hatred toward Elena if not you?" Vincent stepped closer. "I truly underestimated you, Elvira. You're reckless and capable of doing anything!" "I said I didn't do it. You have no right to accuse me." Elvira's entire body shook with anger, and the pain in her wrist nearly made her collapse. "I'm accusing you?" Vincent took out his phone and dialed a number, speaking into it with a cold command. "Elvira Corleone, the daughter of the Corleone family, is suspected of assault. Send people over and lock her up for a few days until she learns." "Vincent!" Elvira stared at him in fear, unable to believe he was actually using his connections to have her thrown in a detention center. No matter how she struggled or tried to explain, nothing helped. Soon, uniformed officers arrived at the ward. They all belonged to the Allen family and followed Vincent's orders without hesitation. … Ignoring the doctor's protest and Elvira's condition, the police took her away by force. Life in the detention center was a living hell. The three women in the same cell were clearly following Elena's instructions and bullying her in every way possible. They knew Elvira was the daughter of a Mafia family, but they also knew she had fallen from power and had no one left to protect her. Beatings became routine. Her already fractured wrist was deliberately stomped on again and again, each time sending unbearable pain through her body. Her wounds became infected and inflamed. New injuries layered over the old, and the blood never stopped. Elvira curled up in the corner like an abandoned stray. She even started to wonder if she would make it out alive. Just when she was on the brink of collapsing and giving up completely, her phone buzzed. It was a notification that her visa to go abroad had been approved. At that moment, Elvira latched onto it like a lifeline. She couldn't die here. She needed to leave Norwell, survive, and make sure everyone who hurt her paid the price. Fueled by that belief, she forced herself through the days that followed. … A few days later, when Elvira was finally released, she was barely recognizable. Covered in injuries, she was weak and close to passing out. Dragging her broken body, she took a cab back to the Corleone residence. She only wanted to grab her luggage and head straight for the airport. As soon as she walked inside, she saw her best friend Lilian. Lilian had just returned from traveling around the world. The moment she heard what had happened to Elvira, she rushed over immediately. The second she saw Elvira in that state, Lilian burst into tears and hugged her tightly while apologizing profusely, "Elvira, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I never liked Elena and knew Vincent still had feelings for her, so I encouraged you to go after him. "I never imagined it would turn out like this. If I had known, I would never have let you go, even if it killed me." Elvira shook her head. Her voice was hoarse and barely audible. "It's not your fault. It's over now, and I've already let it go. I'm leaving Norwell. I won't ever come back." Lilian froze and tried to stop her. "Elvira, don't go. Stay here. I'll take care of you. I'll protect you. I won't let my brother get away with this." "No," Elvira murmured. "There's nothing here worth staying for." Seeing the emptiness and finality in Elvira's eyes, Lilian knew nothing she said would change her mind. With red, swollen eyes, she helped Elvira pack her remaining belongings. Before leaving, Elvira took one last look at the house that held all her childhood memories and was now full of betrayal and darkness. She took out a can of gasoline she had prepared long ago. Ignoring the housekeepers trying to stop her, she poured it in every corner without a change in expression, then lit a lighter. Flames shot up instantly, swallowing everything from the past. All the false affection, hopeless love, and cruel abuse were turned to ashes with the fire. Elvira picked up her luggage and walked away without a single glance back. Lilian drove her to the airport and kept apologizing the entire way, saying she would give Elvira the power of judgment over Bayton Harbor's underground scene as compensation. Yet, Elvira shook her head and leaned against the car window, watching the scenery blur past. "No need. Letting go of the wrong person is the only way to meet the right one. I'm pretty. I'll definitely find someone better in the future." Lilian quickly agreed. "You're right. You're the prettiest, Elvira. You'll find someone who cherishes you." … When they reached the airport, Lilian clung to her and sobbed uncontrollably. "Elvira, you have to live well, and make them regret everything!" Elvira hugged her back and gave her a gentle pat before letting go. She gave a carefree wave, then turned and walked toward security. Lilian watched her silhouette disappear into the long hallway and finally broke down, crouching on the floor as she cried. After a long while, she gathered the courage to call Vincent. The phone rang for a long time before he finally answered. "Vincent," she said in a nasally tone, her voice strained with anger. "I know you like Elena, but Elvira was with you for three years. She's leaving now, and she'll never come back. Are you not going to send her off?" The line went silent. A few seconds later, Vincent's voice came through, with a barely detectable tension and hoarseness. "Who... did you say is leaving?"