00:00At the gala in Palermo, I stood in a row with 12 other heiresses, waiting to be chosen.
00:05One flower, one night, one chance.
00:08As Don Earl's Bastarda, I had no room to fail.
00:11Lorenzo Rossi, heir of the Rossi family, was my childhood friend.
00:15He was the only man who'd agreed to protect me, and he had promised me the white lily.
00:19We'd made the deal just yesterday, three years of cover.
00:22Then he could love whoever he wanted.
00:24Yesterday, he'd said yes.
00:25Tonight, at the last second, he smiled and handed the flower to the girl beside me.
00:29Mia, the scholarship student he'd been sponsoring.
00:32Her hands were shaking as she took it.
00:34Let Mia have the spotlight today, Elena.
00:38The poor thing has never known happiness.
00:40Don't worry.
00:41As long as I'm here, no one will dare arrange your marriage.
00:44I looked at him.
00:45He was already turning away, placing Mia's hand on his arm.
00:49Mia is elegant and noble.
00:52She is worthy of this honor.
00:55Noble.
00:56The word landed like a slap.
00:58Whispers rippled through the crowd.
00:59I stood empty-handed, the Don's bastard daughter, publicly passed over for a stray.
01:04When the crowd dispersed, Lorenzo appeared at my side, wine glass in hand.
01:09These idiots.
01:10I told them to save you at least one flower.
01:15Do you know what tonight means?
01:17The white lily wasn't decoration.
01:19It was a marriage proposal between families.
01:22Without it, I had nothing.
01:23No protection.
01:24No choice.
01:25No way out of the arranged marriage Donna Earl had already planned for me in New York.
01:29Lorenzo was my only option.
01:31No other man here would choose the bastardha.
01:33And he'd just chosen someone else.
01:3618 years.
01:39He didn't answer.
01:40Behind him, Mia was smiling.
01:42The white lily in her hands, still perfect.
01:46Guilt flickered across Lorenzo's face.
01:48He sent Mia away.
01:50You're used to these events, Elena.
01:52But Mia's poor.
01:54This is her only shot to shine in her whole life.
01:59Just, just do me a favor.
02:04You can have your way any other day.
02:06Why today of all days?
02:07I stayed silent.
02:13Today's her graduation.
02:15After tonight, I can't sponsor her anymore.
02:20I promised her one unforgettable memory.
02:23Unforgettable for me, too.
02:25But it was too late.
02:27Lorenzo, do you understand?
02:28What the gala?
02:30Mia returned before I could finish.
02:32Elena, did I ruin everything?
02:37Please don't blame Lorenzo.
02:39I begged him to...
02:41Enough, Elena.
02:42It's just a flower.
02:44I'll buy you another one.
02:45He reached into a nearby vase,
02:47pulled out a rose,
02:48and shoved it into my hand.
02:52Roses suit you better anyway.
02:55A lily isn't worth making a scene over.
02:57This isn't like you.
02:58The rose was dripping wet.
03:00Its thorns had been cut.
03:01Its stems snapped short,
03:02just like me.
03:03But the white lily meant honor.
03:05The wife of a don.
03:06A queen.
03:07The red rose meant mistress.
03:09A woman you kept in the shadows.
03:11An illegitimate bootlicker,
03:13thinking she could marry the Rossi heir?
03:15Didn't you hear him say noble?
03:17Even a poor student ranks higher.
03:20Lorenzo silenced the woman with one look,
03:22but the words had already sunk in.
03:27Elena, I'm sorry.
03:29You've always had everything.
03:31I just wanted one night to feel special.
03:34Everything?
03:35I'm a bastard, Mia.
03:37Do you have any idea how the Marotti family treats me?
03:40The cake slipped from her hands and landed on her shoe.
03:43Her eyes filled with tears.
03:45Look, it's already done.
03:47Let her enjoy tonight.
03:50Come on, let's get you cleaned up.
03:53You can head home if you want.
03:56Home?
03:57I didn't have one.
03:58As soon as Lorenzo left my side,
04:00someone closed in.
04:01Antonio Ricci,
04:02a reckless libertine from a rival crew,
04:05sidled up to me.
04:06You smell good, Elena Moretti.
04:09Without Lorenzo,
04:10I didn't even get basic respect.
04:12Lorenzo told me to give you a flower.
04:15I didn't.
04:16I told you before,
04:17stop chasing him and try me instead,
04:19but you never listened.
04:21How's it feel now?
04:23Humiliating, isn't it?
04:24Lorenzo had given him the task of delivering my flower,
04:27knowing Antonio had been harassing me for months?
04:29Another betrayal.
04:30I only asked for three years.
04:32Three years to gain enough power
04:34to escape the Moretti family's grip,
04:36but Donna wanted me gone.
04:37She wouldn't even give me time to breathe.
04:40If it wasn't for that pretty face,
04:42you'd be nothing.
04:45Ritzy,
04:46did I not warn you?
04:48Don't touch my people.
04:51That's none of your business.
04:53Your people?
04:54You just picked the charity girl.
04:56What do you need Elena for?
04:58She's mine.
04:59That's all you need to know.
05:00Antonio spat and walked away.
05:01Lorenzo spun me around to face him.
05:04He touched you and you didn't fight back?
05:08Wasn't this your idea?
05:10Lorenzo, could I get some champagne?
05:13One's cold and stubborn.
05:15The other's bright and warm.
05:16Lorenzo's choice was easy.
05:18Tonight, you're the star.
05:19Whatever you want.
05:21We'll talk tomorrow.
05:22I'll come by your place.
05:24Tomorrow?
05:25I smiled coldly.
05:26Tomorrow, you'll have to come to New York to find me.
05:31Lorenzo left to greet the other Capos,
05:34and Mia walked back to me,
05:35holding a glass of wine.
05:37The timid scholarship girl was gone.
05:39In her place stood someone who'd tasted power.
05:42You have everything, Elena.
05:45Why do you need to take this one moment of glory from me?
05:51I should never have helped Lorenzo choose her for the scholarship.
05:55You grew up in luxury.
05:58I only wanted Lorenzo's protection for one night.
06:04Luxury?
06:06You think I'm better off than you?
06:08My mother died early.
06:09Don Earl brought me back to the estate when I was little.
06:12Donna looked at me like she wanted me dead.
06:14My father had mistresses everywhere
06:16and didn't care about one more bastard daughter.
06:18I learned to read faces young.
06:20Without this face, I wouldn't have survived.
06:22I was trapped between two sides.
06:24I turned to Uncle Luca and begged him to train me,
06:27to back me up.
06:28Uncle Luca never smiled.
06:33Your father has 23 children.
06:36Why should I invest in a bastard who won't last?
06:39Because I have nothing to lose.
06:41I'll do what they won't.
06:43But the time wasn't right.
06:44Uncle Luca wouldn't help me either.
06:46They say Dante Vitale is ruthless.
06:48Anyone who crosses him gets crushed without mercy.
06:51The Morettis wanted his protection,
06:53but wouldn't sacrifice a legitimate daughter.
06:55So they chose me.
06:58Uncle Luca must know how the gala ended.
07:04Elena.
07:05Do you think Lorenzo even knows what the gala means?
07:09I wasn't the type to dwell on emotions.
07:11I needed to find a way to stay.
07:14Do you know what tonight actually means?
07:16Sure, it's a matchmaking event, but it's just formality.
07:18Don't worry.
07:18I'll talk to the Morettis.
07:19No one's forcing you into marriage.
07:20Then can you get the lily back from Mia?
07:22I'll return it tomorrow.
07:23That's not good.
07:24It's already hers.
07:25That orchid had a rare golden edge.
07:27It couldn't be copied at all.
07:29Lorenzo, you know I won't clink on you.
07:30Why did you humiliate me tonight?
07:32Elena, no one else will take you.
07:35You're a Moretti bastard.
07:36Everyone Palermo knows you're mine.
07:38Elena, please don't fight with Lorenzo.
07:42Enough, Elena.
07:43Tomorrow, Mia goes back to her life.
07:46I left the gala and got into Uncle Luca's car.
07:49Accept your loss.
07:50Tomorrow you leave for New York.
07:54I'll come back.
07:56Back at the estate, Donna glanced at Uncle Luca, then at me.
08:00We've raised you for 18 years.
08:02Time to repay that.
08:03Tomorrow, you leave.
08:05Nothing in this house was mine.
08:07Not even the plane ticket.
08:08Uncle Luca said nothing and went to his room.
08:10I went to my small bedroom to pack.
08:12My half-sister, Bianca, leaned in the doorway, checking her nails.
08:17Mom told me to keep an eye on you.
08:20Don't take anything valuable.
08:22Not even tonight's gown.
08:25Oh, and Mom said Dante Vitale already in love with someone else.
08:29Good luck.
08:31I took off the gown in front of her and removed all the jewelry.
08:35Then I walked to the bathroom in my slip.
08:37Mia had posted a photo in Instagram.
08:39She was glowing.
08:40Lorenzo's arm around her.
08:41He was still wearing the cufflinks I'd given him.
08:44I left everything Lorenzo had ever given me behind.
08:47Before dawn, I was up.
08:48No goodbyes.
08:49I grabbed my backpack and headed to the airport.
08:52Security, boarding, everything went smoothly.
08:54As the plane taxied, I shut off my phone completely,
08:58cutting all ties to Palermo.
08:59Then the announcement came.
09:01Apologies, passengers.
09:03The Rossi family has purchased all available flights out of Plasso today.
09:06We are returning back.
09:09I stared out the window as the runway slowed back down.
09:15The plane came to a stop.
09:24My phone reconnected and messages flooded in.
09:28The announcement came again.
09:29Apologies for the inconvenience.
09:31To compensate, the Rossi family will refund your ticket at ten times the price.
09:36Who do you think the Rossi family is looking for?
09:38Wow.
09:39This is so dramatic.
09:40Like a movie.
09:43I scrolled through my phone, exhausted.
09:46Lorenzo had gone to the Moretti estate early this morning looking for me.
09:50He saw the gown, the jewelry, everything I'd left behind.
09:54But my backpack was gone.
09:56He panicked.
09:57He demanded answers from the Morettis.
10:00Where did Elena go?
10:01Lorenzo lost.
10:04He almost tore the estate apart.
10:06Then he started calling me.
10:07But by then, I was already on the plane.
10:10When Lorenzo realized I hadn't taken a single thing he'd ever given me, he snapped.
10:14I grabbed my backpack and got off the plane.
10:17It was early.
10:18I was starving.
10:21I found a small cafe and ordered pasta.
10:27Uncle Luca's message came through.
10:29Do you want to come back?
10:30Lorenzo still wants you.
10:33The Moretti family was built on schemes.
10:36Lorenzo might spoil me, but he'd never lose face for me.
10:40Going back meant more humiliation.
10:48Moving forward.
10:50Maybe there was a chance.
10:52I ate slowly, watching black-suited men flood the terminal.
10:57They grabbed every woman who looked like me, asking questions.
11:00Then Lorenzo rushed in, drenched in sweat.
11:04His phone pressed to his ear.
11:06He passed right by my table.
11:07He looked desperate, frantic.
11:11Confused.
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