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Short filmTranscript
00:00daughter of the most powerful don in corvina my 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 merino family it's an arranged
00:10marriage but that doesn't mean i've lost all my say the very least i can do is choose a ring
00:15i
00:15genuinely like so i go to the mafia auction when the diamond ring appears as the final jewel of
00:22the night i lift my paddle just before the gavel falls an arrogant voice comes from behind me
00:28a country bumplin like you thinks you can compete with me do yourself a favor and leave the auction
00:35hall goes quiet for a few seconds the only sound comes from the camera shutters clicking around the
00:40hall i turn and see a woman in a gold couture gown her mouth curves in a casual smile as
00:46if she owns
00:47the place before i can say a word the auctioneer rushes to close the bid sold congratulations to
00:53miss sofia lopez for winning the final lot the eternal star my brows pull tight and a hot spike
01:00of anger rises in my chest you ended the bidding early do you even follow the rules here sofia turns
01:07around and gives me a once-over her gaze sharp as a blade rules she lets out a cold laugh
01:13come on
01:13i'm luca marino's favorite god sister around here i make the rules i can't help but laugh what a
01:21coincidence so she's my fiancee's god sister i pull out my phone and call him luca your god
01:29sister just snatched the engagement ring i picked out how are you gonna handle this
01:36it seemed like sofia lopez wasn't just a god sister to luca marino
01:40if luca couldn't give me a good explanation this engagement was off the table i called the number
01:46i'd saved but never once dialed once the call connected i went straight to the point your god
01:52sister is trying to snatch the engagement ring i chose what do you have to say about that silence
01:57hung for a moment then a cold unfamiliar voice came through the line who is this whatever's going on
02:04between sofia and me isn't something an outsider gets to question before i could say my name he had
02:10already hung up i stared at the dark screen for a second and let out an incredulous laugh obviously
02:16he hadn't even saved my number sofia's laughter cut through the crowd sharp with smug delight pathetic
02:22you somehow got luca's number and actually think that means he knows you god 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 even the nannies in the marino family dressed better than
02:41you the lackeys around her couldn't hold back and burst into mocking laughter
02:47i had always believed comfort mattered more than designer labels but in a hall drowning in diamonds
02:53and custom gowns no one here cared about that belief i pressed my lips together heat rising up my
02:58chest so you're still judging people by logos you're unbelievably shallow luca's
03:05sure had special taste when picking his god sister thanks to her stunt i wasn't in the mood for the
03:10auction anymore i turned to the auctioneer and pointed straight at the eternal star ring in the
03:15display case i want to activate the automatic bidding system whatever she offers i'll pay double
03:22miss our automatic bidding service is reserved for clients with vip cards sofia gave a sharp little
03:29snort she reached into her clutch pulled out a gold vip card and slapped it onto the podium
03:34i spend seven figures a year here and you how exactly do you compare to me i drew in a
03:42slow breath
03:42took out a plain black card with no logo and placed it beside hers unlimited credit black card
03:49is that sufficient open the vip account and restart the bid
03:55a wave of startled whispers rolled through the hall sofia's smile faded and her tone turned colder
04:02this is merino territory if anyone sides with her i'll make sure they never work in this city again
04:09the auctioneer's face went chalk white his voice shook as he said miss i'm just a staff member
04:15i really can't afford to offend the merino family several guests who'd seen the whole thing started
04:21trying to persuade me just let it go i've run into miss lopez before mr martino indulges her in
04:28everything someone crossed her last month and his entire business was gone the very next day miss
04:34even if you've got money don't fight the merino family their reach isn't something people like us
04:40can survive just apologize and ask miss lopez to forgive you before this gets worse under all
04:46those cautious glances and hushed warnings sofia only grew more pleased with herself she crossed
04:53her arms and came closer wearing a smug smile the amusement in her eyes practically sparkled you heard
04:59them get on your knees and shout i'm broke and i know i was wrong do that and maybe i'll
05:07let you walk out
05:08of here in all 26 years of my life no one had ever dared to talk to me like that
05:15say that again
05:17what exactly do you want me to shout are you deaf i said i'm broke and i know i was
05:25wrong
05:25got it now loud and clear since you admit you're broke hurry up and get out of here before you
05:32drag
05:32down the merino name sofia's face flushed as she finally realized what i'd done you you twisted my
05:38words how dare you make fun of me she screeched and hurled herself at me arms flailing like a furious
05:44chicken it would have been funny if she weren't so noisy i had trained with my family's bodyguards
05:50in corvina for 10 years i wasn't about to be intimidated by a woman whose punches were nothing
05:55but a performance i drove a clean sidekick into her ribs sofia went down hard holding onto the
06:01carpet with a pained groan regret next time you open your mouth remember whose territory you're
06:07standing on gasps rippled through the hall oh my god she actually hit mrs lopez when mr marino hears
06:17about this he'll have her chopped up and thrown into the bay she's done not even god can save her
06:24now i tuned their chatter out the marino family only stood where they did today because my father had
06:30pulled them up when they were nothing in this city there wasn't a single person i needed to be afraid
06:36of
06:36i slapped my black card on the podium again like i said whatever she bids i'll pay double wrap the
06:44ring
06:44and hand it over the auctioneer's knees visibly buckled hands shaking he hit the authorization
06:50button and personally presented the velvet box to me i put it into a bag and turned to leave
06:55only for sophia to drag herself upright and stumble back into my path don't you dare leave i tapped the
07:02toe of my heel against the floor and glanced down what is it you want another practical demonstration
07:09she instinctively took a step back i let out a soft dismissive laugh and pivoted toward the exit
07:16but i didn't get far a wall of men in black suits suddenly filled the doorway blocking every way
07:22out before the guests could even process what was happening the line of bodyguards split cleanly down
07:27the middle a man walked through the gap they made i looked up and for a second my heart actually
07:32skipped
07:33the overhead lights fell across him outlining every inch of his frame he had the kind of build tailors
07:39dreamed about broad shoulders narrow waist long leg his face was all sharp planes and clean edges
07:45so perfect it looked like someone had carved it out of stone sophia immediately switched on the
07:50waterworks and ran to him tears glistening luca she stole my ring
07:57and hit me so this was my fiance no wonder my father had sworn up and down that i'd like
08:02him
08:02he knew me too well i was hopelessly shallow when it came to looks and luca fit my taste a
08:08little too
08:08perfectly seeing that face alone i almost felt like forgiving his earlier attitude on the phone
08:13i straightened gave him my most confident smile and introduced myself hi i'm isa borgia your fiance
08:24a ripple of shock moved through the crowd what did she say she's mr marino's fiance well obviously
08:32the fiance matters more than a god sister not really it depends on who mr marino actually favors
08:39luca's cold gaze settled on me don't flatter yourself that engagement was my father's decision
08:45i never agreed to it sophia leaned into luca with her head on his shoulder her eyes sparkling with a
08:50challenge she wasn't bothering to hide look at you in those cheap clothes
08:55you really think you deserve to marry him you're not even qualified to shine my shoes
09:00someone in the crowd eagerly piled on exactly if mr marino ever gets married it'll be to a real
09:07heiress why would he choose a nobody from the countryside she looks dirty i feel like the air
09:13smells worse already she's nowhere near miss lopez's level i'd worn something simple there was nothing
09:19dirty about it but in their mouths i'd somehow turned into a walking trash heap people always
09:24did love kicking whoever they thought was at the bottom
09:30i lifted my eyes slowly and let my gaze sweep the entire auction hall before bringing it back to luca's
09:36face in that case go home and tell your father to call off the wedding and the reason i don't
09:43want you
09:44my father told me that luca's father antonio marino had pulled every string he could to make
09:49this engagement happen if he ever learned it all blew up because of luca i'd pay to see the look
09:54on his face that thought eased my irritation i couldn't be bothered arguing with this pack of
09:59idiots anymore so i turned to leave but sophia wasn't done she came stomping toward me in her
10:04stilettos like a hyena that had caught the scent of blood with two bodyguards following closely behind
10:09her the black pistols peeking from their holsters were enough to freeze the room
10:14you bitch you think you can just walk away you snatched my ring and laid hands on me
10:20we're not done i gave her a cold look so what exactly do you want to do
10:24she mistook my patience for fear her hand snapped up toward my face
10:29i'll hit you until i feel better
10:35before her palm could land i caught her wrist twisted and slapped her across the face with my
10:40other hand sophia clutched her cheek staring at me in disbelief you lowlife how dare you
10:46why wouldn't i i cut her off slapping her other cheek just as hard is this enough for you the
10:53two
10:53slaps knocked the arrogance right off her face tears sprang to her eyes as she stumbled back and
10:58threw herself behind luca using him like a shield luca she hit me you have to stand up for me
11:05luca pulled her behind him and looked at me with a gaze so dark it could have dripped ink
11:09how dare you slap her you must really have a death wish he gave his bodyguards a subtle hand signal
11:16several of the bodyguards lunged at me at the same time i took down the first one who charged at
11:21me but
11:21the rest came too fast hits rained on me from all directions pain tore through my ribs and back until
11:28my legs gave out two bodyguards grabbed me under the arms and hauled me over to luca and sophia
11:35luca stroked sophia's swollen cheek and said softly do whatever you want with her if anything happens
11:41i'll take care of it his words sent a spark through sophia she spat at me her face contorting
11:47with cruel satisfaction bitch weren't you so bold just now come on keep acting tough you want to
11:55fight me over a ring fine i'll break your fingers let's see what you'll wear on them after that at
12:02her nod the two bodyguards pinned my shoulders before forcing my arm out in front of me stretching
12:07my fingers over the polished floor i lifted my head and stared straight at luca and sophia
12:12if you go through with this i swear i'll make you both pay for it sophia let out a sharp
12:18laugh the
12:19marino family is one of the five ruling houses in norham city and you you're a nameless little stray
12:24from nowhere you think you get to threaten us today i'll make sure you never forget what happens when
12:29you cross me her stiletto drove down on my fingers and pain ripped through my hand i bit down so
12:37hard i
12:38tasted blood i was pretty sure i heard something crap everyone around us looked away from the violence
12:44but no one had the courage to step in she shouldn't have picked a fight with a marino her hands
12:49are done
12:49for she'll be lucky if she can even feed herself after this we're just civilians people like us swallow
12:55our pride or end up dead i had loved the piano since i was a child i would be performing
13:00on stages
13:00all around the world i couldn't lose my hands the thought of losing them sent a cold strangling fear
13:06through me when sophia lifted her heel again my resolve collapsed i was wrong you can have the ring
13:13take it just don't hurt my hands revenge could wait but fingers didn't grow back however sophia
13:20didn't pause her heel pressed down again harder this time a metallic smell rose from my bleeding hand
13:28sophia finished grinding her heel into my fingers then squatted down pinched my chin tightly
13:34and brought her face right up to mine her mascara was a little smudged and fine lines were visible at
13:39the corners of her eyes i noticed these details only because my face was pressed so close to hers
13:45do you actually think you're special she whispered softly as if sharing a secret let me tell you
13:51luca has already gone through three fiances i drove every single one of them away
13:56you're the fourth and by far the stupidest one blood seeped from the corner of my mouth but i didn't
14:03talk back it wasn't because i didn't dare it was because i had no strength left my right hand had
14:08already gone completely numb i didn't dare look at it that's right sophia laughed her voice full of
14:14malice the first one was dumped by him the second left on her own and the third i personally made
14:20her
14:20disappear her eyes changed turning dark and sinister how long do you think you can hold on
14:27she stood up and coldly ordered the bodyguard pin her other hand down too today i'm going to crush
14:33both of her hands let's see how she seduces after this you bitch oh now you're scared too late for
14:44that
14:45you're not leaving this place until i say so a scream tore out of my throat i turned my head
14:52to
14:52luca luca aren't you afraid of who i am if you let her do this you'll regret it who are
15:01you
15:01you're nothing just a woman who tricked my father sophia saw his reaction and her smile grew even more
15:09vicious you're still trying to seduce luca while i'm right here if i don't break your hands you'll
15:17never learn no just then my phone rang from inside my bag i struggled against the men holding me trying
15:25to reach for it but sophia moved faster she grabbed the phone glanced at the screen and answered it with
15:31a cold laugh my father's voice came through at once tight with worry isa why aren't you home yet
15:39is the auction still going i dragged in a breath and shouted as loudly as i could
15:44papa help me they're going to destroy my hands
15:53my father's voice went cold in an instant what who is this sophia shouted into the phone
15:58i'm sophia lopez your daughter's been acting like a slut with men so i'm teaching her a lesson
16:05i don't care who you are let my daughter go touch her again and you'll wish you've never been born
16:11if you've got the guts come over here her heel slammed into my hand once more and i couldn't hold
16:16back a cry i'm right here waiting i'll break her hands first and let you hear it and when you
16:23get
16:23back here i'll break yours too she hung up and slammed my phone to the floor it shattered into pieces
16:29then she ordered the men around us to beat me five minutes passed it wasn't long on a clock but
16:35it felt
16:35like half a lifetime at last a familiar armored black sedan rolled to a stop outside the auction hall
16:41the air itself seemed to tighten my father stepped out of the car his black coat still carrying the faint
16:47scent of gunpowder and blood his eyes were cold with fury as he pushed the main doors open his voice
16:56cut through the hall like a blade who dares to threaten to break my hands and my daughters when
17:03my father stepped into the doorway the air in the auction halls seemed to freeze his sharp gaze swept
17:08the room once then stopped on me i was still being held down sophia still had no idea danger had
17:14just
17:14walked in she even let out a dismissive laugh and stepped forward in her stilettos so you're this
17:20slut's father perfect your daughter snatched my ring and slapped me you two had better apologize right
17:26now or the marino family won't let either of you walk out of here the crowd rippled with whispers
17:31a few guests edged toward my father their voices low and nervous sir you should back down miss lopez
17:39is mr marino's favorite god sister in norham city no one dares cross the marino family for you rs safety
17:47and your daughters just admit fault there's no shaming my father didn't spare any of them a glance
17:55he simply lifted his hand the two men behind him moved at once striding over to me they kicked aside
18:02the bodyguards holding my shoulders and pulled me gently to my feet i staggered into my father's arms
18:07he caught me pulling me close as he soothed me with a gentle hand on my back does it hurt
18:12my little
18:12princess his voice sounded calm but anyone who knew him could hear the storm gathering beneath it
18:17i nodded and tears slipped down my cheeks they wanted to rip out my nails too papa his eyes grew
18:24even colder he turned to sophia and luca his voice edged with undeniable authority in my whole life
18:30almost nothing has ever made me apologize sophia flinched under his stare then quickly latched
18:36onto luca's arm and tried to look composed luca look at them they really don't know their place
18:42luca finally spoke his tone icy sir you'd better do as sophia says in norham city going against my family
18:50is unwise my father let out a mocking laugh your family which one would that be the madrine family
19:00the marneff family he waved a hand dismissively i don't bother remembering small families
19:07even if your father antonio were standing in front of me he wouldn't dare to speak to me like that
19:14luca's
19:15expression shifted in an instant he said in a low voice anger seeping through sir even if you know
19:21my father isn't that a bit too arrogant my father didn't even look at luca he took out his phone
19:28dialed
19:29a number and raised it to his ear the call connected almost immediately antonio your son just asked me
19:36if i was being too arrogant there was a few seconds of silence on the other end then antonio's voice
19:43came
19:43through trembling noticeably don borgia luca he doesn't know what you're talking about
19:51he doesn't know father repeated a cold smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth there are
19:56so many things he doesn't know for example who dragged the marino family out of the ruins of
20:02corvola 20 years ago or how his father knelt in front of me back then with snot and tears all
20:09over
20:09his face begging me to take him in luca's face turned deathly pale in an instant father hadn't
20:14put the call on speaker but the hall was deathly quiet so antonio's voice still came through
20:19intermittently don borgia i beg you luca is still a child he doesn't understand a child father cut him
20:27off when your son ordered his men to gang up and beat my daughter he wasn't acting like a child
20:33another heavy silence then antonio's voice became even lower almost a whisper i i will come and
20:39apologize in person tomorrow whatever conditions you want i'll agree to all of them father didn't
20:45answer he hung up the phone directly he put the phone back in his pocket then finally looked at luca
20:51again did you hear that your father didn't even dare to ask what happened he only knows one thing
20:57he has offended someone he shouldn't have luca's lips were trembling but he still gritted his teeth
21:02and said you you're bluffing me you fake that call before he could finish luca's phone rang he looked
21:10down at the screen and his pupils shrank violently caller id father luca's finger hovered over the answer
21:17button refusing to press it for a long time my father glanced at him and said indifferently
21:22answer it listen to what your father has to say gritting his teeth luca finally pressed the answer
21:28button antonio's voice exploded from the receiver loud enough for everyone within three meters to hear
21:34animal do you even know what you've done if miss morgia loses even a single hair i'll pretend i never
21:40gave birth to a son like you luca's face went from white to ashen gray he opened his mouth but
21:45not a
21:46single word came out my father set the tip of his cane against the marble floor the tap rang clear
21:55in
21:55the hush of the hall as he stepped forward his eyes fixed on luca like a hawk sighting prey arrogant
22:01he scoffed coldly one of my daughter's fingers is worth more than the head on your shoulders and you
22:09dared to touch her he paused then spoke each word as if he were nailing it into the floor my
22:15daughter has
22:15never accepted a rose that still had its thorns anyone who dares hurt her i'll make them pay for
22:22that a hundred times over almost on the last word the main doors of the auction hall slammed open
22:29a line of men in black suits filed in their movements clean and coordinated in just a few
22:35minutes every bodyguard luca had brought was disarmed and pinned to the floor their arms locked behind
22:40their backs everything turned around in an instant two men stepped up behind luca and sophia
22:45grabbed their shoulders and forced them down to their knees in front of my father sophia tried
22:50to twist away panic wiping the arrogance from her face her makeup had streaked down her cheeks and
22:55she turned to luca in desperation luca help me luca tried to wrench free veins throbbing at his temples
23:02let me go i swear you don't know the price you're about to pay my father looked down at luca
23:10and
23:10sophia like they were nothing more than insects crawling on the floor pay the price his voice
23:16stayed eerily calm making the hall feel even colder when you ordered my daughter beaten did you ever stop
23:22to think about the price you'd pay then he turned to me and that killing frost in his eyes softened
23:29isa how do you want to deal with me i walked towards sophia the ache in my fingers turned every
23:35step heavy
23:36but the anger burning in my chest kept me moving i fisted a hand in her perfectly styled hair and
23:42yanked
23:42her head up so that she had to look at me whatever you did to me i will return to
23:48you i kept slapping
23:49her until her cheeks puffed up and flushed an angry red sophia glared up at me eyes burning with hate
23:55and lips
23:55smeared with blood even then she kept spitting curses you bitch just wait luca will make you wish
24:03you were dead luca lunged trying to get up stop i turned and drove my heel into his chest sending
24:10him right back down i had put everything into that kick and the impact shot a fierce pain up my
24:15injured
24:16fingers clutching his ribs luca sucked in a breath but he still tried to threaten us
24:23the iron door slammed shut behind them with a deafening bang luca and sophia were shoved into
24:28a pitch black basement sophia's footsteps came to an abrupt halt her voice shot up sharp enough to
24:34shatter glass what's that sound what the hell is that three wolf dogs not very large but their ribs
24:42were clearly visible they hadn't been fed for three days the sound of iron chains dragging across the
24:48floor was like the grim reaper's scythe luca whispered urgently don't move sophia let out a
24:53piercing scream and staggered backward don't move don't run don't her high heels stepped on something
25:01wet and slippery and she fell hard to the ground all three wolf dogs lunged forward at once
25:07her voice became tiny almost like she was talking to herself are we going to die here luca didn't answer
25:14his hand fumbled in his pocket for his phone the screen lit up for a second no signal it won't
25:21happen he said but his voice lacked any conviction my father will come save us another hour passed
25:27footsteps sounded outside the iron door sophia jerked her head up hope flashing in her eyes
25:33a small window on the iron door opened and a bowl of water along with a few pieces of dry
25:39bread were
25:39pushed inside sophia scrambled over her voice hoarse let us out do you know who i am i'm the eldest
25:48daughter of the lopez family if you dare the small window slammed shut the footsteps faded away
25:55sophia stood frozen in place clutching the bowl of water tears fell pathetically into it drop after drop
26:04luca had barely slept all night he kept staring at those three pairs of green eyes until his own eyes
26:10were dry and burning sophia curled up beside him burying her face in his chest her expensive custom
26:16dress was torn in several places and her nails were caked with dirt she suddenly spoke her voice raspy
26:23luca is your phone still working no signal i don't want to make a call sophia lifted her head there
26:29was a
26:30strange gleam in her eyes that he had never seen before let's take a selfie when we get out i'm
26:36gonna post it everywhere and let everyone know what that borgia bitch did to us luca was stunned for
26:41a second then laughed it wasn't a happy laugh it was a laugh of utter absurdity you're thinking about
26:46taking photos at a time like this i'm not willing to accept this sophia's voice suddenly rose i've never
26:52suffered like this in my entire life who does she think she is just some wild bastard who appeared out
26:58of nowhere a low growl suddenly came from the wolf dogs sophia's voice cut off abruptly three pairs of
27:05green eyes locked onto her at the same time she slowly shrank back into luca's arms and stopped
27:10talking the bread was gone the water was gone the wolf dogs began pacing restlessly their chains
27:19scraping loudly against the floor sophia leaned against the wall her lips cracked her hair a complete mess
27:24her eyes were unfocused like a phone that had run out of battery her voice was as light as a
27:30wisp of
27:30smoke luca do you think your father will really come to save us luca remained silent for a long time
27:38he will he's my father he didn't say it out loud but he was starting to feel afraid
27:45not of the wolf dogs but of a deeper fear what if his father had already given up on him
27:50finally
27:51footsteps sounded outside the iron door again this time there was more than one person the iron door
27:56was opened blinding light flooded in both sophia and luca instinctively raised their hands to shield
28:02their eyes the wolf dogs were led away several men in black suits walked in expressionlessly
28:08and dragged them up sophia's legs had gone completely limp she was supported by two men as they dragged
28:14her out luca staggered barely able to stand his legs also trembling the moment they stepped out of
28:20the basement fresh air rushed toward them sophia gasped greedily like a drowning person finally pulled
28:26ashore i won't let this go she whispered hoarsely borgia just you wait luca didn't speak he stared
28:34straight ahead his face ashen what he was thinking was something else in these three days his father
28:40hadn't made even a single phone call i woke to the sting of antiseptic the first thing i saw was
28:47my
28:48father's face above me drawn tight with worry my right hand was wrapped in thick bandages a dull pain
28:54throbbed through each finger your fingers are saved my father said brushing the hair away from my forehead
28:59but they'll need time to heal just then the door eased open antonio stood at the threshold
29:04the man who usually dominated headlines as an untouchable mafia he said hoarsely
29:09don borgia my son was reckless he offended mrs borgia my father looked at him coldly and said
29:17nothing antonio turned to me instead and bowed deeply mrs borgia luca was ignorant he had no idea
29:23who you were everything our family has today came from don borgia's support years ago this engagement
29:27was us reaching far of our station we won't mention it again i only beg you to spare his life
29:32i looked at antonio who seemed to have aged overnight and felt nothing at all fine i said
29:38my voice weak but clear i'll give you a choice you can keep your son or you can keep your
29:45entire family
29:47his body visibly swayed his lips trembled and pain flickered across his eyes as he fought with himself
29:54after a long silence he lowered his head i'll accept whatever you decide this was how our world worked
30:00in the mafia world family interests always sat higher than a single individual i'm not asking for
30:06his life i said turning my gaze toward the window but i have one condition at the five families gathering
30:13he has to apologize to me in front of everyone antonio let out a long sigh of relief of course
30:19i'll make sure luca apologizes sincerely mrs borgia he left with shaky steps his back slumped in defeat
30:27the day of the five families gathering finally arrived it was held at the same auction house the
30:33moment my father and i walked into the hall every gaze in the room swung toward us
30:40i wore a deep red gown that brushed the floor with every step a matching velvet glove covered my injured
30:46right hand an elegant mask for the damage that still hadn't fully healed antonio hurried over to greet us
30:52his face pale and strained with nerves don borgia miss borgia thank you for gracing us with your presence
31:00i gave him a small polite nod and slowly scanned the crowded hall all eyes were already on us father's
31:07voice was low and commanding bring them up several bodyguards wheeled a heavy iron cage into the center
31:14of the room right under the bright spotlight the moment the cage came into view a wave of shocked
31:20murmurs swept through the crowd inside luca and sophia were huddled together like trapped animals
31:25their clothes were torn and filthy sophia's once glorious gold gown hung in ragged strips
31:32while luca's expensive suit was covered in dirt and dried blood bruises and cuts marred their faces and
31:38arms whatever they had endured these past few days it had clearly been hell the bodyguards unlocked the
31:45cage and dragged them out roughly showing no mercy sophia's legs gave out instantly she collapsed to her knees
31:52staring at me with wide terrified eyes isa please
31:59we were wrong i was wrong just let us go luca lifted his head yes poor god i beg you
32:08have mercy
32:10my family will compensate you however you want just don't do this in public i looked down at them coldly
32:18my injured hand resting lightly on my father's arm public you humiliated me in public first did you
32:25show me any mercy then i took one slow step forward my voice clear enough for the entire hall to
32:30hear
32:31you wanted to break me now the whole of norum gets to watch as i break you
32:40luca staggered swaying on his feet his eyes darted wildly over the crowd until they locked on antonio
32:46dad he shouted hoarsely his voice cracking with despair you have to help me they don't respect the
32:55marino family at all he jabbed a shaking finger at my father and me his eyes burning with hatred
33:01antonio's face went white he strode forward and in front of everyone slapped luca so hard that the sound
33:07cracked across the hall you ungrateful brat get on your knees and apologize to mrs borja now sophia
33:17jerked her head up her voice sharp with outrage don marino you must be joking you want luca to apologize
33:25to
33:26those two noblies shut your mouth antonio snapped turning on her with a glare sharp enough to scorch
33:32this all started because of you if not for you luca would never have offended don borgia and miss
33:39borgia luca stared at antonio as if he didn't recognize him antonio you still haven't told them
33:49the truth don of the corfioni family mr rossif borgia is the most powerful don in corvina years
33:55ago when the five families rebuild our power here in norham city it was only possible because he
34:00backed us and shielded us veto said slowly his voice carrying clearly through the silent hall
34:06if he so much as lifts a finger he can erase an entire family from norham city overnight luca snapped
34:13his head toward antonio his eyes filled with frantic desperation for an answer antonio pressed his
34:18lips into a tight line and gave a stiff reluctant nod that can't be true luca said stumbling back a
34:26step if it is why have i never heard about it before veto let out a humorless laugh that secret
34:32is
34:32known only to the heads of the families you haven't even officially taken over yet what makes you think
34:38you had the right to hear it before this incident as soon as veto finished speaking the entire hall
34:45fell into silence i was about to speak when my phone vibrated inside my bag it was an encrypted
34:51message the sender field showed an internal code from the corleone family miss borgia tomorrow night
34:57at the norham chamber of commerce annual gala the lopez family's collateral branch and elena lopez will
35:03both be attending if you wish you may collect some interest there first i turned the phone screen
35:08toward my father he glanced at it and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly elena lopez father
35:15murmured the name sofia's mother she's been pulling strings behind the scenes quite a bit i know i said
35:22putting the phone away the golden custom gown sofia wore at the auction was ordered by elena from milan a
35:28month in advance mother and daughter one plays the good cop one plays the bad they've been running rampants
35:35in norham for years father looked at me without saying a word but his eyes were clear it's your
35:39decision i'll go but only after we settle matters here first the evening after the five great families
35:49meeting ended at the imperial banquet hall the crystal chandeliers lit up the entire hall as brightly as
35:54daylight not only were the collateral representatives of the five great families present but also dozens of
36:00heads of mid-tier families they usually couldn't even get close to the core meetings of the five
36:06families but tonight everyone wanted to fish for benefits amid the toasts and deals i wore a dark
36:12wine red velvet gown the long sleeves concealed the bandages on my right hand on my left ear i wore
36:18a
36:18single pigeon blood ruby earring gifted by my father only one this was an old borgia family tradition
36:25when a daughter has been provoked but has not yet fully avenged herself
36:28she wears only a single earring the moment i stepped into the hall i felt countless gazes
36:34stabbing into me like needles is that the borgia family's eldest daughter i heard the marino family
36:41air was expelled because of her shh lower your voice the lopez family people are here tonight too
36:50i walked straight ahead without looking sideways and headed directly for the main table seven people
36:55were already seated at the main table the center seat was empty beside it sat a middle-aged woman in
37:01a deep purple gown elena lopez she looked 70 percent like sophia but more cunning and gloomier she was
37:08twirling a glass of red wine in her hand when she saw me approaching she didn't even bother to stand
37:13up
37:13she drawled looking me up and down so you're the little who got my daughter kicked out of northam
37:22the entire table fell silent i didn't sit down instead i looked down at her from above your
37:28daughter brought it upon herself i simply didn't stop her elena's face instantly flushed red she shot
37:35to her feet and slammed her wine glass onto the table splashing wine everywhere don't get cocky
37:41borgia i don't care who you are in norak the lopez family has the marino family behind us
37:48well not anymore but mark my words whatever my daughter lost i will take back tenfold for her
37:56she deliberately raised her voice so that the surrounding tables could hear several merchants
38:00who did business with the lopez family immediately chimed in exactly some outsider family what right do
38:08they have to sit at the main table even if the marinos aren't pursuing this it doesn't mean mrs lopez
38:13is easy to bully little girl apologize while things haven't blown up yet i smiled slowly apologize
38:20i repeated then glanced at the two bodyguards standing behind elena when your daughter crushed
38:26my fingers under her heel did she ever apologize elena's lips twitched but she quickly regained her
38:34vicious expression you deserved it seducting someone else's fiance crushing your fingers was going easy on you
38:41i didn't argue with her i simply took out my phone from my handbag played a recording and turned the
38:47volume to maximum antonio's voice rang out clearly in the quiet hall my son was too reckless this marriage
38:55was us reaching above our station i only beg you to spare his life the recording ended the hall was
39:03deathly silent elena's hands began to tremble merchants beside her quietly shifted their chairs half a step back
39:10it's fake you forged it i put away my phone and looked down at her my voice calm but loud
39:17enough
39:17for the first three rows to hear clearly mrs lopez your daughter once said something at the auction
39:22in here i make the rules i raised my bandaged right hand and gently tapped above the wrappings
39:28now i'd like to return the favor with a message of my own your daughter and the marino family in
39:35front
39:35of me they don't even qualify as rules elena's face went from red to white then to a sickly green
39:41she suddenly grabbed the wine glass in front of her and hurled its contents at me red wine flew straight
39:46toward my face i didn't dodge the wine splashed across my face hair and wine red gown almost blending
39:51in only a few drops slid down my chin and fell onto the marble floor the entire hall gasped elena
39:59stood
39:59holding the empty glass chest heaving violently her eyes filled with mad triumph you that's what you
40:08get for being arrogant i slowly raised my hand and wiped the wine from my face then i smiled mrs
40:16lopez
40:17do you know what you just did i took one step forward my voice wasn't loud but it pierced every
40:23ear like a nail you just attacked the sole heir of the borga family in front of more than 30
40:27family
40:28representatives everything that happened tonight i will report it to my father in full detail elena's
40:35wine glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor i didn't answer her i turned around to face
40:44the entire banquet hall my voice clear and calm from tonight onward any family that does business with
40:50the lopez family will automatically be considered unfriendly to the borga family
40:56gasps rippled across the hall elena's face turned completely white you wouldn't dare she screamed
41:04but her voice had already lost all confidence i gave her one last look then turned and walked toward the
41:11exit behind me came elena's hysterical shriek stop that bitch but no one moved the allies she thought
41:18she had all lowered their heads like frostbitten eggplants as i walked out the main door vito
41:24corleone was already standing by the entrance he held a glass of whiskey and gave me a slight nod
41:29miss borgia you're even more ruthless than your father was at your age vito paused his lips curving
41:36into a soft genuine smile as he looked at her and i'm liking you more and more my lovely lady
41:42i glanced
41:43sideways at him don coreano did you already know this would happen tonight he smiled without
41:50answering simply raising his glass welcome to the real norton i didn't clink glasses with him i walked
41:56straight to the elevator the moment the elevator doors closed i let out a soft breath my right hand
42:02hurt badly but my heart felt incredibly satisfied i walked forward slowly the fingers beneath my velvet
42:10glove still throbbing with a dull ache i've changed my mind after what i just heard from luca i'm very
42:17disappointed he doesn't look guilty at all antonio is this the apology the marino family is giving me
42:23every pair of eyes turned to antonio the man who usually ruled the room now looked pale he drew in
42:30a
42:30deep breath and at that moment he seemed to age a decade from this moment on luca is no longer
42:36my son
42:37he is no longer heir to the marino family he is officially stripped of his name and cut off from
42:43all family assets dad you can't do this to me i'm your son luca shouted his eyes full of despair
42:51and
42:51disbelief no that's impossible how could she have that kind of power why didn't anyone tell us earlier
42:58this has to be fake you're all being fooled sofia's shriek cut through the hall like broken glass
43:06one of veto's men stepped out of the crowd and slapped her across the face several times until
43:11she finally shut up that's enough luca suddenly snarled he wrenched himself free from the men
43:16restraining him and threw himself in front of sofia this has nothing to do with sofia i was a blind
43:23fool i'm the one who offended miss borjan this is my fault if you want revenge take it out on
43:31me
43:32and let sofia go sofia leaned against his chest her eyes glistening with tears
43:38luca i knew you were the only one who really cared about me the scene was almost touching in a
43:44tragic
43:44ridiculous way i couldn't help but lift my hands and give them a soft slow clap
43:49how touching since you're so devoted to each other i'll let you go under everyone's stunned gaze i
43:56went on you can leave with her now in the name of the borgia family i give you my word
44:02no one will stop
44:03you luca stared at me in disbelief while a spark of hope lit sofia's eyes from this moment on you
44:11have
44:11no connection to the merino family you walk away with nothing luca clenched his jaw then bent to help
44:17sofia steady herself we're leaving everyone watched them limp out of the hall while leaning
44:22on each other my father asked in a low voice are you really gonna let them walk away like that
44:27i
44:28smiled you'll see soon enough three months later a headline shook the entire upper circle of norham
44:33city former merino heir luca merino killed his girlfriend sofia lopez in a run-down motel
44:39then tried to take his own life he was now in police custody word had it that after losing his
44:45status luca was penniless and took sofia to live with him in a shabby motel on the edge of the
44:50slums
44:52having grown up pampered and overindulged neither of them could tolerate the hardships of an ordinary
44:58life sofia complained every day she called luca useless and blamed him for dragging her from the
45:04clouds into the mud she could no longer afford designer clothes or fancy goods even a proper dinner
45:10had become a luxury three days before the murder someone had spotted sofia in an upscale restaurant
45:16linking arms with a middle-aged businessman after that she stopped going back to the motel at night
45:21when she did show up her attitude toward luca was cold on the night of the incident neighbors heard
45:27them shouting through the thin walls you think you're still the heir of the merino family you can't even buy
45:33me a new lipstick i gave up everything for you luca roared back if i'd known you were so useless
45:39i never would have left with you then came the sound of things being smashed after that was an eerie
45:45heavy silence the next morning the cleaning staff opened the door and almost fainted sofia was lying in
45:53a pool of blood having been stabbed over and over luca was on the floor beside her with his wrist
45:58slashed
45:58barely alive i heard the news while i was at home sitting at my piano although my fingers hadn't fully
46:05healed i could already play a few simple pieces just then my father walked in and placed a folded
46:11newspaper on the piano you saw this coming didn't you i took my hands off the piano and glanced at
46:18the
46:18newspaper's front page it showed luca being shoved into a police car sofia never loved luca what she loved
46:26was his status and his money once he lost those her betrayal was just a matter of time as for
46:33luca i
46:34went on letting my fingers drift lightly over the keys he was born into wealth he was never going to
46:41survive losing everything especially after the woman he loved cheated on him my father studied me for a
46:49long moment you gave them the cruelest punishment i shook my head no they chose their punishment
46:57i just handed them the knife sunlight poured through the windows warm and bright their tragedy had no
47:02effect on me in our world the strong preyed on the weak mercy toward an enemy only ever led to
47:08destruction luca and sophia's ending only proved that truth once again they were nothing more than
47:13stepping stones on my way to the top seat in corvina's mafia world the sunlight was beautiful but my
47:21hand still throbbed with dull pain the doctor said the nerves had been damaged even after recovery it
47:27would never be as flexible as before i might never be able to play those difficult pieces again i sat
47:33in
47:33front of the piano placed my right hand on the keys and gently pressed a single note a clean lonely
47:39sound rang out the door was pushed open father walked in he was wearing a deep gray suit his tie
47:45nodded perfectly sophia's funeral is at two o'clock this afternoon are you going i thought for a long
47:52time so long that father thought i wouldn't answer yes father nodded turned to leave then stopped
47:58isa this isn't your fault i didn't speak only after he walked out did i whisper to the empty room
48:05i know but what i knew wasn't just that i knew sophia would die from the moment she crushed my
48:10fingers under her heel from the moment she answered my father's call she was already dead i simply didn't
48:16stop it i didn't stop it because i didn't want to this thought was like a thorn lodged in a
48:22corner of
48:23my heart it didn't hurt but it was always there the church was small so small that even from the
48:30last
48:30row you could clearly see the white flowers on the coffin not many people came sophia's parents sat in
48:36the front row her mother was crying so hard she couldn't sit straight while her father sat rigidly like
48:42a stone statue luca didn't come he was in the hospital with more than a dozen stitches on his wrist
48:47under police guard they said he wasn't in danger of dying but his mental state was very poor i stood
48:54at the very back leaning against the wall father didn't come inside he waited for me in the car
48:59while the priest was reading the eulogy sophia's mother suddenly stood up and staggered toward me
49:05everyone was watching she stopped in front of me her tears had ruined her makeup leaving
49:10streaks down her face are you satisfied now her voice was hoarse like sandpaper scraping glass
49:17i said nothing my daughter is dead and you still come to her funeral she grabbed the sleeve of my
49:24coat
49:25nails digging into the fabric are you here to watch the show her husband rushed over and pulled her away
49:31from me he glanced at me that look contained hatred fear and deep exhaustion i'm sorry she didn't mean it
49:39i nodded then turned and walked out of the church the sunlight was blinding i stood at the entrance for
49:45a while taking a deep breath father got out of the car and stood beside me let's go i got
49:51into the car
49:51leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes outside the window the church bells rang twice two o'clock
49:57in
49:57one minute sofia lopez 22 years old a short life an ugly death i silently recited these words in my
50:04heart
50:05then opened my eyes there was still a long road ahead three months later luca's case went to trial
50:13i didn't go father sent a lawyer to observe who came back and reported the result luca marino was
50:20sentenced to 12 years in prison for manslaughter the wound on his wrist left a permanent scar the
50:26psychological evaluation stated he had severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder
50:32the lawyer said luca didn't speak a single word throughout the entire trial when the judge asked
50:38if he pleaded guilty he simply nodded the lawyer also said that antonio marino sat in the gallery
50:44his hair completely white when the sentence was announced he didn't cry he just closed his eyes and
50:52didn't open them for a long time later at a gathering vito corleone told me antonio is finished
51:02he saved his son's life but the marino family is done for i held my wine glass and said nothing
51:09you know in luca's first week in prison someone asked if he wanted to see a lawyer he said no
51:15someone
51:16asked if he wanted to see his father he stayed silent finally the person asked who do you want to
51:23see he said he wanted to see you my hand froze he found out you stay at the manor every
51:29day and wanted
51:30to ask if you could visit him vito looked at me you won't go right i put down the wine
51:37glass and stood up no
51:41some people once missed are missed forever
51:46half a year later my fingers had recovered most of their function
51:50the doctor called it a miracle saying my recovery speed far exceeded his expectations
51:56i knew it wasn't a miracle for the past six months i had done three hours of rehabilitation training
52:02every day even when the pain made me sweat i didn't stop father would sit beside me saying
52:08nothing only handing me a towel can you play the piano yet i tried
52:17i placed my right hand on the keys and ran through a scale it was slow and clumsy but every
52:22note came
52:23out soon father didn't smile but his eyes brightened that night i sat alone in the piano room and played
52:29a
52:29very simple piece debussy's claire de lune my left hand carried the main melody while my right hand only
52:36added a few occasional notes i closed my eyes and imagined myself standing on stage spotlights
52:42shining on my face the audience packed below that feeling was still there the desire to stand at the
52:49very top was still there sophia was dead luca was in prison the marino family had fallen but they were
52:57not
52:57my destination they were just stones on the road i stepped over them got a little mud on my shoes
53:03and
53:03wiped it off one year later the power structure in norham had completely changed the marino family had been
53:13squeezed out of the five great families the corleone family had taken the top seat
53:19and i isa borgia was no longer just don gorgeous daughter i began taking over the family's businesses
53:28not all at once but gradually father handed them to me piece by piece first a few small casinos
53:35then a port then control of the entire northern district of corvina every time he transferred power
53:43father stood behind me without speaking but always present once when veto was drunk he put his arm around
53:51my shoulder and said to the whole table this little girl is even more ruthless than her father
53:59i smiled and removed his hand from my shoulder it wasn't because i was ruthless it was because i had
54:06no
54:06way back i was the only daughter of the borgia family this entire empire would eventually be mine
54:14the power structure in norham had finally settled and life seemed to have returned to a certain calm
54:21every week i would spend three afternoons in the piano room sunlight poured in through the floor to
54:26ceiling windows illuminating the black and white keys and my right hand the hand that had nearly been
54:31destroyed footsteps stopped at the doorway i didn't turn around but my fingers paused on the keys for a
54:37moment your piano skills are much better than your acting his voice came from the doorway slightly
54:44hoarse carrying a lazy smile i turned my head veto stood leaning against the door frame instead of his
54:51usual signature dark suit he wore a charcoal gray thin sweater with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms
54:57he was holding a long slender black box in his hands don corione has no one ever taught you to
55:03knock
55:03before entering has no one ever taught you not to be so cold toward a guest who came from afar
55:10he walked in his leather shoes stepped lightly yet heavily on the wooden floor with every step
55:18isis for the past year i've been looking for the right moment he paused the corner of his mouth
55:24lifting in a self-mocking smile but i realized that with you there will never be a right moment
55:29he opened the black box inside was a necklace it was an exact match to my single earring your father
55:36told me about this borga family tradition his voice grew lower when a daughter has been provoked but has
55:42not yet fully taken revenge she wears only one earring once revenge is complete she wears the other i stared
55:50at the gemstone but didn't reach out so veto took a deep breath in this moment one of the most
55:57powerful
55:57men in norum looked like someone standing on the edge of a cliff so i wanted to ask if one
56:03day you
56:04decide to wear the other earring could that spot be left for me silence the only sound in the piano
56:12room
56:12was the occasional chirping of birds outside the window my heartbeat was slow and steady
56:18do you know what you're saying i know very clearly isa i don't need a woman who stands behind me
56:25and
56:25you're not that kind of woman anyway the corcioni family and the borgia family don't need to swallow
56:30each other but i'm willing for a lifetime to stand in the place closest to you the sunlight outside the
56:38window grew brighter falling on his face and illuminating details i had never noticed before
56:43there was a tiny mole at the corner of his eye a faint scar on his left eyebrow the fingers
56:49holding the necklace were long and strong yet they were trembling slightly right now
56:55this man who didn't even blink during the five great family summit was trembling
57:01suddenly i felt the urge to smile
57:05it's okay i told you i can wait i didn't say i wouldn't accept it
57:11my fingers still rested on the edge of the box but i need to think about it how long
57:17maybe a year maybe two maybe after i finish thinking i'll return this box to you completely
57:24untouched then i'll wait he turned and walked toward the door at the doorway he stopped without
57:31turning back by the way what piece were you playing just now debossi's claire de lune
57:36next time if i hear you stop playing this piece again
57:44consider that your answer
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