Chapter 4
Two days later, Mattia and Ginevra's engagement party took place at the most luxurious hotel the Bellini family owned. Nearly every power player in North Melcina had shown up.
Mattia stood onstage, basking in the crowd's praise. Backstage in the lounge, he had his arms around Ginevra in her white gown.
"Ginnie, after tonight, with your family's money and that mystery buyer's capital, the Vitale empire is mine. The old bastards won't be able to tell me what to do anymore."
Ginevra leaned against him shyly. "Matt, I knew you were the best."
He smiled, but my face had flashed unexpectedly through his mind. I'd vanished without a trace after that night, and he felt strangely hollow, like something was missing.
How ridiculous. He thought that woman who'd clung to him, who couldn't survive without him, was hiding in some dark corner and crying her eyes out right now.
Mattia shook off the absurd thought and refocused on the beauty in his arms. The party reached its peak as the host delivered his blessings.
The ballroom doors slammed open from the outside. The room fell silent, and every head turned toward the entrance. I walked in wearing a black velvet gown.
The smile froze on Mattia's face. His expression darkened as he stormed off the stage and grabbed my wrist.
"Catalina! Who said you could come here? What game are you playing now? Get the hell out!"
I pulled free and smoothed the sleeve he'd wrinkled.
"Mr. Vitale, such a temper." My tone stayed even. "Is this how the Vitales treat their guests?"
"You bitch! How dare you show your face here!"
Ginevra rushed over, clutching her dress, and swung her hand at my face. I caught her wrist mid-strike.
"You…"
Before she could finish, I slapped her across the face. Ginevra shrieked and stumbled backward, hitting the floor. She clutched her cheek and stared at me in disbelief.
"Ginnie!" Mattia rushed over and pulled her into his arms.
He pointed at me and roared toward the entrance. "Security! Throw this crazy bitch out! Break her legs!"
Dozens of security guards surrounded me. The guests scrambled backward in fear.
Mattia held Ginevra close, cruel satisfaction spreading across his face. But then, in the next moment, all the guards stopped three steps away from me.
In the silence that followed, they bent low in perfect synchronization. Their voices echoed through the ballroom in unison.
"Principessa!"
Mattia and Ginevra looked like they'd been struck. Every guest in the room froze. I pushed past Mattia and walked onstage, taking the microphone from the stunned host's hands.
I looked down at the pale-faced couple below and smiled. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Catalina Ricci. My Papa is Leonardo Ricci, Don of the Ricci family."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Mattia went rigid.
"By the way, Mr. Vitale, I should inform you that five minutes ago, I completed the acquisition of every casino under the Vitale name. So now…"
I looked at him and Ginevra, then pointed toward the exit. "Get off my property."
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