One Hand Ruined, One Throne Taken

I'm Victoria Corsini, the only daughter of the Corsini family's Don in Iberny.

The marriage alliance partner whom Father has picked out for me is Cesar Romano, the new mafioso upstart in the underworld.

Cesar is an ambitious man who intends to take over the casino industry in Navoles City. However, he's in the middle of getting oppressed by the alliance of powerful families due to his shaky foundation. In short, he might file for bankruptcy anytime soon.

This means his only way out is to marry me and ask for the Corsini family's protection.

In order to uncover his true colors, I put on a disguise and infiltrate Cesar's casino as a greenhorn dealer. On my first day at the job, I feel someone gripping my wrist tightly.

"What makes you think you get to deal in the VIP hall? You really think a nobody like you has the right to touch the chips here?"

I look up to see Liliana Conti, the casino's manager. She happens to be wearing an arrogant look at the moment.

Everyone else begins muttering among themselves.

"Liliana is Mr. Romano's beloved lover. He has stated more than once that he'll give this casino to her as a gift."

Liliana flashes me a contemptuous smirk. Then, she slams a tray of casino chips that are made of gold in my face.

"Drag her out of the casino and chop her hands off! Make her understand that I, Liliano Conti, am the one who determines the rules on Cesar's turf!"

I just chuckle icily in response. To think that I, the future mistress of this casino, am being threatened to get kicked out of the casino by a worker right now…

After shaking the bodyguards off me, I dial Cesar's number and set the call on speaker mode in front of everyone.

"Cesar, your manager is threatening to chop my hands off. She even declares that you've given her the right to set the rules in place.

"It seems that your casino doesn't really need the Corsini family's support, after all. I suppose we can call off our marriage, then?"

Before Cesar Romano could speak, a woman's sultry laughter came through the receiver.

His low voice rang out. "Baby, stop it. I need to take a call."

Anger surged in my chest.

"Cesar."

There was a brief pause on the line. Then, his voice turned sharp and impatient.

He asked, "Who are you? I'm discussing a business deal worth tens of millions of dollars. I don't have time for some crazy woman's nonsense."

With that, he hung up.

I, Victoria Corsini, tightened my grip on the phone. This was the fiance my father had chosen for me after exhaustive consideration.

We were engaged, yet he didn't even recognize my number.

Liliana Conti burst into shrill laughter.

She straightened up, and her chin was held high. She jabbed her red nails at my face. "Did you hear that? Cesar doesn't have time for you. You think