Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Tonight was the tenth anniversary of my relationship with Felix Valentino. This was supposed to be the night he'd finally propose. Instead, here I was, talking about marriage plans with his archenemy, Harold Bonanno, don of the Bonanno family. "Sylvie, once you're my wife, your life will be all about me. Got it?" After I agreed, he began flooding my phone with texts, insisting on confirmation every few minutes. When I finally gave him the answer he wanted, he wasted no time in having his underboss send me a ten-page catalog of wedding gowns. Each dress was handpicked from the world's most elite designers, shimmering with diamonds worth a fortune. "These were all custom-made in Pavlune, Miravella, Neoverta. Pick whichever catches your eye." When I didn't respond to Harold's text, he sent another. "If these don't impress you, we'll go to Isperia's haute couture show in three days. You can choose your gown there." I silently scrolled through the photos of the wedding gowns. Finally, I tapped on one—a masterpiece hand-embroidered with pink diamonds and a ten-foot train flowing behind. It looked like a gown meant for royal brides. "I'll take this wedding gown," I said quietly. Felix had appeared behind me at some point, catching only the tail end of my words. "Wedding gown? What wedding gown?" he asked abruptly. He turned to me, his usual marble-like composure cracking, replaced by a flicker of panic. He must have been afraid I'd bring up the topic of marriage. Just then, my phone rang. I picked it up to see my best friend, Lilian Fenati's name flashing on the screen. During the video call, she looked pale, with crimson streaks smeared at the corner of her lips. "Sylvie, I need Felix. I threw up blood again just now. I'm so scared…" she whispered hoarsely. Before I could respond, Felix grabbed my phone. "Don't be afraid, Lilian! I'm on my way!" he said, his voice frantic. Then, Felix left me behind, driving off in the only car at the mountaintop villa without so much as a word. The night closed in around me, heavy and stifling, the silence so absolute that the only sound was the whisper of the wind. Felix didn't so much as glance back. He knew tonight was my birthday. We were supposed to be here, waiting for shooting stars together. He'd promised me that he'd make a wish about staying by my side for the rest of our lives. Felix knew better than anyone what I'd been through—how I'd been taken, how that nightmare had left me with a fear of the dark and being alone. And still, he left for Lilian. Without a moment's hesitation, he left me stranded on this desolate mountaintop. After all the times he'd disappointed me, that last shred of illusion I'd held onto turned to dust. So this was what it felt like when a heart finally burned out of love for someone. My phone rang again. This time, it was Harold. "Sylvie, are you ready? I'll come get you tomorrow." I didn't hesitate. "Give me one more week. Once I've taken care of what needs to be done here, we'll leave for Luminara and get married." There was a short pause on the other end before Harold answered, his tone gentler now. "Alright, I'll wait for you. But if anything comes up that you can't handle alone, promise me you'll let me know."

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

After hanging up, I made my way down the mountain alone, returning to the home I shared with Felix. I decided to visit Felix's grandmother, Pauline Perella. She and Grandma had been part of the same ballet troupe, and their friendship had always transcended the boundaries of our families. When I was eight, I was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. The Valentino family ran the most prestigious private hospital in northern Clyravan, and my family sent me there to recover. Felix's parents, Don Marco Valentino and Madre Isabella Lucchetta, treated me as if I were their own, and Grandma Pauline herself was the one who taught me the family's traditions and values. She even suggested to others that I could someday be the Valentino family's future lady. But all of that ended tonight. Standing in front of her now, I dipped my head slightly and said softly, "Grandma Pauline, I have to go." Her gaze, warm yet heavy with sadness, lingered on me. "You've been through so much, Sylvie." She sighed. After a long, quiet moment, she pulled an emerald ring from her sleeve and carefully slipped it onto my ring finger. "Take this, Sylvie. No matter where life leads you, you'll always be one of the Valentinos." I looked down at the ring and felt a rush of emotions I couldn't put into words. … Felix had stayed out all night again. At 4:00 am, my phone lit up with a message from Lilian. "My dearest lion, thank you for making wishes on the shooting stars with me. You're the reason I keep going." Attached was a photo of a meteor slicing through the night sky. Felix and Lilian were huddled close, grinning at the camera, their fingers laced together in a wish-making gesture. The caption read, "May all our wishes come true." But seconds later, the message disappeared. "Sorry, Sylvie. Wrong person. "Felix really cherishes this photo and asked me to send it to him. You're not mad, are you?" I didn't respond to Lilian. I barely glanced at the photo before shutting my phone off. That night, I packed my things in the room, ready to leave. Felix didn't come home until noon the next day. "Lilian wasn't doing well last night, Sylvie. I had to be there for her," he said, handing me an elegant gift box. "Sweetheart, I got this for our anniversary. I never forgot how much you wanted one." I lifted the lid of the gift box, revealing a Harry Winston diamond necklace that sparkled with breathtaking brilliance. The design was familiar. Lilian had one just like it—though hers, adorned with pink diamonds, was far more expensive. Felix's unease grew as he took in my lack of enthusiasm. "Sylvie, you're not upset, are you?" I offered a smile, my voice flat. "Considering Lilian's delicate condition, it's only natural you'd want to look after her." He let out a quiet sigh of relief. "I'm glad you understand. We've got a long road ahead of us, after all. But Lilian's running out of time. There's still so much she wants to do…" His voice broke off suddenly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. I studied him with a faint smile. "If it's tearing you apart, then go to her completely. I won't stop you. How could I possibly resent someone who's dying? But don't spend the rest of your life mourning at her grave. I have no intention of waiting around on my own." As I turned to leave, Felix seized my wrist with a sudden, fierce grip. "Sylvie, what are you getting at?"

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

"Are you jealous, by any chance?" Felix asked. "You've always been the one telling me to look out for Lilian, especially with her health being so fragile. Now that I'm doing exactly that, you're upset with me." When I didn't respond, his tone took on a self-righteous tone. "Don't be unreasonable, Sylvie. She's your best friend. Weren't you the one who asked me to be kind to her? And now you're upset because I stayed to make a wish with her?" I was exasperated. "How incredibly noble of you, Felix." He frowned, about to fire back when his phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen, then looked up. "I'll be out of town for a few days on business. Take care of yourself while I'm gone." I gave a vague hum in response, secretly hoping he might just stay away for good. … Early the next morning, I slipped into an elegant gown and got ready to head to Valentino Estate to say my goodbyes. In the grand hall, the family elders were gathered around the long table, engrossed in discussion about recent family affairs. Don Valentino sat at the head of the table. I gave a slight nod. "Don Valentino, thank you for your generosity over the years. I've come today to say my goodbyes." The murmur of conversation stuttered to a halt. The grand banquet hall went still. Madre Isabella's face tightened with concern. "What's going on, Sylvie? Why are you leaving all of a sudden?" Don Valentino slammed his hand against the table. "Where's Felix? Why isn't he here with you? Did he do something to you?" Before I could respond, slow, deliberate footsteps echoed from the hallway. Felix walked in, Lilian by his side. "Sylvie? What are you doing here?" Lilian's voice carried the confidence of someone who saw herself as the Valentino family's future daughter-in-law. A faint smile crossed my lips as I replied coolly, "Where I decide to be is no business of yours." I turned and headed to the door. Snapping out of his daze, Felix rushed after me. "Don't get the wrong idea, Sylvie. I only brought Lilian here so my parents could help her find a good doctor. You're not mad, are you? "Haven't you always wanted the best for Lilian? She's ill. Doesn't it make sense to let her stay here so we can look after her?" For some reason, a memory flashed through my mind. It was from when Felix was 16, back when we'd taken that trip to Mount Frostara in Javellis. Standing at the snow-covered peak, he'd made me a promise. He said that marrying me was the one thing he wanted more than anything else and that I'd someday become the lady of the Valentino family. But now, he'd brought Lilian into his family all while feeding me some lie about a business trip. I let out a bitter laugh, the absurdity of it all hitting me. When I didn't respond, he added, "Sylvie, you're not bothered by something this insignificant, are you?" I kept my eyes on him, struck by how pitiful and ridiculous he'd become. Felix pulled me into an embrace and kissed my forehead. "Just go home. I'll see you later." The moment he walked away, I wiped my forehead clean. He made me sick to my stomach.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

On Valentine's Day, Felix had brushed me off with the same old excuse about "family obligations", making sure no one let the truth slip. But that evening, an anonymous message popped up on my screen. "Live stream link—Felix Valentino and Lilian Fenati's Wedding." I clicked it. The screen lit up to reveal a grand, solemn ceremony, filled with mafia dons from Solara. My blood turned to ice. Three months earlier, Lilian had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. She'd made her announcement at a family gathering. "I want to marry the person I love most before I go." Back then, I hadn't noticed anything unusual between them. I'd even teased her at the gathering, "So, who's this 'person you love most'?" She'd given me a sly smile and said, "You'll find out soon enough." It wasn't until later that I realized she meant Felix. I'd never forget that Valentine's Day, how I cried until I passed out, while he stood on that private island named after Lilian, making his vows to her. But now, at least, it was almost over. The moment I got home, Lilian called. "I'm really sorry, Sylvie. I didn't expect to run into you today." I let out a bitter laugh and stayed silent. "The Valentinos put relationships above all else. Don Valentino personally met me and assured that they'd go to great lengths to find the top doctors in the world for my treatment." After a pause, she added, her voice tinged with significance, "Sylvie, don't you think it would've been great if I were the one marrying into the Valentino family?""If you can make it happen, go for it. You've got my blessing," I replied. As soon as I hung up, I was about to block Lilian, but my finger slipped, and I accidentally opened her social media feed. There it was, my RV staring right back at me, labeled as a surprise gift from Felix. I'd built that RV from scratch. For an entire year, I'd thrown myself into the designs, sourced every part, assembled it piece by piece, and perfected every detail. I'd imagined traveling the world with Felix in it once things calmed down. But now, it was sitting in Lilian's front yard. She stood in front of the vehicle, glowing with excitement. Her caption read, "Thanks for the amazing surprise, Felix! Let's hit the road together once I'm back on my feet!" My fingers trembled slightly as they hovered over the phone screen. It had never crossed my mind that Felix would hand over even my cherished RV to her. Right then, my underboss, Nora Cappello, called. She snapped over the phone, "What is this, Sylvie? Why does Lilian have your RV? She doesn't deserve it! You put in sleepless nights for that thing, and now she just gets to take it like it's hers?" I took a deep breath, steadying my voice. "It doesn't matter to me anymore.""Doesn't matter?" Nora slapped her hand against the table. "Sylvie, if you really didn't care, you'd have blown up that RV by now! How can Lilian use her illness as a free pass to take Felix and your RV? "For all we know, she could be faking the whole thing. That's it. I'm hiring investigators to find out if her so-called terminal illness is even real. And Felix, the shameless man. How much longer does he think he can keep lying to you?" "Not long. The wedding's coming up soon," I said. Just then, Felix's voice cut in. "Wedding? What wedding?"

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

"It's nothing," I said. "Just some gossip I heard. Apparently, a guy went behind his girlfriend's back and secretly married her best friend. My friend said he's completely awful, and his poor girlfriend was totally blindsided." To my surprise, Felix reacted with unexpected intensity. "Why are you even talking about something so pointless? What if the guy didn't have a choice? What if it was some kind of fake marriage to fulfill a dying person's wish?" The self-righteous look on his face struck me as absurd. Even after more than a decade together, he remained a complete mystery to me. Felix started with his usual routine again. Pulling me into a hug, he kissed my forehead. "What's going on with you lately, Sylvie? You've been so withdrawn. Don't let your imagination mess with what we've built. After all this time, how can you question how much I care about you? Once we figure out Lilian's situation, we'll get married, okay?" His hand slid under my collar, groping my bust. "Sweetheart, it's been too long since we've been together.""I'm sorry. I'm not feeling it tonight. I'll sleep alone," I said. His touch filled me with disgust. I shoved him away and left, closing the door behind me. … The sudden blast of a car horn jolted me awake early the next morning. Sitting in the courtyard was a pink RV I knew all too well, its flawless surface gleaming in the sun like liquid gold. I'd put that RV together with my own hands, but it belonged to someone else now. Lilian was behind the wheel, sunglasses on, a smirk across her face as she dangled the keys. She called out in an overly dramatic voice, "What do you think, Sylvie? Felix gave it to me." I stared at her, the person who used to be my best friend. I couldn't quite figure out how she'd turned into someone so cruel. Her stilettos clicked sharply against the pavement as she stepped out and walked toward me, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "You know what Felix said? He thinks it suits me better." Her fingers glided over the RV's surface as if caressing some priceless treasure. I stared at the RV, my stomach churning with disdain. That RV was my design, my sweat, my dream. It seemed like Lilian was hell-bent on taking everything that mattered to me. Out of nowhere, she thrust the keys into my hand. Then, with a piercing cry, she collapsed to the ground. At that exact moment, a voice I knew all too well called out from behind her. "Sylvie! How could you do that to her?"

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Felix quickly stepped forward, his gaze sharp and full of blame, as though everything unfolding before us was squarely on my shoulders. "This is what Lilian deserves. I built this RV from the ground up, and now she's the one who gets to keep it!" I yelled. My words broke the last bit of control he was holding onto, and he struck me across the face. A thick, oppressive silence settled over us. The sting of his handprint seared into my skin. Tears blurred my vision as I pressed my palm to the throbbing ache. I stared at him, stunned, pain and grief twisting inside me like a knot of barbed wire. "How could you hit me over her, Felix?" I asked, my voice trembling. "I'm the one who built this RV. What did she do? Or does playing the victim mean she gets to take whatever she wants?" Felix's face hardened as if he'd never expected me to challenge him like this. "When did you turn into this, Sylvie? What happened to the kind person I used to know? You've got everything—money, status, freedom. Is it really too much to let her have just this one thing?" As he spoke, he carried Lilian in his arms, her face pale. "Look at what you've done," he snapped. "The stress has made her worse. All she wanted was to feel what it's like to hold onto a dream before it's too late. Was that really too much to ask?" My fingers tingled with rage. I sneered as I locked eyes with him. "Yes, it was! You know exactly what this RV means to me, Felix. I spent night after night working on it, my hands covered in grease, tweaking the engine, fixing the chassis. "It's basically a part of me. And you expect me to just hand it over? If Lilian wants a dream, she can make her own. You don't get to steal something and then act like the victim!" I could let go of scum like Felix without a second thought, but my RV? Never. I built it with my own two hands. Felix went still, his expression shifting as though he were staring at a stranger. Finally, he said, "You're not the same anymore." Then, he turned his back on me, carrying Lilian as he walked away. A wave of rage surged through me, and my heart condition flared up. I crumpled to the ground, crying out in pain, "Felix… help me…" He didn't even look back. … When I came to, I found myself in a hospital. Someone leaned in and wrapped me in a warm embrace. "Let's head home, Sylvie." It was Harold. I closed my eyes, finally surrendering. "Okay," I murmured. It was true that hope could vanish in the blink of an eye.