Chapter 3

I stared at the messages on the screen.

Natalie was still sitting on the sofa, completely unaware that I'd seen everything.

I slowly locked the spare phone.

Four years ago, Natalie didn't even have enough money to buy herself a decent meal.

Back then, her family had gone bankrupt. She'd lost everything almost overnight.

I was the one who took freelance illustration and drafting jobs, working until midnight to earn enough to buy her a decent suit for job interviews.

Later, when Damian's business empire began expanding, I spent an entire week persuading him to give Natalie a position in one of Rossetti Group's core departments.

Rossetti Group was the legitimate face of the Rossetti Family's empire. Its interests extended across real estate, shipping, and private investments.

Getting someone into one of its core divisions wasn't easy.

But I'd begged Damian for her.

I'd considered Natalie the closest person in my life, second only to my brother.

And now, she was sitting just a few feet away, laughing at me behind my back.

I took out my own phone.

There was an email I'd originally scheduled to send.

It was an internal recommendation letter addressed to the director of one of the country's leading architectural research institutes.

I'd spent hours writing glowing remarks about Natalie's talent, qualifications, and potential.

I deleted every word.

Then I left just one sentence.

[Dr. Whitaker, I'm sorry, but please withdraw Natalie Brooks's name from the list of candidates I previously recommended.]

I pressed send.

Next, I opened my contacts and tapped a conversation with a black profile picture.

Three seconds later, a reply appeared.

[Address.]

I sent him the hotel's location.

The black profile picture went silent again.

Just then, Natalie's phone rang.

She glanced at the screen before standing up.

"The groomsmen are asking about the wedding arrangements. I'll go check on them."

She picked up her phone and straightened her bridesmaid dress.

"Stay here, Nina. Don't worry about anything. I'll make sure everything is ready."

With that, she hurried out of the bridal suite.

I waited until the door closed behind her.

Only then did I stand up and walk toward the terrace at the end of the corridor.

The glass door was slightly ajar.

A night breeze carrying the smell of tobacco and whiskey drifted toward me.

So did the sound of laughter.

It was Natalie, chatting with several men from Damian's inner circle. They were his longtime friends, trusted associates of the Rossetti Family, and the groomsmen he'd personally chosen.

"Nat, is Don Rossetti really not coming back? The ceremony is about to start. What's Nina supposed to do up there all alone?"

One of the men exhaled a ring of smoke, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Why would he come back? They're still celebrating the wedding over there!"

Natalie's voice was slightly slurred with alcohol, full of smug satisfaction.

"What, you don't believe in Don Rossetti's abilities? Here, let me show you something interesting."

A moment later, the unmistakable audio of a video played through her phone.

"Damian, don't... They're still outside..."

It was Sabrina's breathy, flirtatious voice.

"Let them wait."

Damian's voice was low and hoarse.

The video was followed by a chorus of laughter and cheers.

The groomsmen burst into knowing laughter.

"Jesus! The Don really knows how to have it both ways!"

"That's our Sabrina! She's the only one who knows exactly how to keep him happy."

"Shh! Keep it down. The bride is still inside."

One of them lowered his voice, but the amusement in it was impossible to hide.

"Come on. Nina's been Damian's pretty little caged bird for eight years. What could she possibly do without him? Even if she finds out, she'll still walk down that aisle and marry him."

The others laughed.

I stood outside the glass door, listening to every word.

Then I pushed it open.

The laughter stopped instantly.

Every man froze.

Natalie's smile vanished. The cigarette between one man's fingers nearly slipped to the ground.

I calmly swept my gaze across their faces.

"Five minutes."

I looked at the groomsmen.

"Get ready to take your places."