My Stepbrother Destroyed Me, Then Lost Me Forever

When I woke again, I was lying in a hospital bed in a private clinic.

Vincent and Leo were both standing at my bedside. The second I opened my eyes, Leo leaned forward immediately, his eyes swimming with poorly hidden worry.

“Elena, thank God you’re awake. I’ve been sick with worry over you.”

When I said nothing, he glanced away, his voice dropping to a murmur. “About the photos… I’m so sorry. I got drunk that night, someone took my phone, and that’s how they leaked. I’ve had every last copy deleted, I swear.”

I stared at him, my heart cold and dead inside.

He was the one who’d started this whole mess, and now he was standing here acting like my savior.

My hand flew to my ring finger instinctively. “Where’s the ring my grandmother left me?”

It was the only thing my grandmother had left me before she died, a sapphire ring engraved with my family’s crest. I never took it off.

Isabella, who’d been standing behind the two men, suddenly lifted her hand.

“You mean this one?” She smiled, sweet and innocent. “Vincent gave it to me as a gift.”

I recognized it instantly. It was my ring.

“That’s mine. Give it back to me.”

Vincent scoffed, his voice thick with contempt. “Everything you own belongs to the Corleone family. I can give whatever I want, to whoever I want.”

A flicker of triumph flashed in Isabella’s eyes. She sauntered over to my hospital bed, leaning down until her mouth was right next to my ear, her voice so quiet only I could hear it.

“You want the ring back? Get on your knees and beg me nicely, and I’ll think about it.”

It was the only thing I had left of my grandmother. I thought of her soft smile as she’d placed it in my hand on her deathbed, and my chest ached so badly I could barely breathe.

Slowly, I bent my knees. With everyone watching, I knelt on the hospital bed.

“Please. Give it back to me.”

Vincent sat on the couch across the room, and didn’t lift a finger to stop it.

But Leo frowned, grabbing my arm and trying to pull me back up. “Elena, what are you doing? Stop this. You don’t need to beg, don’t play the victim.”

Isabella’s head snapped to the side, staring at Leo in disbelief.

“Ugh, fine. If it means that much to you, I’ll give it back.”

The second the words left her mouth, she let go of the ring.

“Oops! Sorry, I didn’t have a good grip.”

She’d done it on purpose. I’d seen it with my own eyes.

I stared at the ring clattering on the floor, rage burning hot in my chest, and I slapped her hard across the face.

In the next heartbeat, someone shoved me with brutal force, and I went flying off the bed, slamming into the floor.

Leo took an instinctive step forward, but stopped. In the end, he turned, gathered Isabella into his arms, and soothed her softly.

Vincent’s face turned thunderous, and he screamed at me. “Elena! You dare lay a hand on her in front of me? Apologize to Isabella. Now.”

When I bit down on my lip and said nothing, he sneered. “You really think that stupid ring is worth all this? How long are you going to throw this tantrum?”

My whole body shook. I’d had enough. I lifted my hand and slapped him, too.

“Vincent! It’s not a stupid ring! It’s the most important thing I have in this entire world! You had no right to give it away to anyone!”

“She dropped it on purpose. I will never apologize.”

Vincent froze, stunned by the slap. His eyes turned dark and vicious. “You care about this damn ring that much?”

He yelled for his men. “Get in here! Take this ring and smash it to dust.”

He turned back to me, his voice cold. “Apologize now, and I’ll let you have it back. This is your only chance.”

I closed my eyes, and said nothing.

He scoffed. “Then smash it. Grind it into powder.”

Leo finally spoke up. “Vincent, this is too far. Don’t do this.”

Vincent shot him a sharp look. “It’s too late. What, you feeling sorry for her again? Don’t forget who took those photos, who promised me you’d help me put her in her place.”

Isabella’s eyes went wide, and she finally snapped. “Leo! What is he talking about? You and this woman...”

She never finished the sentence. Her body went limp, and she fainted dead away in Leo’s arms.

Leo froze, then scooped her up into his arms. He glanced back at me, sighed, and hurried out of the room with Vincent right on his heels.

The second they were gone, I pushed myself up, clinging to the last of my strength, and walked out of the hospital room.

My phone rang right then. It was Professor Evans.

On the other end of the line, his voice was gentle, but laced with apology. “Elena, I’m so sorry to tell you this, but the project timeline’s been moved up unexpectedly. We’re leaving for Switzerland imminently.”

I gripped the phone tight and answered, “Okay, Professor. I’ll be there on time.”

This place had never been my home.