Shattering the Gold Locket

Everyone knew that the Don of the Argento family, Lorenzo Argento, was notorious for his ruthlessness, yet he had saved his promises for me alone. I once believed I was destined to be the most envied woman in all of Chicago.

However, six months ago, my father brought home Bianca, the woman he claimed was his "illegitimate daughter."

Lorenzo recognized her as the woman who had taken a bullet for him during a shootout.

From that moment on, everything changed.

At every dinner, Bianca's "old wounds" would conveniently flare up, and Lorenzo would remind me of the life debt he owed her.

I endured it, telling myself he was only repaying a debt.

But at our engagement ceremony, Bianca "accidentally" spilled a glass of red wine on the Don of a rival family during the toast, sparking a major incident.

The ever-composed Lorenzo panicked and called a halt to the ceremony.

He looked at me guiltily. "Alessia, Bianca was seriously injured saving me, and she's still very fragile. This is an emergency. You've always been so understanding—I need you to be that for me now."

"Go," I said calmly. "Take her and deal with it."

Lorenzo was stunned, then hastily promised, "Once things calm down, I'll hold an even grander ceremony for you." He didn't even wait for my reply before rushing out with Bianca in his arms.

I watched him leave and dialed an encrypted number I hadn't contacted in years. "Mr. Julian Sterling, I accept the five-year confidential project—to crack the 'Financial Virus.'"

By the time I vanished, Lorenzo was already consumed by regret, mobilizing his entire family in a frantic, worldwide search for me.

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1

At our engagement ceremony, Lorenzo and I had just exchanged vows before the priest.

As the guests were raising their glasses, my so-called sister, Bianca, "lost her grip" during the toast and spilled a glass of red wine on the Don of a rival family.

"Lorenzo... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to..." she whimpered, her body swaying as if about to collapse.

Lorenzo panicked. Without even a glance at me on the altar, he rushed off the stage to shield Bianca. "Bianca! Don't be afraid, I'm here!"

He turned and announced to the crowd, "The ceremony is on hold."

The guests whispered among themselves, their gazes piercing me like needles. Lorenzo looked up at me, his tone pleading, "Alessia, Bianca was seriously injured for my sake, and she's still very weak. This is a matter of life and death. You always see the bigger picture—I need you to do that for me now."

I gripped my bouquet so tightly my knuckles turned white.

I had loved Lorenzo for five years. Ever since I was eighteen and learned my father had betrothed me to him, I'd had eyes only for him.

Lorenzo had always been good to me, keeping vigil through long nights as I painstakingly restored ancient masterpieces, even searching the globe for rare pigments I couldn't find on my own.

That all changed six months ago with Bianca's arrival. Lorenzo recognized her as the savior from that shootout.

Since then, our dates were constantly interrupted by Bianca's "emergencies," and Lorenzo always used his "life debt" to her as an excuse.

I had always tolerated it, but I had reached my limit.

"Go," I said. "Take her and deal with it."

Lorenzo seemed stunned. He probably expected me to cry, or beg him to stay. Seeing my composure, his expression softened slightly, tinged with guilt.

"Alessia, thank you for understanding," he promised. "Once this is over, I'll give you an even grander ceremony." He didn't wait for my response before hurrying away with her.

I took out my phone and dialed a number buried deep in my contacts. "Mr. Julian Sterling, I accept your offer."

Julian's voice was deep and serious. "Are you sure, Alessia? This is a five-year black-ops project to crack the 'Financial Virus.' You'll drop off the face of the earth. No family contact. And it's life-threatening. Have you truly thought this through?"

I glanced in the direction Lorenzo had disappeared. "I've thought it through. He was the only reason I stayed. Now, there's nothing left for me here. As one of the world's leading art restorers, I'd rather put my talents to use for the entire underworld."

Julian sighed. "Alright. I'll dispatch a security team to retrieve you within twenty-four hours."

I returned home to find my father, Giovanni, rummaging through my mother's art restoration studio. Her private restoration journals were scattered across the floor.

"What are you doing?" I asked coldly.

Giovanni's body stiffened, but he quickly straightened up, defiant. "Alessia, you're back just in time. Bianca has just come home and hasn't found her footing. She has no status. I've decided your position as Chief Art Restorer should be given to her."

His tone brooked no argument. "She suffered so much out there. People will look down on her without this title. Besides, you're going to be the family's Donna. Lorenzo will protect you; you don't need this."

Bianca leaned against the doorframe, her eyes red, looking as if she might faint at any moment. "Papa, don't... Alessia worked so hard for this position... I don't want to cause trouble... If the family won't accept me, I can just go back to my small apartment on the corner..."

Giovanni looked at her with pity, then turned on me, yelling, "Look at how considerate she is! And then look at you—selfish and cold! Have you no compassion?"

I felt nothing. This was my father, ready to hand over a position I had poured years of my life and soul into, a position I had risked my life to earn, to an illegitimate daughter who had appeared out of nowhere.

"If you want to give it to her so badly, then take it," I sneered. "This pathetic family and a fraud like her—you're a perfect match. You deserve each other."

Giovanni was speechless. He had never heard such sharp words from me. "Insolent girl!" he roared at my retreating back.

I went back to my room and began to pack.