The Politics of Desire

After finishing her visa paperwork, Elvira returned to the Corleone residence. The moment she stepped through the door, she ran into her perfectly made-up stepmother, Camilla.

"Elvira, you're finally home. You've been out all night for days. Do you have any idea how disgraceful that looks?" Camilla lifted her chin in her usual condescending manner, with disgust dripping from her voice.

To her, Elvira was nothing more than a useless girl who had lost her mother's protection and would eventually be thrown out of the family.

Elvira didn't even spare her a glance. She walked straight to the entryway, raised her hand, and slammed the vase onto the marble floor.

A loud crash echoed as shards flew everywhere.

Camilla shrieked and stumbled backward in fear.

"And what exactly are you?" Elvira's voice was cold enough to freeze, her eyes sharp with unmasked hostility. "You're nothing but a mistress who wrecked my parents' marriage. How dare you lecture me? Remember this, Camilla. As long as I'm still in this house, you'll never be able to lift your head in this family."

Every word struck deep. Camilla's face turned pale, and her body trembled.

"Elvira, what are you up to this time?"

Upon hearing the commotion, Antonio rushed out of the study and quickly helped steady the shaken Camilla. He glared at Elvira in anger. "You cause a scene the second you come home. Can't you behave yourself for once?"

Watching him shield Camilla, Elvira felt nothing. Her heart had long been frozen to the core. "I'm causing a scene? Fine. Just give me back my mother's inheritance. I'll leave the country immediately and never bother you again."

Antonio froze. Then, he feigned concern. "What are you saying? Why would you leave? Stay here. This is your home."

"Home?" Elvira let out a laugh of pure mockery. "Cut the act, Antonio. You, Camilla, and Elena—you're the happy family. I don't have a home anymore, not since my mother died."

She pulled a document from her bag and tossed it on the coffee table. "Name your price. I want my rightful share. My mother's inheritance, including the shares in the overseas accounts, and the profits from the three Aelorian smuggling routes."

Antonio's expression darkened instantly. "You're insane! Absolutely not. You're trying to gut half of the Corleone family's assets!"

"Insane?"

Elvira walked to the window and stared at the garden below. Her tone was calm, but the determination in it was unmistakable.

"You forced me into this. You used my grandfather's money to secure your position as the Don. My mother died saving you in that planned car crash, and now you're using her wealth to support a mistress and her bastard, living in the house she bought. Do you think I'll just sit back and watch?"

She turned back, her eyes sharp enough to slice through boulders. "Either sign this agreement and return what belongs to me, or we all die here today. I buried explosives in the basement. I don't want this house anyway."

Antonio's pupils shrank. His finger trembled as he pointed at her. "Y-You lunatic!"

He knew her too well. Elvira always meant what she said.

His fear of death crushed everything else. He collapsed onto the couch, cold sweat streaming down his back.

He grabbed a pen and scribbled his name on the agreement. "There… Now, get rid of the bomb," he said shakily.

Elvira picked up the document and confirmed his signature. A mocking smile tugged at her lips. "Relax. There isn't one. After all, isn't this how you tricked my mother into marriage? Like father, like daughter."

Realizing he'd been played, Antonio nearly passed out from rage, but he couldn't utter a word. Elvira didn't glance at him again. She turned to go upstairs and pack her things.

"Stop right there!" Antonio barked, suppressing his anger.

"Your sister's bringing her partner home for dinner tonight. I don't care what kind of trouble you've stirred up before. This time, you will behave."

He emphasized, "Her boyfriend is Vincent Allen, the Don of the Allen family. We can't afford to offend him, so don't you dare cause problems."

Elvira's steps halted.

Her entire body went rigid, and she found it hard to believe that Vincent was paying them a visit as Elena's partner.

The next second, the doorbell rang.

A housekeeper opened the door, and Elena walked in, clinging to Vincent's arm with a bright smile.

The moment their eyes met, Vincent's brows drew together. Clearly, he had just realized that Elvira was Elena's sister.

Elvira's heart twisted sharply once again.