Chapter 1

On the first day of my last summer break from college, my father, Don Marcello Roveri, and my mother, Donna Fiorella Roveri, assigned me another job.

“You'll handle banquet reception at the family's club. You'll get intern pay. Don't think being a Roveri means you get to do nothing.”

Four years of college. Four times they told me the same thing.

The first year, they sent me to the family's food processing plant while they took my younger sister, Adelia, to family banquets in Manhattan, where she sat beside my father, the Don, and received greetings from the other families.

The second year, they put me on night shifts in the family's wine cellar while they gave Adelia her own driver and bodyguards so she could attend gatherings hosted by the other families.

The third year, they made me an assistant instructor in the hotel's staff training program, then took Adelia aboard the family's yacht to a private party on the Amalfi Coast.

So where were they going this year?

“Sicily. A family banquet first, then a few days by the sea.”

My older brother, Leandro, pushed the door open and came in. After telling the jeweler to send Adelia's necklace upstairs, he turned to me with a smile and handed me a pair of shoes.

“I picked these non-slip shoes for you. You'll be on your feet for ten hours at those banquets. You won't get tired wearing these.”

“I'll cover the charter flight and the villa out of my share of the port profits. Adelia's still young. She should meet more people from the other families.”

Adelia gave him a sweet smile, then squealed and threw herself into his arms.

“Leandro, I knew you wouldn't leave me behind.”

I looked at my parents. They looked away in unison.

No one cared how I felt, even though I was only a year older than Adelia.

I suddenly smiled, crouched down, and put on the shoes. They were light.

Light enough for me to walk out of this house.

...

My mother sat in Adelia's dressing room, watching the maid pack the custom gowns and jewelry into separate cases. She suddenly remembered something and looked up, calling to Leandro.

“Leandro, Adelia graduates next year. Make sure there's a seat waiting for her on the board of the family's shipping company.”

“Arrange her shares and dividends ahead of time, too. Don't let the other branches of the family think all she does is go to banquets. You—”

She stopped midsentence.

She seemed to finally remember that another daughter was in the room, one who'd already finished college and was waiting for her diploma.

Leandro still hadn't noticed.

“Don't worry, Mom. She'll join the family's shipping company when she graduates. Her shares, assistant, driver, and bodyguards are all arranged.”

He paused, as if he'd only just remembered I was there, too, and asked casually:

“Viola, do you need me to put in a word for you?”

“No.”

I already had a job with an international freight equipment company that had no ties to the Roveri family. My assignment was in Barcelona.

My work permit and contract were ready. Once my diploma arrived in the next few days, I would leave.

Leandro murmured ‘Mm’ and said nothing else.

My father noticed the awkwardness, set down his wineglass, and smiled to smooth things over for them.

“Viola's always been able to take care of herself. We don't need to worry about her.”

I paused while tying my shoelaces.

I wasn't independent. I just knew that if I didn't do everything myself, no one would help me.

Leandro was the eldest, groomed to be the next Don. As soon as he reached adulthood, he received his own share of the port profits and his own bodyguards. He had their affection all to himself for six years.

My sister was the youngest, the little princess spoiled by the Don and Donna and protected by the entire family.

Then there was me, stuck in the middle, walking past their banquet tables in an apron like a maid no one needed to meet.

The estate had chefs, a butler, and maids. My mother still made me do their work.

Leandro and Adelia had bodyguards whenever they went out. I could leave through the side door without anyone asking a single question.

Adelia put down her cola, ran over, and linked her arm through mine.

“Viola, what do you want? I can bring you something from Sicily.”

She looked at me, a flicker of discomfort in her eyes. So she knew the family wasn't fair to me.

But I knew she'd forget.

Every time she went away, she remembered the silk scarves the Donna wanted and the handmade ties the Don liked, and she helped Leandro collect old cameras.

Mine were the only things she forgot.

That flicker of guilt disappeared almost instantly.

I was used to it. I gave her a small smile.

“Whatever you think I'd like.”

My mother motioned for the maid to put away the last jewelry box, then suddenly smiled at me.

“Viola, she's going on vacation, and she's still thinking of you.”

“It's her first time hosting a charity gala for the family. You're her older sister. Shouldn't you do something for her?”

My father seemed to have been waiting for that. He made the decision for me.

“You'll organize this year's charity gala at the club. Adelia's name goes on the invitations and acknowledgments. Let the other families get to know her first.”

“You don't have to do that. Viola has her own things to do.”

Adelia glanced at me. She said it wasn't necessary, but the corners of her mouth had already turned up.

Leandro ruffled her hair.

“Don't worry about any of that. Just go with Dad and meet the guests. Viola already knows how to handle this stuff.”

Just like that, they left the work to me and gave Adelia the credit. They didn't even ask what I thought.

It had been that way my whole life.

Last year, after paying the part of my tuition my scholarship didn't cover, I had almost no savings left.

My mother kept holding up my request for living expenses. She signed off on Adelia's birthday party bill the day it arrived.

I asked Adelia to lend me her card on the family's account, the one with no spending limit. I needed to pay an overdue housing fee the college had sent a final notice about.

She agreed. Less than five minutes later, my mother and Leandro both called.

“Who gave you permission to use Adelia's account? The family gave that to her. What makes you think you can use it?”

“Adelia's account isn't yours to use. If you owe the college money, ask Mom yourself. Keep your hands off Adelia's things.”

But I'd messaged my mother an hour earlier, and she pretended not to see it.

She answered Adelia's messages immediately.

My phone vibrated. I picked up the shoes I'd taken off and went to my bedroom.

It was a message from the company.

“Your overseas assignment paperwork is complete. Please report to Boston next Monday for the predeparture orientation.”

“Understood.”

As soon as I sent the reply, someone knocked on my door.

Adelia pushed it open and walked straight to my suitcase, with the butler following her.

“Viola, I want to pack the rest of my things in your suitcase. Have the butler load it onto the plane with the others.”

“No. I need it.”

“What do you need it for? Do you need a suitcase to work at the club?”

I said nothing.

An entire row of suitcases lined her dressing room.

She wanted mine because, for as long as I could remember, whatever she wanted, I had to give her.

No matter how carefully I looked after it, she always returned it in a mess. Someone looked after her things. No one looked after mine.

She went still. Her smile vanished, and she stared at me for a few seconds.

When I refused to give in, she turned and slammed the door behind her.

I counted silently.

“Five, four, three, two... one.”

The door burst open again with a bang.

“Viola Roveri.”

Sure enough, my parents were there, with Leandro behind them.