Across the room, Apollo looked over.
Agatha immediately covered her mouth in fake shock before hurrying toward us.
“Oh no...” She grabbed Apollo's arm, her eyes already glistening with tears. “Sister... what did you do?”
She looked from Lambert to Apollo, panic spreading across her face.
“The Gray family has worked with Riccio Group for years. If this ruins the partnership... what are we going to do now?”
Apollo's expression darkened.
A waiter hurried over and handed Agatha a towel.
She accepted it without hesitation before carefully wiping the wine from Lambert's suit herself.
“I'm so sorry.” She bowed repeatedly with genuine-looking remorse. “My sister rarely leaves the mansion, so she doesn't really know how to interact with people anymore. If anyone should apologize, it's me.”
She lowered her head even further.
“My sister's been sick her whole life.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Please don't hold this against her. She really didn't mean any harm.”
The whispers began almost immediately.
“So that's the famous Miss Redd?”
“I thought she'd have better manners.”
“Being sick doesn't excuse acting like a spoiled princess.”
“The Redd family collapsed years ago, but she still acts like she's above everyone.”
“Look at Agatha.”
“She's only an assistant, yet she's handling this with so much grace.”
“No wonder Don Apollo dotes on her.”
“If I were him, I'd choose Agatha too.”
Every word cut deeper than the last.
Not one person asked why I'd thrown the wine.
Not one person wondered what Lambert had done.
Because nobody cared.
Realizing everyone had taken his side, Lambert's confidence returned immediately.
He straightened his soaked jacket before looking directly at Apollo with a smug grin.
“So...” He slowly spread his arms. “Your woman just humiliated me in front of half of Chicago's elite. Tell me, Don Apollo... how the fuck are you planning to make this right?”
The whispers around me grew louder.
I looked straight at Apollo.
For one brief second, I let myself hope.
“Apollo...” My voice trembled as I swallowed hard. “Please... just this once, believe me. He touched me first. He grabbed my waist and tried to put his hand under my dress. That's why I threw the wine.”
Before Apollo could respond, Lambert burst into laughter.
“What the fuck?” He looked around the ballroom with exaggerated disbelief before spreading his arms toward the guests. “Miss Redd, you can't just throw accusations around like that. My reputation doesn't matter to me, but the Gray family's does. You claim I molested you? Fine. Then tell everyone... who actually saw it?”
Silence fell over the ballroom.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody stepped forward.
Nobody wanted to get involved with the Gray family or with Apollo.
I looked around desperately. Someone had to have seen it, didn't they?
Apollo never even looked at me.
He walked straight past me and stopped in front of Lambert.
His expression remained cold.
“I'll increase your percentage on the West District infrastructure project.” His voice was emotionless. “Take it as compensation, and let's end this here.”
Lambert grinned with satisfaction.
“Now that's the Don Apollo everyone knows.” He straightened his jacket with a smug smile. “You should keep your woman on a much tighter leash before she embarrasses you again.”
Apollo said nothing.
That was enough.
Just like that, everyone decided I was guilty.
The spoiled woman who attacked someone for no reason.
I stood there alone while countless eyes settled on me.
Some carried pity.
Most carried contempt.
Apollo turned to leave.
“Apollo...” My voice was barely audible. “Not even once? You won't believe me... not even once?”
He stopped walking but didn't turn around immediately.
Slowly, he looked over his shoulder.
The mockery in his eyes hurt more than anything.
“Elarisse.” A cold laugh escaped his lips. “Do you seriously think the whole fucking world revolves around you? Lambert promised me years ago he'd never touch you again, so who the hell am I supposed to believe?”
He grabbed my wrist and dragged me behind one of the ballroom doors.
The moment we were out of sight, he shoved me backward.
I stumbled into the wall.
Pain shot through my shoulder.
“I know exactly what you're doing.” His voice dropped lower, every word laced with anger. “You're pissed because of Agatha. You can't stand that I care about her, so now you're trying to start shit with the Gray family just to get back at me. I don't give a damn about losing money, but can't you stop targeting her for five fucking minutes?”
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it again.
What was the point?
How many times had I cried?
How many times had I begged?
How many times had I explained myself?
Had any of it ever mattered?
No.
Never.
This time...
I stayed silent.
If that's what he wanted to believe...
Then fine.
Only seven more days.
In seven days, none of this would matter anymore.
I bent down and slipped off my high heels.
The skin on both heels had blistered and bled. Every step had felt like walking on knives.
Apollo had bought these shoes himself.
Whenever I complained they hurt, he'd always frown.
“They're designer.” He'd dismiss me without another thought. “They fit perfectly. Stop acting spoiled.”
He never once considered...
Maybe they were simply the wrong size.
Barefoot, I quietly walked away.
Step after painful step.
I never looked back.
Behind me, Apollo watched me leave.
For the briefest moment, his brows drew together as though something didn't sit right with him.
He took a step forward.
Then another voice stopped him.
“Mr. Riccio...” Agatha slipped her arm around his and looked up with worried eyes. “Do you think Sister still hates me? I never meant to make things worse. She left without saying anything... maybe she doesn't even care that you're worried about her anymore.”
Apollo's expression hardened again.
The hesitation vanished.
He glanced at my retreating figure one last time before looking away.
“Forget her.” His voice turned cold once more. “She brought this on herself. If she wants to throw another tantrum, let her.”
Without another glance...
He walked back into the hotel with Agatha.
And left me behind.
A few days later, the partnership with the Gray family was officially signed.
Not long after that, Agatha moved into the Riccio estate.
Apollo claimed it was only temporary.
He found me sitting beside the window with Lila curled up in my lap. My ragdoll purred softly while I absentmindedly stroked her silky fur.
“Agatha's staying here for a while.” Apollo stood beside me with his hands in his pockets. “She's an orphan, and she's had a rough life. I'm her boss. I can't just leave her with nowhere to go. It'll only be a few days, and it won't affect you. She's your older sister. You share the same blood.”
Won't affect me?
I almost smiled.
Instead, I kept petting Lila.
“...Okay.”
That was all I said.
Apollo left shortly afterward.
The moment the front door closed, the sweet smile disappeared from Agatha's face.
It vanished so quickly it was almost frightening.
She marched upstairs without hesitation.
Something crashed.
Then another.
Then another.
My heart dropped.
I ran upstairs.
The door to my forensic laboratory stood wide open.
Glass slides were shattered across the floor. Microscopes had been thrown from the tables. Evidence samples I'd spent months organizing lay scattered everywhere. DNA models were smashed. Reference books had their pages ripped out. Computers and expensive equipment had been destroyed within minutes.
“What are you doing?!” I rushed inside and threw myself in front of the only cabinet she hadn't reached. “Agatha, stop! Don't touch that cabinet!”
Inside were years of research notes.
Case analysis journals.
Study materials I'd collected for the European Forensic Science Institute.
Everything I'd worked so hard for.
I spread my arms to shield it.
Agatha slowly turned toward me and there wasn't a trace of innocence left on her face.
“You really treasure this garbage, don't you?” She kicked another box across the floor before taking a slow step toward me. “You actually thought you'd get into that institute? Dream on. You don't deserve a future. You don't deserve Apollo, and you certainly don't deserve this house.”
