Our Love Withered Before the Petals Fell

Tania stood at the entrance. Her simple, black attire was a stark contrast to the lively scene before her.

She wanted to slip back to her room to gather her things, but Noemi spotted her immediately.

"Tania? You're back already?" Noemi feigned surprise. "Didn't the doctor say you needed more rest?"

Rino frowned, his tone impatient. "Since you're here, just stay. Don't spoil everyone's mood."

Forced to stay at the party, Tania found a quiet corner and sat down.

Groups of guests clustered, all buzzing about Noemi's good fortune and their envy of her winning Don Lanzi's favor.

"I heard Don Lanzi gave her all kinds of precious gifts. Looks like Noemi's really marrying into the family."

"Meanwhile, Tania's got the looks but no one who truly cares about her. What a pity."

"She's just too fierce, unlike the gentle and sensible Ms. Noemi. No wonder no one loves her."

"She's just like her madre."

Tania couldn't bear to listen anymore. She stood up and walked straight outside to the backyard pool.

The cool night breeze did nothing to clear the heavy gloom in her chest. As she stared at the still water, a bitter chill settled deep in her soul.

"Tania, why are you out here alone?" Noemi's voice came from behind, dripping with superiority. "Jealous that Don Lanzi likes me, so you sneaked away?"

"I thought you liked Simone," Tania said.

Noemi laughed like she'd just heard the funniest joke. "Simone is definitely hot. I don't mind having a little fun with him. But he's just a bodyguard. How could he possibly be good enough for me?

"Tania, you really love him, don't you? Too bad he loves me. When I'm nice to him, he comes running. But I'm only being nice to him to rub it in your face."

She stepped up to Tania's side and lowered her voice. Her tone dripped with venom as she said, "You're just like your mamma—a pathetic loser nobody loves. My mamma stole your papa, and I stole Simone. I can take everything you've ever wanted. You'll always be beneath me.'"

Tania snapped around, her gaze icy. "Are you done?"

"What, did I hit a nerve?" Noemi smirked, then suddenly staggered and screamed as she fell into the pool.

"Help! Tania pushed me!"

The guests came running at the sound. Seeing Noemi thrashing in the pool while Tania stood on the edge with an unmoved expression, the crowd erupted into a frenzy.

"How could Ms. Tania do this?"

"She's so cruel to push Ms. Noemi into the pool!"

Simone's face darkened. Without hesitation, he jumped in and pulled Noemi out.

Soaked and shivering, Noemi clung to him, sobbing, "Simone, I didn't mean to make Tania angry. Why would she push me?"

When Simone looked at Tania, his gaze was full of disappointment and anger. "Tania, you've really let me down."

Watching the amateur theatrics, Tania felt only a cold sense of ridicule. She didn't bother to explain. She simply turned and walked away, leaving a chorus of accusations echoing behind her.

…

The next day, Tania went to pick out her bridal jewelry.

Just as she was about to get in her car in the underground garage, two men in black suddenly covered her mouth and nose.

A pungent chemical hit her nostrils.

She struggled briefly before everything went black.

When she woke, her eyes were blindfolded, her hands were chained, and her body was hanging suspended.

Suddenly, the chains slackened, and she dropped hard into icy water. The cold shock bit deep, making her gasp for air.

Before she could surface, the chains jerked, lifting her back into the air.

This cycle repeated until she was drenched and barely conscious, her breath shallow.

Finally, the chains stopped moving. Someone put her down and removed her blindfold.

Under the dim light, several men in black stood before her, brandishing weapons. She recognized the man in the lead. He was one of Simone's MadeMen from that night outside the villa.

"Mi dispiace, Ms. Giordano," the man said flatly. "But you provoked the wrong people. This is your lesson."

As Tania looked at him, she felt as though an ice pick had been driven through her heart. The pain was so sharp she struggled to breathe.

This abduction was Simone's doing, and the near-death experience was also his order.

All because she "pushed" Noemi.

He knew perfectly well that Tania had been lost at the beach as a child, left completely unattended.

Water was her greatest fear.

All her hopes and attachments were reduced to ashes at this moment.

She lost consciousness again.