The Politics of Desire

Elvira didn't remember how she even got out of the club. The chilly wind at night caused the tear tracks on her face to freeze. She flagged down a taxi and rasped to the driver, "Follow that Maybach."

She needed to see for herself who that woman was—the one Vincent had been thinking about for three years and the one to whom she had lost so completely.

The driver, an Associate of the Corleone family, saw the state Elvira was in and said nothing, hitting the gas to keep up.

Vincent drove fast, much faster than usual. Clearly, he couldn't wait to see that person.

His car finally stopped at the VIP entrance of Kressida Airport. The Allen family had controlled this place for years. It served as a hub for welcoming international partners and a discreet cover for transferring certain "cargo".

Security disguised as travelers was stationed everywhere.

Elvira paid, stumbled out, and hid behind a pillar, her heart pounding out of control. She watched Vincent hurry to the exit, his gaze full of a warmth she had never seen from him.

…

A moment later, a woman in a white dress with a delicate, gentle presence walked out, dragging her suitcase behind her.

It was Elena Corleone.

Elvira froze, feeling her blood turn to ice. That woman was her half-sister, the person she hated most in the world.

Back then, Elvira's mother died in a car crash engineered by the Lucero family while protecting her father, Antonio Corleone, the Don of the Corleone family.

Yet, shortly after her mother's death, Antonio brought his first love, Camilla Scorsese, and his illegitimate daughter Elena back home, using her mother's wedding gift and inheritance to build a comfortable life for them.

Elvira knew better than anyone that Antonio only secured his position as the Don thanks to her mother's family connections and resources.

Now, he was repaying that by protecting his mistress and his bastard.

As for Vincent, he could've fallen for anyone. Why did it have to be Elena?

Elena threw herself into Vincent's arms. He caught her firmly, leaning down to kiss her hair. That scene cut through Elvira's chest like a dull blade, over and over.

Vincent took her suitcase and wrapped his arm around her waist as they headed for the parking garage. Elvira, like someone possessed, grabbed another taxi and continued following.

The distance was close enough that she clearly saw him tilt his head and whisper to Elena, then reach up to tuck her hair behind her ear.

That kind of tender attention was something she never once received in three entire years.

It felt like her heart was being crushed under a tire, painfully grinding again and again until she couldn't breathe.

Her tears blurred her vision, and she kept her eyes locked on the car ahead. She didn't notice the situation at the intersection ahead.

A loud crash exploded.

The cab slammed straight into the rear bumper of the car in front, and another car smashed into them from behind. The impact sent her head forward, smashing against the seatback. Warm liquid spilled instantly down Elvira's face, blurring her vision.

Through the chaos and the cracked window, she saw Vincent's Maybach stop. He got out first, then rushed to the passenger side, and carefully lifted Elena out of the car.

His brows were furrowed tight, his face full of worry as he checked her injuries.

Elena only had a small scrape on her skin, but she clung to him weakly. "Vincent, I'm okay. Don't worry about me..."

Vincent held her close and started to walk away. His steps paused when his eyes accidentally met Elvira's from the crushed back seat of the cab.

A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly disappearing.

"What is it?"

Elena noticed his hesitation and followed his gaze. A cruel glint flashed in her eyes. "Ah, you saw your lover. Don't worry about me. I can get myself to the hospital..."

She tried to push herself up.

Vincent stayed quiet for a few seconds, then looked away and tightened his hold around Elena. "She's not my lover. She's a stalker!"

With that, he turned and left with Elena in his arms, his back gradually disappearing from Elvira's view as her world collapsed all over again.

For the past three years, she was nothing more than a stalker to him.