The Godfather’s Forsaken Rose Chapter 05
“Dad, Mom, I’m home.”
Victor and Elena, who had only just recovered from the scene I had caused, instantly put on warm, polished smiles. They surrounded Sophia with concern and greeted Dominic with almost embarrassing respect.
Dominic’s gaze landed on me, and his brows drew together.
It seemed that only now did he realize I was Sophia’s sister.
At dinner, Sophia and Dominic sat together on one side of the long table. I sat alone across from them.
Throughout the meal, I watched Dominic serve Sophia food with meticulous care. He peeled shrimp for her. When sauce touched the corner of her mouth, he picked up a napkin and wiped it away as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Elena watched them with a glowing smile.
“Sophia, how did you and Mr. Morello meet? Tell me.”
Sophia blushed shyly and answered in a soft voice, “It was at a charity dinner. I saw a stray cat trapped in a tree and wanted to help it, but I almost fell. Dominic caught me. After that, he asked for my contact information.”
As she spoke, she gave Dominic an adoring look.
I could not help laughing.
Sophia had hated small animals since childhood. She had once tortured a cat to death. The idea that she would climb a tree to save one was absurd.
Either she had staged the whole thing, or she had wanted to rescue the cat only so she could hurt it again later.
My laugh cut sharply through the quiet dining room.
Everyone looked at me.
Sophia’s expression shifted for a moment, but she recovered quickly and smiled.
“What about you, Bella? Have you had a boyfriend these past few years? When will you bring someone home for us to meet?”
I curved my red lips into a bright, fearless smile.
“Bring someone home? That’s not really possible.”
Sophia looked confused. “Why not?”
My smile widened. My gaze swept deliberately across Dominic before returning to her face.
“Because there are too many.”
“I’m not like you, Sophia. It didn’t take me three years to bring back one man.”
I dragged out my words lazily, like a woman who had never once lacked admirers.
“The men chasing me could line up from the Moretti estate on Long Island all the way to Paris. I simply can’t bring them all to dinner.”
“Isabella!” Victor’s face turned livid as he slammed his hand on the table.
Elena was so angry her chest rose and fell.
Sophia’s eyes reddened with practiced hurt. She looked helplessly toward Dominic.
Dominic set down his utensils and wiped his hands with a napkin.
Then, under everyone’s gaze, he took Sophia’s hand on the table.
“Sophia doesn’t need to compare her charm with anyone.”
“In my heart, no one compares to her. She is the best. No one can replace her.”
That one sentence was like a verdict, casting me straight into the abyss.
Sophia smiled through her tears and tightened her grip on his hand, her face full of happiness and triumph.
I looked at their intertwined fingers. It felt as if my heart had been crushed in an instant.
The pain was so sharp I could barely keep the arrogant mask on my face.