Amber Snake heart

Broken Sicilian roses

Under Maria’s skillful hands, Giovanna was soon dressed in the champagne-colored velvet gown. The gown’s cut perfectly fit her figure, accentuating her graceful curves with utmost precision.

　　As Giovanna stepped into the banquet hall, the air was filled with the rich aroma of wine and the fragrance of food, accompanied by soft classical music. A long dining table was draped with a pristine white linen tablecloth, and silver cutlery gleamed under the candlelight. Numerous guests had already gathered in the hall, conversing in low tones in small groups or raising their glasses in celebration, creating an atmosphere of opulent yet restrained socializing.

　　Giovanna’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the head table. Her father, Don Vittorio, sat enthroned there. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his build imposing, his demeanor composed. His eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, surveyed everything in the hall, as if no detail could escape his scrutiny.

　　Giovanna walked towards the main table, each step poised and elegant.

　　“Father,” Giovanna murmured as she approached Don Vittorio.

　　Don Vittorio looked up, his deep gaze resting on his daughter. There was little emotional fluctuation in his eyes, yet they held an undeniable authority. He gave a slight nod: “Giovanna, you’ve arrived. Sit.”

　　Giovanna took the seat next to her father. Her gaze inadvertently fell upon the guest seated opposite her father. He was a man in his early thirties, with handsome features and a hint of roguish amusement in the corners of his eyes. He wore a dark blue velvet suit, a delicate family crest pinned to his chest. This was none other than her cousin, the young heir of the Draco family, an allied family to the Vitorrios – Marco Draco.

　　Marco’s gaze had locked onto her the moment she took her seat. He raised his champagne glass, toasting her from afar, a playful curve on his lips. In his eyes, there was an undisguised admiration and flirtation, as if to say: “You are truly beautiful tonight, captivatingly so.”

　　Giovanna merely returned a faint smile, offering no further response. She knew Marco was interested in her; this was no secret within the family. Marco often used his family’s connection to hers as a legitimate means to approach her.

　　“Giovanna, I heard you went to the city today?” Don Vittorio’s voice suddenly broke Giovanna’s train of thought. His tone was calm, yet it sent a slight chill through Giovanna. He knew, indeed.

　　“Yes, Father. I attended to some matters concerning the family’s properties,” Giovanna replied, her tone neither subservient nor arrogant.

　　“Oh? Then you must have witnessed the city’s ‘spectacle’,” Don Vittorio remarked casually, as if discussing a trivial matter. He raised his glass, taking a small sip of red wine, his gaze deep and sharp, as if it could pierce through one’s thoughts.

　　Giovanna knew this was a test. She neither evaded nor over-explained. “Yes, Father. The populace seems to have quite a few complaints regarding the conflict in the Karsas region.”

　　Don Vittorio chuckled at her words, his laughter tinged with disdain and mockery. “Complaints? Merely the baseless groans of ignorant common folk. They only see the surface, failing to understand that the world operates in ways far more intricate than they can imagine.”

　　He turned to the guests beside him, his tone growing deeper: “The ‘investments’ in the Karsas region are proceeding as planned. Though the process has faced some turbulence, the ultimate returns will be immense. For the future of the family, for the standing of our Vittorio family, these ‘necessary sacrifices’ are unavoidable.” His words were imbued with an undeniable sense of control.

　　Marco interjected from the side: “The Don speaks truly. Those commoners are nothing but a disorganized rabble; they are easily incited but blind to their true interests. Miss Giovanna, however, maintaining her composure in such chaotic circumstances, truly lives up to being a daughter of the Vittorio family.” He looked at Giovanna, his gaze filled with undisguised admiration.

　　Giovanna’s gaze swept across the hall. The familiar faces were a microcosm of power and wealth in the Karsas region – bankers, politicians, real estate magnates, and several influential art collectors. They were impeccably dressed, their manners refined, their faces adorned with formulaic smiles, like meticulously sculpted wax figures. She knew this was not merely a family gathering, but an invisible struggle for power, where every glance, every word, could conceal a hidden agenda.

　　Her mother, Madam Vittorio, was conversing in a low voice with a man in a dark suit, a family crest pinned to his chest, indicating his standing in an ancient lineage. Madam Vittorio noticed Giovanna’s arrival. She turned her head slightly, casting a glance at her daughter. There was no reproach in that look, but an undeniable reminder, as if to say: “Your duty, it begins now.”

　　Giovanna let out a barely perceptible sigh. She liked control, enjoyed arranging everything according to her will, yet in this manor, she often felt like a precisely placed chess piece, every action imbued with a predetermined meaning. She recalled the man’s gaze earlier in the street, when he ordered her to “close” the car window – it was a pure and direct form of control, unadorned, yet it made her inexplicably comply. That kind of control was fundamentally different from her mother’s subtle yet pervasive restraint.

　　“Giovanna, you’ve arrived.” Madam Vittorio concluded her conversation with the gentleman, her voice still elegant, but with a hint of subtle authority. She beckoned Giovanna over. “This is Mr. Leo, a director of the Karsas Bank. Mr. Leo, this is my daughter, Giovanna.”

　　Mr. Leo smiled and nodded to Giovanna, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, with a scrutinizing yet appropriately distant air. “I’ve long heard of Miss Vittorio’s business acumen; seeing you today, it’s clear the reputation is well-deserved.” His voice carried a touch of a businessman’s shrewdness.

　　Giovanna returned a polite smile, her tone neither humble nor proud: “Mr. Leo, you flatter me; I merely do my best.” She knew that in such settings, every polite remark could be interpreted for deeper meanings.

　　Just then, a slightly boisterous laughter emanated from the other side of the banquet hall. Giovanna followed the sound and saw her brother, Alessandro. Tall and imposing, he wore a perfectly tailored gray suit, his tie loosely knotted, exuding an untamed charm. He had a face somewhat similar to Giovanna’s, yet more rugged and heroic. He was surrounded by a group of young men and women, his demeanor casual, his face bearing an innate confidence and arrogance, as if the entire world should revolve around him.

　　Beside Alessandro stood his close friend, Marco. Unlike Alessandro’s flamboyance, Marco appeared more reserved, dressed impeccably in a dark formal suit. His gaze was sharp and calm, as if capable of perceiving everything around him, yet he rarely displayed overt emotions. At this moment, he held a glass of amber-colored whiskey, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips, watching Alessandro’s lively conversations.

　　“Giovanna, you’ve finally come down.” Alessandro’s voice was loud and magnetic. He strode through the crowd towards Giovanna, a hint of his older brother’s typical teasing on his face. “I thought you’d lock yourself away again, surrounded by those tedious reports.” He reached out and gently patted Giovanna’s shoulder, the gesture intimate yet carrying an air of a superior’s casualness.

　　“I merely needed some time to collect my thoughts,” Giovanna replied indifferently, her gaze briefly meeting Alessandro’s. In his eyes, she saw that deep-seated sense of entitlement and desire for control over family matters. “Unlike you, brother, who always finds amusement.”

　　Alessandro chuckled, unconcerned. “Pleasure is everywhere, Giovanna, if only you know how to seek it. Tonight, for instance, holds many ‘pleasures’ worth finding.” His gaze swept meaningfully across the hall, seemingly hinting at something.

　　Marco also approached, nodding in greeting to Madam Vittorio and Giovanna. “Madam, Miss Giovanna.” His voice was low and steady, carrying a convincing composure.

　　Madam Vittorio’s demeanor towards Marco was noticeably more serious than towards Alessandro. “Marco, you’ve arrived. How is your father’s health?”

　　“Thank you for your concern, Madam; my father is in good health.” Marco’s reply was flawless and perfectly courteous.

　　Just as they exchanged pleasantries, the banquet hall doors opened once more. A figure glided in, instantly drawing the attention of many in attendance. It was a woman in a champagne-colored silk gown, its hem sweeping the floor, outlining her graceful figure. Her golden hair was meticulously styled into an updo, revealing her slender neck, and her face bore a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling with a bold beauty.

　　It was Isabella. Marco’s sister.

　　Giovanna’s polite smile stiffened slightly. Between them, an invisible rivalry had existed since childhood, spanning academics, social circles, and intertwined family interests, each becoming an arena for their subtle competition.

　　Isabella walked directly towards Madam Vittorio and Alessandro. Her gaze, briefly pausing on Giovanna, then slid away as if skimming ice, yet a meaningful curve played on her lips.

　　“Madam, Alessandro, Marco.” Isabella’s voice was clear and melodious, carrying a perfectly pitched, charming pout. “Forgive my lateness; traffic was dreadful, quite a nuisance.” As she spoke, she executed a flawless curtsy to Madam Vittorio, her posture impeccably graceful.

　　Madam Vittorio responded with a faint smile: “Isabella, it’s good you’ve arrived. Always so beautiful and captivating.”

　　Alessandro stepped forward, intimately taking Isabella’s hand and pressing a light kiss to its back. “Isabella, a soirée without you always lacks a certain luster.”

　　Isabella’s gaze finally settled on Giovanna once more, her smile growing brighter, yet also more artificial. “Giovanna, you look lovely tonight too. This gown suits you well, but… you seem a little weary? Have the family affairs been overly demanding lately?” Her tone feigned concern, but in her bright eyes, a flicker of schadenfreude was distinctly visible.

　　Giovanna’s gaze rested calmly on Isabella’s bright eyes, a faint, unruffled smile gracing her lips. “Thank you for your concern, Isabella. Family affairs are indeed demanding, but I find satisfaction in them and feel no weariness whatsoever.” She paused, a subtle, almost imperceptible depth in her voice. “Perhaps, it is those who pour their energy into superficial appearances who might mistake my dedication for fatigue.” Her words were soft, yet like a fine needle, they precisely pierced Isabella’s feigned solicitude.

　　Isabella’s smile faltered for a fleeting moment, but quickly regained its composure. “Giovanna, you’re always so serious. Life, after all, is meant to be enjoyed.” With that, she turned to Alessandro, her tone softening considerably. “Alessandro, I hear your investment projects in Rome are progressing splendidly. I wonder if you might grant me the opportunity to seek your counsel sometime?”

　　Alessandro, flattered by Isabella’s sweet words, beamed with delight. He draped an arm around her waist, saying with a grin, “Of course, you’re always welcome. Why don’t we have a good chat tonight?”

　　Giovanna observed this scene, a surge of inexpressible vexation rising within her. She knew Alessandro harbored feelings for Isabella, and Isabella, in turn, was adept at leveraging these sentiments to fortify her family’s standing. Such was the unwritten rule of their circle: interests and emotions were perpetually intertwined.

　　Madam Vittorio took it all in, yet offered no spoken intervention. She simply raised a flute of champagne and took a delicate sip. Her gaze was profound, as if capable of discerning everyone’s innermost thoughts. In her estimation, the rivalry between Giovanna and Isabella was merely a tempering of character between two young women; as long as it didn’t disrupt the larger scheme, she was content to let it unfold.

　　“Giovanna, come here.” Madam Vittorio’s voice cut through suddenly, interrupting Alessandro and Isabella’s hushed conversation. “Mr. Leo is quite interested in our family’s ‘Order’ project in the Karsas region. Please provide him with a detailed overview.”

　　Giovanna immediately collected her thoughts. She understood this was her mother creating an opportunity for her, and a reminder that her value lay in her capabilities, not in trivial squabbles with Isabella. She walked towards Mr. Leo, her mind racing as she began to formulate her presentation.

　　…