Sofia's POV:

The chandelier in the grand hall sparkled like a crown of light above me, casting delicate patterns across the marble floor as I moved gracefully through the sea of Naples' most powerful figures. The gala was everything I had imagined it would be—luxurious, intoxicating, and alive with whispers of power and alliances. And tonight, I was not merely a guest.

Tonight, I was the victor.

I allowed myself a small smile as I caught sight of Isabella leaving the room, her head held high, but her shoulders tense with defeat. Her green dress swayed with every step, but there was no mistaking the heaviness in her gait. She was walking away, her world crumbling under the weight of her doubts and insecurities.

And I had won.

For months, I had played the game with precision and care, weaving my web until there was no way for her to escape it. I had waited, bided my time, knowing that sooner or later, she would falter. And tonight, in this glittering palace of influence and elegance, she finally had.

It hadn't been easy, of course. Isabella wasn't the type to break easily. She was strong in a way that infuriated and fascinated me, a woman who could stand beside Antonio and not be swallowed by his shadow. She was everything I had once dreamed of being—adored, trusted, the center of his universe.

But she had underestimated me.

From the moment I realized that Isabella was Antonio's weakness, I knew what I had to do. It wasn't enough to simply remove her from the equation—I had to make her doubt him, to turn the love they shared into a weapon that would destroy them both.

The video had been the first step, a carefully calculated move designed to plant the seeds of distrust in her mind. And when she had come to me, seeking answers, I had given her exactly what she needed: a version of the truth that served my purpose.

Antonio had underestimated me too, of course. He had thought he could control me, keep me in line with his cold commands and dismissive glares. But Antonio didn't understand what it meant to be underestimated. He didn't understand what it was like to be invisible, to be dismissed as unimportant.

That invisibility had been my greatest weapon.

I stood beside Antonio now, my hand lightly resting on his arm as we navigated the crowd. He looked as he always did—strong, composed, the center of attention wherever he went. But there was something different about him tonight. A restlessness, a shadow of frustration that lingered in his gaze whenever it flickered to the doors Isabella had disappeared through.

Good.

Let him wonder. Let him feel the sting of her absence, the weight of his own failure. He had made his choice, and now he would have to live with it.

"Antonio," I said softly, leaning closer so that my voice was meant only for him. "You've been distracted all evening. Is everything all right?"

His jaw tightened, but he didn't pull away. "I'm fine," he replied, though the edge in his voice betrayed him.

I smiled, a delicate curve of my lips that I knew he would misinterpret as concern. "If there's anything I can do..."

His gaze flicked to mine, searching for something I wasn't offering. "You've done enough, Sofia," he said, his tone both dismissive and resigned.

I tilted my head, feigning a hurt I didn't feel. "I only want what's best for you, Antonio. You know that."

He didn't respond, his attention already shifting back to the room, the endless game of power and alliances consuming his focus once more.

As the night wore on, I found myself standing near the edge of the room, a glass of champagne in hand as I observed the scene before me. Antonio was deep in conversation with one of the family heads, his posture confident, his expression unreadable.

This was where I belonged.

For so long, I had been on the outside looking in, a shadow in the world of men like Antonio, dismissed and underestimated at every turn. But now, I was at the center of it all. I had fought my way here, clawed my way through doubt and rejection, and I had won.

Isabella was gone. Antonio was mine to control, whether he realized it or not.

And yet, as I stood there, a flicker of something unfamiliar crept into my thoughts. A question, unbidden and unwelcome: What now?

I had achieved everything I set out to do. I had torn Antonio and Isabella apart, claimed my place by his side, and cemented my power within the family. But the victory felt... hollow.

Was it enough?

I shook the thought away, refusing to let it take root. This was what I had wanted, what I had fought for. And if there was an emptiness lingering beneath the triumph, it didn't matter. I had won, and that was all that counted.

Later that evening, as the gala began to wind down, Antonio approached me, his expression unreadable.

"Sofia," he said, his voice low, almost detached. "Thank you for tonight."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. "Of course, Antonio. It's what I'm here for."

He nodded, but there was something distant in his gaze, something that unsettled me.

"Goodnight," he said finally, turning to leave without another word.

I watched him go, a strange unease settling in my chest. For all my efforts, for all my victories, there was still a part of him that I couldn't reach.

But that didn't matter.

Not yet.

I would bide my time, just as I always had. Antonio was mine now, whether he wanted to admit it or not. 

And as for Isabella?

I smiled to myself, a quiet, triumphant smile.

She was nothing more than a memory.

And memories, no matter how powerful, always faded.

As I laid there, my heart racing as I finally made it to my room. I could  feel the heat between my legs, and I knew I needed more.

As I shut the door to her room, I let out a contented sigh. My dress was still on, but that wouldn't stop me. I quickly made my way to my bed, spreading my legs as I laid down. My hands found their way to my panties, sliding them down my thighs and off my body.

As I looked back on our passionate time together, my fingers began to roam my moistened folds, feeling the slickness that Antonio's manhood had left behind. The memories of his large, muscular body over mine filled my head, the way he had moved inside me, sending me into ecstasy.

I bit her lip as her fingers found my swollen clit, flicking it gently. My moans began to grow louder, drowning out the sound of the street outside. I knew I couldn't stop there; I needed more.

I reached under my bed and grabbed my trusty toy, the same one I used every time I am alone. I couldn't help but think about Antonio as I inserted it inside me, his hardness, his thickness, and the way he filled me completely.

With each thrust, she closed her eyes and imagined it was Antonio's cock, moving inside her. Her body tensed, anticipating the moment she would reach her climax. The pleasure began to build, waves of ecstasy crashing against her like the ocean, threatening to drown her in pleasure.

My breath hitched as I felt the intense pleasure overwhelm me. My back arched off the bed, my body shaking as I let out a long, loud moan, my orgasm taking over. As the shivers subsided, I felt a sense of contentment, my body sated from the pleasure I had just given herself.

Lying there, panting, I smiled to myself, knowing that I would remember this moment, and every moment I spent with Antonio, for the rest of my life. I drifted off to sleep, my heart full of love and desire for the man who had awakened such intense, carnal desires within me.

Such an intense chapter !