It felt like an invisible hand had clenched around my heart, squeezing so tightly that even breathing became painful.
I took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "The man in the photo is my brother."
"Your 'brother'?" Ginevra burst into laughter. Her fingers drifted to the hollow of her throat, two fingertips resting there, soft and feminine, before the next words came out sharpened to a point. "Do you think we're idiots? Calling some random 'sworn brother' your real brother? What, do you call every man you sleep with 'brother'? Gotta admit, that does add a certain... spice to things!"
The laughter around me grew sharper. Someone even whistled.
Nico's gaze was full of contempt. "Enough. Stop embarrassing yourself. Take your termination letter and get out. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."
I clenched the letter in my hand, feeling nothing but cold emptiness inside. For five years, I hid my true identity, working as an ordinary associate to help him grow his outfit as quickly as possible.
Now, after I personally paved his way to the top, he was ready to cast me aside like a used tool. I could handle losing, but I refused to be played for a fool. I'd just consider the last five years of my youth wasted on an ungrateful oaf.
"Nico, you'll regret this."
Hearing my quiet murmur, Nico reacted as if I had just told the world's funniest joke.
"Regret?" He let out a mocking laugh. "The only thing I regret is ever meeting a faithless whore like you!"
With that, he extended his hand toward Ginevra. The two exchanged a knowing smile and walked hand in hand toward the center of the banquet hall. The crowd parted for them the way men part for a boss and his woman, instinctively, without being asked.
It was only then that I noticed. Nico's tailored suit and Ginevra's low-cut evening gown were a matching designer set. He raised their interlocked fingers high, his voice loud and confident.
"Tomorrow marks the most important moment in our organization's history: the blood-oath ceremony before the Commission. None of this would have been possible without the hard work of everyone here. Let's continue striving for greatness together!"
Thunderous applause erupted, followed by waves of cheers.