Before that Mafia family could react, they had to leave Japan as quickly as possible and board a flight to Italy.
Butler William was an Italian gentleman well past fifty. He drove Molly back to the staff dormitory, and to avoid attracting attention, she packed only a small suitcase with her most important belongings.
It wasn’t until she was seated on the plane that the tension in her body finally eased.
William told her that her father had actually been the heir to the Italian Phoenix family. Many years ago, he had run away from home for unknown reasons. Since then, her grandfather had held the family together while searching everywhere for his son. Only recently did he learn of his son’s death. Having lost his last hope, his old illness relapsed, and he passed away.
Before dying, he left the position of heir to his granddaughter—her.
However, her grandfather had also known that the family was in a precarious situation. So he asked William that, after finding her, he should first observe whether she had the temperament to lead the family.
“So, Mr. Butler, do you think I’m suited to be the head of the family?” Molly couldn’t help but ask.
“Miss Molly, if I thought you weren’t suitable, I wouldn’t have told you any of this,” William replied with a smile.
The former master had entrusted him fully with the decision. If William had judged that Molly lacked the qualities of a leader, he would still have saved her, taken her away, and given her the portion of inheritance that belonged to her—but he would not have revealed anything about the family.
“Thank you, Mr. Butler,” Molly said sincerely. “Thank you for giving me the chance to inherit the family. I’ll protect my grandfather’s legacy and won’t disappoint you or him.”
William was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected that the reason for her gratitude was this—not the fact that he had just saved her.
This heir was more interesting than he had imagined.
It was already the early hours of October 14. The plane would arrive in Sicily at around 2 p.m. As the new heir of the Phoenix family, Molly had to attend the birthday banquet of the head of an allied family.
She wouldn’t even have time to return to the Phoenix estate first. William had already arranged for a nearby jewelry and clothing shop. Once they arrived, she would change, get styled, and head straight to the banquet.
When Molly heard this, she tightened her fingers unconsciously. Leaning tiredly against the seat, her lashes trembled slightly, her expression momentarily blank.
William noticed. “Miss Molly, is something wrong?”
“Nothing,” Molly said with a small smile, lowering her gaze. “I just remembered someone I know who also has a birthday today.”
“If you remember their birthday, they must be someone very important to you?”
“Not important,” she replied without hesitation. “He’s the person I hate the most.”
“…”
“Let’s not talk about him. Mr. William, could you tell me what I should pay attention to when attending a banquet like this?”
William briefly explained the procedures and etiquette. Seeing that she was forcing herself to stay composed despite her pale face—clearly shaken by everything that had happened—he added gently:
“Miss Molly, there’s no need to worry. The Vongola family and the Phoenix family are allies. Although they are currently the most powerful and influential family in Italy, their conduct is relatively mild, and they’ve maintained friendly relations with us for a long time. Also, their leader is about your age…”
Molly didn’t hear the rest.
She had gone through too much that day. Once she relaxed, exhaustion surged uncontrollably. Before long, her vision went dark, and she fell asleep.
She dreamed.
The person she hated the most stood before her, looking at her with hopeful eyes, speaking carefully:
“Molly… next year, can you spend my birthday with me too?”
“Hah? Are you ordering me around?” the girl in the dream said, arms crossed, her tone sharp.
The boy panicked. “No, that’s not what I meant—”
“Shut up. You’re so stupid,” she scoffed.
“…” The boy fell silent, shoulders drooping in disappointment.
Then the girl turned her head away, her tone awkward as she changed the subject.
“I really can’t do anything about you.”
“Listen. Since you’re so pitiful that you don’t even have a single friend, I’ll reluctantly agree this time. There won’t be a next time.”
The boy looked up in disbelief, his eyes shining. A foolish smile spread across his face. “That’s great! I knew you were the best, Molly—you’d definitely agree!”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, idiot! Since when are we close?!”
“If we’re not close, why did you give me a gift?”
“…That’s just basic courtesy! You’re so annoying—if you don’t want it, give it back!”
“No way. I’m already looking forward to every birthday gift from now on.”
“Every birthday?” The girl’s eyes widened. “How many birthdays do you expect me to spend with you?!”
“…If possible… every single year—”
“Don’t push your luck, you jerk!”
Their noisy bickering gradually faded away.
Only then did Molly remember—everything in that dream had happened ten years ago.
They had made so many promises, but in the end, they had only spent one birthday together.
Because of that dream, even in her sleep, Molly’s brows remained faintly furrowed.
When she woke, she still felt dazed, her mind drifting.
The stylist and makeup artist William had arranged were professionals.
The stylist chose a strapless Lolita-style evening gown for her. The dress was black, with layered skirts resembling blooming petals. Its fitted cut highlighted her slender waist, and a sheer shawl draped over her shoulders. Her long silver hair flowed like a waterfall, adorned with a butterfly hairpin. The makeup artist applied an elegant look suitable for the banquet.
As the makeup artist worked, she kept softly praising Molly’s beauty, saying she had the best complexion she had ever seen. So she kept the makeup light, focusing on enhancing Molly’s natural features.
Molly only responded with a faint “mm,” unmoved by the compliments.
It wasn’t until the two women excitedly began discussing the banquet being held that evening at Vongola Castle that Molly finally looked up, quietly steering the conversation toward the host—the Tenth Vongola Boss.
Though William had told her not to worry—that they were only there to make an appearance—she still felt uneasy.
Knowing more could only help.
The two women eagerly began explaining.
Though neither had ever met the Tenth Boss in person, in Italy—especially in Sicily—there was no one who didn’t know his legend.
He had come to Italy with his guardians right after coming of age to inherit the family. In just six years, he had ruthlessly eliminated all corruption within the family, united the remaining members, and further solidified Vongola’s position among both allies and enemies.
He was, without a doubt, a Mafia godfather.
Most people didn’t believe loyalty like that could exist naturally. Many suspected he used extremely harsh and brutal methods to control his subordinates.
After hearing all that, Molly felt even more nervous.
Still, she kept her expression calm and aloof. Under William’s guidance, she presented her invitation and entered the castle’s grand hall.
She didn’t know anyone anyway. As long as she maintained her composure and didn’t let others look down on the Phoenix family, that was enough.
But clearly, news of the previous Phoenix head’s death had already spread. After recognizing William, several people approached with ill intentions, clearly trying to intimidate her.
Molly had no intention of letting them humiliate her—or her family.
The silver-haired beauty lifted her chin slightly, swirling her wine glass. Her emerald eyes were filled with cold amusement. Smiling, she effortlessly countered every subtle jab and insult.
Thanks to her, not long after the banquet began, no one dared approach her anymore. People kept their distance.
Which suited her just fine.
She sat quietly in a corner, sipping her wine, her thoughts drifting far away.
Today was that person’s birthday.
The one she hated the most.
Though she hated to admit it, that annoying person… was her ex-boyfriend.
And back then, the relationship had started because of her own prank.
On top of that, their breakup had been too sudden, too abrupt. That was why she had never been able to forget him. Every year on his birthday, her mood would sour.
Molly looked at her reflection in the wine.
Ten years had passed.
She wondered where he was now—what kind of man he had become.
Back then, he had always ranked last in both academics and sports. Timid, weak, always bullied—even by someone like her.
If nothing unexpected had happened, he was probably just an ordinary, useless office worker now.
That was what she naturally assumed.
Suddenly, the noisy hall fell silent, leaving only the soft music.
“They’ve arrived—the Tenth Vongola,” William murmured.
Molly looked up.
Her gaze landed on the spiral staircase on the second floor.
A figure appeared.
A tall, slender young man, dressed in an exquisitely tailored black suit with gold patterns, red-soled black shoes. He had brown hair and eyes. Though he wore a gentle smile, the aura of authority around him made everyone hold their breath.
In that instant, Molly’s eyes widened in shock. Her heart skipped a beat.
The man on the stairs overlapped with the image of a certain brown-haired boy in her memory.
Wait… no way.
It must be a coincidence—same hair color, same eye color, same birthday… coincidences like that weren’t rare, right?
She tried to reassure herself.
Then the man on the stairs spoke with a gentle smile:
“Good evening. I am the Tenth Vongola Boss, Tsunayoshi Sawada.”
His voice was calm and steady, carrying clearly across the hall.
“Welcome, friends from our allied families, to my birthday banquet.”
Applause erupted like a wave.
But Molly felt as if she were dreaming.
As if sealed inside a glass dome, all sound fading away. Even her breathing and heartbeat seemed to disappear—leaving only the man before her.
No way.
No way!
Her ex-boyfriend—Tsunayoshi Sawada—the guy who used to average 17.5 on exams, could barely jump three vault boxes, failed at everything, and was always bullied… how could he possibly become the leader of the most powerful Mafia family in Italy after just ten years?!
Watching him move with ease among the crowd, smiling gently, conversing calmly with guests—
Molly felt like her entire worldview was collapsing.
Tsunayoshi Sawada… just what have you been through these past ten years?
Perhaps her gaze was too obvious.
The brown-haired man seemed to sense it. He lifted his eyes, his gaze passing through the crowd—landing precisely on her.
Their eyes met.
In that single glance—
it felt as though ten years had passed in an instant.