Video Editor

A few days later, on a gloomy afternoon, the sea breeze carried a damp, cold, and salty smell, foreshadowing a possible rain.

The sky over Syracuse was not just shrouded in natural clouds, but also in an invisible, oppressive sense of sorrow.

An official notification from the front lines, like a deadly chill, swept through Scodia's small seaside apartment...

Malena's husband, Nino Scotia, was killed in action in North Africa.

This news was like a bolt from the blue for Malena, who relied on her husband's salary and her beliefs for support.

It not only meant that she lost her beloved husband, but also that she lost her only legitimate and stable source of income.

She became a rootless duckweed, vulnerable to being swallowed up at any moment in this sea filled with malice and covetousness.

Those once somewhat restrained gazes of greed have now become more naked and unbridled.

The men seemed to see a treasure that had lost its protector, while the women's whispers and rejection grew increasingly sharp, as if her reputation as a "husband-killer" confirmed all their curses.

That day at the "Harbor Lighthouse" tavern, she was indeed trying to buy food.

The last ration of bread at home was gone, and the black market prices were desperately high; the little money she had left couldn't even buy a small bag of flour.

She clung to a faint hope, wanting to go there to see if she could find something to eat, or... she dared not think any further.

But the result only made her realize more deeply what it means to be at her wit's end.

Just as Malena sat alone in the cold room, facing the empty closets and a hopeless future, almost overwhelmed by immense sorrow and helplessness, the knocking sounded again.

This time, instead of asking through the crack in the door as usual, she silently and almost numbly opened the door.

Standing outside the door was still Mr. Su, with his Asian face.

Today, he wore a dark coat, his expression solemn, and his eyes did not show the schadenfreude or gloating of others, but rather a deep sympathy and understanding.

“Mrs. Scotia,” Suning’s voice was lower than usual, carrying a comforting strength, “Please accept my condolences. I heard the news… I am deeply saddened.”

Malena looked at him, her lips moved, but no sound came out.

The immense grief and the predicament she was facing robbed her of her former pride, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears, but she forced herself not to let them fall.

Su Ning didn't rush in, but stood at the door, looking at her honestly: "I know it might be inappropriate to say this now. But that's precisely why I think you need a job and income that can support you."

He extended the invitation again, but this time the wording was more pragmatic and urgent: "My shop, 'SU,' needs a model who can perfectly showcase our designs. This job can provide you with a stable salary so you don't have to worry about basic living expenses. You can have independent financial means, which is exactly what you need right now."

He paused, his tone becoming even more sincere: "I assure you, this will be a purely professional job. You will only need to cooperate with us to take some photos of clothing displays when needed, or to appear in our clothing on certain occasions when the store requires it. Your personality and dignity will be respected to the fullest extent. I guarantee this with my reputation."

Malena listened intently.

In the past, she might have hesitated and worried about gossip.

But now, reality has pushed her to the brink.

The fear of losing their source of income far outweighs any concern about those vague and unfounded discussions.

Mr. Su's previous actions—his respectful greetings from a distance, the gifts that offered help in times of need, and the pure sincerity and respect in his eyes at this moment—flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.

She thought of the women in the tavern who had to force a smile and sell themselves to survive, and a chill rose from the bottom of her heart and went straight to the top of her head.

She doesn't want to become like that! She can't become like that!
What Mr. Su offered seemed to be a way for her to retain some dignity in the end.

She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and raised her still beautiful eyes, now filled with sorrow and determination, to look at Su Ning. Her voice trembled slightly, but was exceptionally clear:
“Mr. Su… thank you. I… I’m willing to accept your job offer.”

At this moment, she let go of all her pride and guard, bowed her head to reality, and in doing so, grasped a rope that might pull her out of the abyss.

Su Ning secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and a gentle yet solemn expression appeared on her face: "Thank you very much for your trust, Mrs. Scotia. Welcome to 'SU'. We can discuss the specific work arrangements and salary in detail at the store tomorrow, okay? Please take care of yourself first."

He did not linger; after expressing his condolences once more, he politely took his leave.

The door closed behind her, and Malena leaned against the door, her body slowly sliding down. Finally, she couldn't hold back anymore, and tears silently streamed down her face.

These tears are for her deceased husband, for the unknown future, and for this difficult but necessary choice.

From that day on, Malena Scotia, the "beautiful legend" who once only existed in the voyeurism, gossip, and fantasies of the town's residents, officially became a model for the "SU" clothing factory and its affiliated stores.

Under Su Ning's intervention, her fate finally deviated from the original path that led to destruction and ruin, and headed towards a new direction full of unknowns, but at least with hope and dignity.

……

One evening, Suning personally drove to Malena's residence.

Malena was dressed in plain black mourning clothes and carried only a simple suitcase.

When she saw the black sedan parked at the alley entrance, she hesitated for a moment, but still opened the car door and got into the passenger seat.

"Sir, where are we going?" Malena asked softly, gazing at the rapidly receding street scene outside the window.

“I’m at the manor in town.” Su Ning gripped the steering wheel with one hand, his gaze sweeping over her tense profile. “It’s safer there, and it’s also more suitable for your future work.”

The car eventually stopped in front of a villa surrounded by olive groves.

The granite walls, the cast-iron gate with its intricate carvings, and the armed guards at the gate all testify to the owner's extraordinary status.

Marlena followed Suning through the meticulously maintained garden and noticed several wary-looking bodyguards standing in a corner.

Inside the master bedroom of the villa, Suning took out an exquisite suitcase from the storage space.

"These are the clothes you're going to show me next." Su Ning placed the wooden box on the velvet sofa, her voice calm and even.

The moment Malena opened the box, her breath hitched slightly.

Inside, neatly stacked, were various garments she had never seen before: fishnet stockings, lace garter stockings, and leather corsets.
Each piece is so thin and light that it can be held in the palm of your hand.

She picked up a black sheer nightgown, her fingertips trembling slightly.

"Now change into that red one." Su Ning sat in the armchair and lit a cigar.

Malena turned her back, her fingers trembling as she unbuttoned her mourning clothes.

As the cool silk brushed against her skin, she heard her heart pounding like a drum.

As she turned around, she deliberately avoided Su Ning's gaze, but she could still see her almost completely exposed figure in the mirror of the dressing table opposite her.

"Turn around." Su Ning's voice carried an undeniable authority.

"..." Then Malena obediently turned around and showed her perfect figure to Su Ning.

"It's absolutely perfect! Oh, and I forgot to tell you, you'll be my exclusive model."

In the living room late at night, Malena was curled up in the corner of the sofa.

"Marlena, do you know why I chose you?" Su Ning swirled his wine glass, his gaze lingering on the hickey on her collarbone. "Beauty comes at a price, and I can give you the best protection."

Malena clutched her slipping silk shawl, recalling the gossip she'd overheard in town during the day. Some said there were hidden circumstances surrounding her husband's death, others said she should have found a powerful backer long ago.

At that moment, those words felt like tiny needles pricking her heart.

“I understand, sir.” She lowered her eyes, her voice as soft as a sigh.

As Su Ning carried her into the bedroom, Malena looked at the magnificent crystal chandelier on the ceiling and suddenly remembered her mother's dying words: "Women like us either rot in the slums or wither away in a golden cage."

As the bed curtains fell, she closed her eyes and buried her last shred of dignity in the soft down pillow.

Outside the window, the Mediterranean wind rustled through the olive groves, as if playing a lament for a beautiful legend.

Suning was not rude at all; on the contrary, he was very considerate and gentle, which helped Malena accept her new fate.

"Su, do you think I'm an unlucky woman?"

"How could that be! War has claimed so many lives. Are those widows all cursed?"

"Thank you! If I hadn't met you, I might have been in a very miserable situation."

"You understand! Now I need your loyalty."

"Understood! I will definitely do my job well."

"Marlena, I heard that Renato from town likes you a lot?"

"Uh? Sue, you've got it wrong! He's still a thirteen-year-old child."

……

Having obtained Malena's body and soul, and satisfied his desire for conquest and possession, Su Ning's mind remained unusually clear.

He knew all too well that in this era ravaged by war, momentary pleasure and a foothold in a small place were not enough to guarantee long-term stability, especially with such a striking "beautiful troublemaker" as Malena by his side.

At this moment, Su Ning stood by the window of the study in the villa, gazing at the scorching sun and azure coastline unique to Sicily, but his mind was preoccupied with the war situation across the entire Apennine Peninsula and even Europe.

“Italy… is ultimately unreliable,” Suning murmured to himself, his fingertips lightly tapping on the window frame.

He possessed a vision ahead of his time, clearly understanding that Mussolini's regime was already in decline, Italy's position among the Axis powers was awkward, and defeat was almost inevitable.

Sicily, a strategic location in the Mediterranean, will inevitably become a battleground repeatedly fought between the Allied and German forces in the future. Staying here is tantamount to being on the edge of a powder keg.

Moreover, Sicily is a small island with complex interpersonal relationships, making Malena the center of attention and gossip.

Even with his protection, those malicious glances and potential threats could not be eradicated.

Although the news of her husband Nino's death had been confirmed, in times of war, information is often inaccurate or incomplete; what if...

What if that man is lucky and comes back one day with his broken body?

In this relatively closed and conservative town, the law and public opinion will still bind her back to the identity of "wife".

At that time, will Su Ning stage a battle to win back his wife?
This is completely contrary to his original intention of developing in a low-key manner and enjoying life.

"So, I must leave here." A clear thought formed in my mind.

"Go north, go to Milan!"

Milan, as Italy's industrial, financial, and fashion capital, even during wartime possessed a wider space, more opportunities, and a more complex social structure.

There, people from all over the world gather, and an Eastern businessman with a beautiful female companion will not attract as much attention as in a small town like Syracuse.

More importantly, Milan's post-war reconstruction and development will be faster, which will allow him to truly establish himself and expand his career.

More importantly, taking Malena away from Sicily, away from this place filled with her memories of her deceased husband and also with malicious speculation, is tantamount to fundamentally severing her physical connection with the past.

Spatial distance accelerates the sense of time passing and dilutes memories.

Even if the "deceased husband" miraculously survives and returns to Syracuse, he will only be faced with an empty house and a changed world.

Meanwhile, Malena, far away in Milan, will undergo a dramatic change in mindset and circumstances after living in a completely new environment and under a new identity for several years.

After all, no one in Milan knew about Malena's past; they only assumed that she was born a noblewoman.

At that time, her husband, who might return, will no longer be the center of her life, but may even become a "trouble" to deal with, rather than a "lover" worth giving up everything to return to.

Thinking of this, Su Ning turned around and looked at Malena, who was sitting on the sofa, still looking somewhat dazed and resigned.

He walked over and sat down beside her, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable determination:
“Marianne,” he called her name so naturally for the first time, “we may need to leave Sicily.”

Malena looked up, a hint of surprise and confusion flashing in her beautiful eyes: "Leave? Where to?"

“Milan.” Su Ning grasped her slightly cool hand, his voice steady and reassuring. “Syracuse is too small; the air here is suffocating. Your beauty is a burden here, but in Milan, it will become your asset. There’s a bigger stage there, more suitable for the development of the ‘SU’ brand, and it’s more likely to allow you to break free from the shadows of the past and truly begin a new life.”

Then he carefully outlined the blueprint for her: "There, my business will grow and expand rapidly; no one will know your past; no one will slander you with malicious words. You can openly enjoy life, enjoy beauty, and enjoy everything you deserve."

Malena listened intently, the thought of leaving her homeland instinctively making her uneasy.

But the future that Suning depicts is like a ray of strong light shining through the darkness, full of temptation.

She remembered every disdainful look she received here, every whispered remark, and the unease she felt every time she went to the market or post office.

If she stays here, even with Suning's protection, she will never truly be able to shake off the label of "that beautiful widow whose husband has died."

Milan, however, was a completely new place, a place where no one knew her.

Perhaps, she really can start over?
But when she looked into Su Ning's firm and deep eyes and felt the warmth of his palm, her "resigned" attitude seemed to subtly shift in direction.

If fate has already led her to this man, then following him to a place where she can breathe more freely might be the best choice.

"What...what do I need to prepare?" she asked softly, which was almost tantamount to acquiescence.

Su Ning smiled with satisfaction: "Don't worry about anything, I'll arrange everything. Pack some necessary personal belongings as soon as possible; everything else will be provided once we get to Milan. I'll keep the factory in Syracuse as a branch, but the business focus will shift north."

The action plan was thus finalized.

Suning began operating secretly and efficiently: through Major Ferrante's connections, it smoothed out the transportation checkpoints to the north, transferring some of the Syracuse factory's funds, core equipment, and loyal workers to Milan in batches, and scouting suitable factory buildings and accommodations in Milan in advance.

Major Ferrante and the powerful figures behind him are now deeply intertwined with Suning, and the military uniforms produced in their factory have gained the approval of the Italian military.

Suning is also planning to leverage Ferrante's relationship with the powerful figures behind him to expand its business, since it would be a fool not to make money when there is an opportunity.

A strategic migration was quietly taking place under the shadow of war.

Suning's objective was clear: to escape the "small pond" of Sicily, which was about to become a battlefield and a place of conflict, and head to the wider "ocean" of Milan. On the one hand, this was to avoid the risks of war, and on the other hand, it was to better control the beautiful pearl of Malena firmly in their own hands and completely cut off any "unexpected" interference from the past.

A new chapter is about to unfold in that northern city, a place brimming with both opportunities and challenges.

...(End of chapter)