Chapter 2

Cecilia's POV

Late that night, I went back to pack my things.

To my surprise, when I opened the door, I saw the shirt I'd bought for Luciano with my scholarship money tossed carelessly on the floor. Lying on top of it were several used condoms stained with white fluid.

When we first moved into this apartment, Luciano had held me in his arms and said solemnly, "You always said you're a nightingale without a home. From this moment on, this is our home."

But now, he had brought Valentina into our home.

As I stood there frozen, the bathroom door opened, and Luciano walked out with a towel loosely wrapped around his waist. Water droplets dripped from his hair down his bare chest, making him look sexy and alluring.

If this were before, I would have blushed at this sight. But now, I didn't feel even the slightest flutter in my heart. I simply picked up the shirt from the floor and looked at him.

"We haven't even broken up yet," I said calmly. "And you're already in such a rush to bring someone else home?"

Luciano casually leaned back on the couch, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He pulled a box from a drawer and tossed it at me.

"A gift."

I scanned the "home" where I had lived for four years. There seemed to be nothing worth taking. I took the ring off my finger and threw it in the trash.

This action made his hand jerk, and the cigarette burned his fingertip, but he didn't seem to care.

Gritting his teeth, he hissed, "What tantrum are you throwing now, Cecilia Rossetti?"

I only had eyes for him before, but now, those same eyes were filled with nothing but calm indifference.

"Can't you see? I don't want the ring. And I don't want you either."

With that, I turned to leave.

Luciano grabbed my wrist almost instinctively, his grip so hard that I winced. He slammed me against the door, his jaw tight as he glared at me.

"Who gave you permission to break up with me, Cecilia?"

"Let go of me!"

I struggled, but the difference in strength between us was too great, and he pinned my hands above me.

Suddenly, the sound of the keypad lock came from the door. My eyes widened.

Valentina's confused voice followed. "Maritino?"

Luciano acted as if he hadn't heard. He tore my cotton dress, grabbed my thighs, and roughly forced himself inside me.

I almost screamed in pain, but he bit my earlobe wickedly.

"Amore, you better press against that door hard, or she'll come in here soon."

I bit my lip to stifle my groans, glaring at him. What I didn't know was that my tearful gaze only ignited the primitive possessiveness inside him.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he slammed even harder into me.

Outside, Valentina froze, then turned and ran downstairs. She returned with a baseball bat and began smashing the door in a rage.

"Do you have no shame, Cecilia?" she screamed. "Sleeping with my man in front of me? How much of a slut are you?"

The series of heavy bangs drowned out the moans I could no longer stifle.

With one last thrust, Luciano brought me to the height of pleasure. He leaned down to kiss me, but I slapped him across the face.

"Get lost!"

A mocking smirk played across his lips. "Amore, next time you tell me to get lost, make sure your body learns how to reject me first."

I was so mad that I could barely catch my breath. Before I could steady it, a loud crash rang out.

Valentina had kicked open the door. With bloodshot eyes, she grabbed me by the hair and dragged me into the bathroom.

I tried to struggle, but she pinned me to the floor. She turned the water to scalding hot and even grabbed the toilet brush lying to the side, scrubbing my skin harshly.

"This brush is cleaner than a man-stealing slut like you!" she snarled.

The coarse bristles scraped across my supple skin, instantly leaving bloody streaks. Fighting through the pain, I struggled to my feet, snatched the brush from her, and looked straight at her through the veil of water.

"Valentina," I started, my voice trembling from the pain. "When you married Luciano behind my back… Did you ever remember that I was your friend?"

A loud slap rang out as she smacked me across the cheek.

"If I weren't using a Bastarda like you to make myself look good, do you really think I'd bother being friends with you?" she snapped, looking down at me.

The slap caused me to fall back onto the floor, and she scrubbed even harder.

"How pathetic. Let's guess—will he come in to stop me?"

The next second, Luciano's voice came from outside. "Basta. How far do you plan to take this while I'm standing right here?"

Valentina threw open the door, glaring at him. "Fine. Go feel sorry for your Amante then. Don't come looking for me!"

Before Luciano could react, she ran right out the front door. He immediately chased after her, yelling to me as he ran, "I called a doctor for you. Don't be mad at her."

…

After the doctor treated me, I asked for emergency contraception under his contemptuous gaze. I wouldn't allow anything tying me to Luciano ever again.

Once the doctor left, I forced my tired self to pack everything I owned and throw it all into the dumpster downstairs.

As I was leaving, a maid stopped me, holding out the ring. "Ma'am, do you still want this?"

"No," I said without hesitation.

Friendship or whatever else it was… I didn't want any of it anymore.

To make sure Luciano wouldn't go to the Republic of Azamir to look for me, I decided to go somewhere he would never think to look.

The next day, I met with my mentor.

"I'd like to apply to join the volunteer team heading to Kovana."