Chapter 4

It took me hours to drag myself back onto my feet. Even the slightest movement sent a searing pain through my body, and I could still feel the ache in my back from the fall.

The doctor had warned me to rest, but I had no time for that—not when my freedom was finally within reach.

I quickly packed my belongings, then waited until the house fell silent and Sofia was asleep before I made my move.

Just as I reached the front door, Padre arrived in a flurry with Rosa Ferrari, my half-sister.

Rosa merely glanced at me without saying a word.

Sofia, who had only just gone to bed, suddenly came running downstairs.

She threw herself into Rosa's arms and pouted. "You finally came, Aunt Rosa! I want you to put me to sleep."

Rosa was Lucia's full biological sister. The two of them looked so alike that most people couldn't tell them apart at first glance.

Perhaps because of that resemblance, Rosa was free to come and go from Vittorio's villa as she pleased. She could roam the villa freely, enter Vittorio's study without permission, even handle his prized gun like it was a toy.

After Rosa took Sofia upstairs, Padre finally turned to me.

"Sofia is still so young. How can you bear to abandon her? She just threw a little tantrum, and you're ready to walk out of her life forever?"

Tears welled up in his eyes as he continued, "After all the years I spent raising you, is this really how you choose to repay me?"

I let out a cold, humorless laugh.

As a child, I learned never to expect much from Padre. The food he sent each month was barely enough to keep us alive. Many times, I had to take Mamma's knitted hats into town and sell them for whatever coins I could get, just so we wouldn't go to bed hungry.

Even then, he complained that we were a burden. By the time I turned ten, he had stopped sending us food altogether.

When I reached marriageable age, Mamma begged him to find me a decent husband. He casually arranged for me to marry Vittorio, who at the time was still fighting for territory with a knife in his hand.

And when Vittorio rose to power, Padre discarded me without a second thought.

He had barely contributed anything to raising me. How could he possibly have the nerve to say those words?

"What right do you have to lecture me now? For the sake of the family's reputation, you locked Mamma and me away on the outskirts of the city. Then you threw me into this hell for seven years—all for Lucia's daughter," I said, looking him straight in the eye.

"You're every bit as selfish as the rest of them. Why should I keep pretending to be the bigger person?"

Padre's face darkened, and all pretense he had for me vanished.

He jabbed a finger at me and snapped, "If Lucia hadn't met with that accident, do you really think you'd be living this life of luxury? You're only here because you're living her life. You're just as ungrateful as your Madre!"

I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached. The hatred inside me was so fierce it felt like I was drowning.

But since I was leaving anyway, there was no point pretending anymore.

"If this is the great life you think it is, then let Rosa have it. I'm done with this place and everyone in it."

Padre slapped me hard across my left cheek.

Before I could react, he landed another blow on my right.

Pain tore through my face like a blade, stealing my breath. Deep in my back, the wounds began to throb.

Without a word, I picked up my suitcase and walked around him. He shouted after me that I would regret this.

However, there was nothing left here for me to regret.

For seven years, I had suffered through Vittorio's icy indifference and Sofia's cruelty.

To Vittorio, I was merely Lucia's substitute in his bed, forced to endure his touch again and again. When he was done with me, he would make me mimic her, all so he could pretend she was still there beside him.

Despite it all, I had loved Sofia with everything I had. I had stayed by her side through fevers, tantrums, and sleepless nights. I had held her hand when she was scared, spoon-fed her when she wouldn't eat, and gone without sleep for three days just to make sure she was safe.

I had done everything I possibly could for them, yet neither of them had ever found room for me—nor for my Madre.

From now on, I would live for no one but myself.

As I reached the door and pulled it open, Vittorio was standing right there. His gaze was cold and unreadable, but when his eyes landed on my swollen cheeks, his expression softened slightly.

He glanced at my Padre, then back at me.

"I told you to think it over."

I met his eyes calmly. "I already gave you my answer."

"Carla, don't be foolish. If you leave now, you'll have nothing. You won't even be able to survive on your own."

"Then so be it."

I had already made up my mind. All I wanted was to go back to Las Amelios.

Seeing that I wouldn't relent, Vittorio softened his tone. "I've already had a plot prepared for your Madre in Las Amelios. I'll accompany you tomorrow to lay her to rest."

He stopped, glancing at the villa behind him.

"And if you don't want to stay here, you can move to the villa on the outskirts. Rosa will take over Sofia's care. You'll just need to look after the house—it was Lucia's favorite place."

I let out a cold laugh.

It seemed he had planned all of this long ago.

A few years ago, I would have been overjoyed. I would have thought I'd finally been set free and happily moved into the country estate.

But now, the offer only made me feel sick.

"How you arrange your life has nothing to do with me."

Just then, Rosa walked downstairs with Sofia and caught my words. Before I could react, she rushed at me and slapped me hard across the face.

The pain I had only just begun to forget came flooding back. My injured waist gave out, and I fell to the floor.

"Carla! How could you be so heartless to Sofia? She's just a child!"

Confused, I looked toward Sofia. She stuck out her tongue and made a face at me.

Vittorio turned to me with a frown.

Rosa raised her hand to hit me again, but Vittorio caught her arm mid-swing.

"Enough," he snapped.

Only then did Rosa stop.

She pointed at me and said to Vittorio, "She stole my sister's dress and wore it! She even hit Sofia and yelled at her! Are you just going to stand there and do nothing?"

It didn't take me long to see through that this was another one of Sofia's lies.