Chapter 3

Daisy’s POV 

I sank into the plush armchair in my father's living room, the fabric still carried a faint scent of expensive cigars. I let out a sob as fragments of the party replayed in my mind, the shocked gasps, the pointing fingers, Sofia's triumphant smirk. My mascara streaked down my cheeks as I cried. Through my blurred vision, I caught my reflection in the antique mirror across the room. I hardly recognized the broken girl staring back at me.

"I can't believe Antonio threw everything away," I whispered, my voice cracking. "All because of her lies. What does it matter if I'm a Fontana or not?" I tried to stop the tears from flowing but I couldn't. "I've been such a fool. I thought he loved me. I thought I could finally escape this nightmare. What am I going to do now?"

I reached for my phone, ready to call my brother, Dante, but the familiar sound of my father's voice reached my ears. They were home. Panic set in as I scrambled to my feet, desperate to get to my room before they saw me. 

"Stop right there, young lady!" My stepmother's annoying voice cut through the air, freezing me in place. 

I ignored her, attempting to retreat upstairs, but my father's iron grip on my arm stopped me. 

"Didn't you hear her?" His voice was low. "What the hell was that stunt you pulled at the party?"

I winced as his fingers dug into my arm. "Ouch, dad please! You're hurting me!"

His face twisted into a frown, and with a sudden shove, I stumbled to the ground. 

"How dare you call me that?" He spat, crouching down to grab my chin roughly. He stared coldly at me. "Haven't I told you not to call me that in this house? You're lucky I'm in a good mood tonight, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be punished for humiliating me today."

My throat tightened, fear rising in my chest. "I'm sorry... I..."

"Enough!" His voice boomed. "You're just like your mother, useless and pathetic. But don't worry, I'll find a use for you soon."

He released me with a force that made my head snap back, and I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out. He straightened and strode up the stairs without another word, leaving me trembling on the floor. 

As I gathered myself, I  noticed Sofia didn't return with them. My stepmother's smug laughter rang out behind me. 

"Oh, poor thing. You're probably wondering why Sofia isn’t home," she said, her tone icy. "She's with her fiancé, where she belongs."

I shot her a glare, my throat burning with unshed tears. 

"Fiancé?" My voice cracked. 

"Oh? Don't tell me you've gone deaf now. Didn't you hear him introduce her to everyone present as his fiancée?" She said, her lips curling into a sinister smile. "Did you really think someone like you could ever hold on to him? Sofia deserves to be the Don’s wife, not you."

Her words hit me like a blow. "You and Sofia planned this, didn’t you?" My voice cracked as anger replaced my despair. 

She chuckled. "Of course, we did. What did you expect? I wasn’t about to let you walk out of here and live the life your mother never could. My Sofia deserves everything, and you deserve nothing."

Tears streamed down my face as I rose to my feet. "What did my mother ever do to you? What did I ever do to you?"

"She existed," my stepmother said coldly. "And you’re just a constant reminder of her. Every time I look at you, I see her smug face. But don’t worry, it won’t be for much longer. Soon, you’ll be gone for good."

Her words sent a chill down my spine.  What did she mean? Before I could question her further, she sauntered off to her room, leaving me standing there in shock. 

---

I had just finished showering and putting on my pj's when Carlotta came into my room. She's the elderly chief maid. Her face was filled with worry.

"Daisy," she said, her voice sounding urgent. 

"Ms. Carlotta?" I put down my hair dryer. The elderly maid had been more of a mother to me than anyone since I was a little girl, sneaking me cookies when I was sad and tending to my scrapes and bruises, both visible and hidden after my father's rages. 

She glanced around nervously before shutting the door and speaking in hushed tones. "You must leave tonight, child. I overheard your father. He plans to sell you to some men at dawn." 

My blood turned cold. "What? Sell me? But... how..."

There's no time for questions, she interrupted, gripping my hand. Your brother isn't here to protect you, so you must go. "I'll pack a small bag for you, I've prepared the back exit." She went to my wardrobe and started putting some clothes into a small tote bag.

"But the guards..."

"I took care of them," she whispered. "They've been... distracted for now. But you must hurry."

"What about you? If they find out you helped me..."

"Don't worry about me," she said firmly. "Just promise me you’ll stay out of sight until Dante returns."

I hesitated, tears brimming in my eyes. "Thank you, Carlotta. I don’t know how to repay you."

"Live, Daisy. That’s all the thanks I need. You deserve to be happy."

She handed me the bag and ushered me out into the night.

---

The hotel lobby was quiet when I arrived. As I approached the desk, I nearly collided with someone stepping out of the elevator. 

"Mr Marino?" I gasped, my eyes widening in surprise. 

Don Vincenzo Marino stood before me, his commanding presence making the air feel heavier. Unlike Antonio's boyish good looks, there was something dangerous about Mr Marino's refined features; his gaze reminded me of the lions I'd seen at the zoo, beautiful but lethal. His eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, it felt like he could see every crack in my armor, every secret I was trying to hide. 

"Daisy," he said, his voice low. 

Hearing my name from his lips sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. He had never addressed me that way before... It was always Ms. Fontana. 

"I... I'm sorry," I stammered. "I didn’t mean to bump into you. But I'm glad I did."

His gaze never wavered. "What are you doing here at this hour?" 

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I... I was looking for a place to stay for a while. Things at home are... complicated."

His brow arched. "Complicated, you say?"

I swallowed hard. "Actually, I was hoping to talk to you about something. If you have time, that is."

"Speak," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. 

I took a deep breath. "You once offered me a job as your assistant. I was wondering if... if the offer still stands."

For a moment, he said nothing, his eyes locked on mine. The silence was suffocating. 

"I promise to take the job seriously," I added quickly. "I... I need this, Mr Marino. I won’t let you down."

Something flickered across his face. Amusement. Perhaps but it was gone as quickly as it came. 

"Don't be late tomorrow," he said finally. "I despise tardiness."

My heart leaped in my chest. "Does that mean I got the job?"

"Wasn't that clear?" He said. 

"Thank you," I said, relief washing over me. "Thank you so much, sir. I won’t let you down."

"We'll see about that." 

Was it me, or did I see him smile? I think I imagined that.

With that, he turned and walked out of the lobby, leaving me standing there.

As his car pulled away, I clenched my fists. "Just wait, Antonio," I muttered under my breath. "You'll regret humiliating me." 

The naive, trusting girl who'd walked into that party was gone. In her place stood someone else, someone who understood that in this world of wealth and power, love was just a myth. 

For the first time that night, I felt a spark of hope igniting in my chest. I finally got my chance, and I wasn’t going to waste it. 

---

I reached for my phone, my lock screen still showing that photo of Antonio and me at a restaurant last month. We had been so happy then, or at least I'd thought we were. 

My trembling fingers dialed Dante's number for the tenth time. "Please, please pick up," I whispered as it went to voicemail again. Where was he? My brother had never been unreachable when I needed him before. I'm sure this was all that witches' idea. She must have planned this. I'm sure she made dad send him on some business just to get him away.

"Dante, it's me again. Everything's falling apart. I need you. Please call me back as soon as you can."