Chapter 2

The sudden ring of her phone interrupted her thoughts.

It was her mother, asking her to come home for lunch the next day.

Victoria thought about that house, that home that had never truly felt like hers. Even so, she would have to face it.

She arrived at the Altomare residence shortly before lunchtime. The guards recognized her car and opened the gate. She drove in slowly, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest. Returning to the place where she had always been compared to Francesca made her uncomfortable.

The residence sat atop a hill. The garden was still as immaculate as she remembered. The lawn was perfectly trimmed, the white roses were in full bloom, and the fountain was maintained almost every day.

As soon as Victoria entered the living room, the butler approached to greet her.

"Mrs. Montgomery, your parents are waiting for you in the dining room."

In her parents' house, that last name carried more weight than her own.

She was no longer the family's younger daughter. She had become the key piece holding both families together after Francesca's accident.

She followed the butler toward the dining room, but her steps stopped involuntarily when she passed the hallway. A large family portrait hung on the wall.

The photograph had been taken four years ago, when Francesca had yet to suffer the accident. Francesca stood at the center of the picture. She wore a white dress and smiled with confidence, while Adrian stood beside her, gazing at her with tenderness.

After three years of marriage, Victoria had never received a look like that from him.

She appeared at the edge of the photograph, smiling discreetly, like a dispensable piece of the composition. She stared at it for a few seconds, then looked away and continued toward the dining room.

"Victoria."

Her mother, Isabelle, was the first to stand. As always, she wore a warm, perfectly composed smile. She walked over and hugged her.

"Have you lost weight?"

Victoria smiled.

"No."

Isabelle studied her closely and frowned slightly.

"You don't look well. Haven't you been getting enough rest lately?"

Once upon a time, Victoria would have believed her mother was genuinely worried about her.

But she knew the next sentence would have something to do with Francesca.

As expected, Isabelle sighed.

"We haven't had any good news from the hospital lately. Adrian must be exhausted. Try to take better care of him."

The small glimmer of hope that still flickered inside Victoria quietly disappeared.

"All right," she replied.

Her father, Ernest, remained seated at the head of the table. Only after Victoria sat down did he set aside the documents he had been reviewing.

"Where's Adrian?"

"At the hospital."

"Did something happen to Francesca?"

"The doctor said there were changes in her test results."

Ernest nodded and asked no further questions. His expression even seemed to relax, as though they had finally brought up a subject worthy of his attention.

"My poor girl," Isabelle said softly, placing a hand over her chest. "She's been lying in that bed for so many years, and we're still waiting."

Victoria sat there as her mother's words hung heavily over her heart. She said nothing. She simply looked at the carefully arranged dishes on the table.

Everyone was worried about Francesca. The atmosphere during lunch was as quiet as ever. Victoria had just picked up her utensils when her father slid a document toward her.

"The lawyer sent this supplemental agreement yesterday."

Victoria lowered her eyes but didn't take the document.

"The final confirmation document for the trust. Adrian's signature is still required."

Ernest lifted his coffee cup and added calmly.

"Remind him to take care of it as soon as possible."

Victoria looked at him.

"Dad, I didn't come here to talk business."

"This isn't just about business. This agreement protects you, too."

Isabelle gently set down her utensils. Her tone remained kind, though there was a clear hint of reproach beneath it.

"Victoria, your father is right. Thanks to your marriage, this family has remained stable. You shouldn't think of it as a burden."

Victoria lowered her gaze to her plate.

"I never said it was a burden."

"But sometimes you act as though it is," Isabelle replied. "After Francesca's accident, we all had to make certain sacrifices."

Victoria wanted to laugh, but she held it back.

It was always so easy to use the word 'sacrifice' when talking about what someone else had been forced to give up.

Her mother looked at her patiently.

"No one denies what you did. Agreeing to marry Adrian was a very noble decision."

Ernest picked up his glass of water.

"It was necessary, too."

Victoria raised her head.

"Necessary?"

"Adrian's grandfather's wishes were very clear," her father explained. "The union between our families had to go through so Adrian could retain part of his inheritance. When Francesca fell into a coma, everything was put at risk."

"So I took her place," Victoria said without raising her voice.

Isabelle sighed.

"Don't put it that way. You helped everyone when we were going through the most difficult time."

Victoria looked at her.

She had heard that phrase too many times. Coming from her mother, it sounded like gratitude, but it always ended up feeling like a debt Victoria was expected to keep repaying.

"Francesca and Adrian had been in love since college," Isabelle continued, as though she needed to remind Victoria of a story she already knew by heart. "Everything had been planned. The wedding, the life they would build together, and the agreements between both families. No one imagined that accident would change everything."

Victoria took a sip of water.

"Mom, I was there, too."

"I know, sweetheart. But you've always been more reserved. Francesca was talented at everything. It was only natural that Adrian would choose her."

She didn't say it maliciously, which somehow made it hurt even more.

Victoria set her glass down.

"Then what am I?"

Isabelle blinked, visibly uncomfortable.

"Don't start."

Ernest intervened firmly.

"Victoria, you didn't come here to argue. Your mother is only saying that we all did what was right."

The young woman held her father's gaze.

"That includes you. Don't forget that the position you have now is something many women would envy."

Victoria lowered her head and stared at the lunch she had barely touched.

Suddenly, the statement struck her as deeply ironic.

If her life was truly so enviable, then why had she spent her third wedding anniversary alone? Why did her husband keep leaving her again and again to rush to another woman? Why was she sitting across from her own parents without a single one of them asking whether she was happy?

Still, she said nothing.

Isabelle rested a hand on the table.

"Victoria, Adrian has always treated you properly."

'Properly.'

No other word could have defined their marriage better.

"Yes," she replied. "He has always treated me properly."

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then a laugh came from outside the dining room.

"Am I late?"

Victoria looked up and saw her Aunt Linda walk in with her purse in hand.

As soon as she sat down, Isabelle told her.

"Victoria says Adrian received news from the hospital. Francesca's tests showed new progress."

Linda's eyes lit up.

"Really? That's wonderful! When Francesca wakes up, everything can finally go back to the way it was."

The dining room fell silent, and Victoria felt her parents' eyes on her.

No one corrected her aunt. No one reminded her that Victoria was Adrian's wife. No one remembered that she had spent years quietly playing that role. Victoria picked up her napkin and wiped her lips, even though she had barely tasted her food.

"Yes," she said with a calm smile. "It would be a blessing."

Seeing her reaction, her mother seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"I knew you'd understand."

Victoria nodded.

"Of course I understand."

To her family, Francesca was still the perfect daughter and Adrian's lost great love.

Victoria was simply the person who had stepped in when they needed to save the agreement.

No one sitting at that table had ever wondered what would happen to her when Francesca woke up.

Victoria stood to leave. Isabelle looked at her in surprise.

"You're leaving already? You've barely eaten."

"I have a few things to take care of. I'm fine, Mom."

In truth, she did have things to take care of. But explaining the details wouldn't have changed anything.

Ernest picked up the document again.

"Remember to talk to Adrian about the trust paperwork."

"All right," Victoria replied.

She calmly walked out of the dining room.

When she passed the family portrait, she glanced at Francesca standing in the center for a moment, then looked away.

Once she got into her car, she took a deep breath.

Because that day, Victoria finally understood something she had spent years refusing to admit.

Adrian wasn't the only one waiting for Francesca to come back.

They all were.