Chapter 2

By the time I returned to the Vitale family estate, the butler was already waiting at the entrance with several servants.

When he saw that Sofia was the only one accompanying me, he froze in surprise.

“Madam, where are the other children?”

The six bedrooms on the second floor had already been renovated.

Four rooms were designed for the boys, one was a princess suite, and another, located closest to Sofia’s bedroom, had been equipped with a complete set of emergency medical equipment.

In my previous life, Sofia had voluntarily given Giada the largest bedroom.

Later, those five had taken over the estate as if it belonged to them, only to accuse Sofia of being antisocial and unwilling to fit in with the family.

“They won’t be coming.”

I handed Sofia over to a maid before giving my next instructions.

“Clear out all the other rooms.”

“Knock down the wall between the two rooms closest to Sofia’s bedroom. From now on, they’ll be turned into her private recreation room.”

The butler hesitated.

“But, Madam, the children’s private training sessions have already been arranged, and the family tailor has commissioned their clothes according to their measurements…”

“Cancel everything.”

My tone remained indifferent.

“Get refunds for whatever can be returned.”

“Anything that can’t be refunded should be given away.”

I paused before adding,

“Starting today, their names must not appear anywhere in the Vitale family records.”

The butler’s expression turned serious.

“Understood, Madam.”

I walked into my study.

The family’s private lawyer was already waiting there.

According to my plans in my previous life, I was supposed to sign a family inheritance agreement after completing the adoption that day.

Once the five children reached adulthood, each of them would receive a share of the family’s assets.

The most outstanding among them would even be admitted into the family’s inner circle, where he would begin training from the lowest ranks.

In my previous life, that person had been Matteo.

I had given him the best mentors, the most valuable connections, and the privilege of entering the family’s inner council chamber.

Yet after my death, he was also the first to forge family documents and transfer the Vitale family’s assets into his own control.

With that thought in mind, I picked up the inheritance agreement from the desk.

I tore it to pieces.

Then I threw the scraps into the fireplace.

“Draft a new one.”

I raised my eyes to the lawyer.

“All assets belonging to the Vitale family, including company shares, estates, overseas holdings, and private funds…”

“List only one heir. Sofia Vitale.”

The lawyer stared at me, visibly stunned.

“But the children…”

I cut him off.

“They will not become members of the Vitale family.”

My gaze fell to the photograph on the desk.

In it, Sofia was holding a stuffed toy, smiling at the camera.

The greatest mistake I had made in my previous life was believing that children who shared no blood with my daughter could become her shield.

In this life, I would never entrust her life to anyone else again.

I would personally teach her how to recognize people’s true intentions.

I would teach her how to protect herself.

And I would arrange a private security team that answered to her alone.

That afternoon, I revised Sofia’s medical care plan.

I added her personal physician, butler, and bodyguards to her emergency contact list.

My own number was listed first.

In my previous life, when Sofia suffered an asthma attack, the estate contacted Matteo first.

That was because I had been overseas handling family affairs that day.

Before leaving, I had specifically instructed him to look after his little sister.

When he answered the phone, he clearly heard Sofia struggling to breathe, yet all he said was,

“Don’t try to fool me with that kind of trick.”

At the memory, my fingers tightened abruptly around my fountain pen.

Suddenly, a small, soft hand covered the back of mine.

I lifted my head.

Sofia had somehow made her way to the desk without me noticing.

She tilted her little face up toward me and asked softly,

“Mommy, aren’t my brothers and sister coming anymore?”

My heart clenched painfully, as if someone had grabbed it and twisted it hard.

“Does Sofia want them to come?”

She shook her head.

A few seconds passed before she finally whispered,

“I don’t know.”

“It’s just… I feel uncomfortable when they look at me.”

I froze.

She was only seven years old.

Yet she had already sensed the rejection those children concealed beneath their smiles.

And in my previous life, I had never once taken the time to seriously ask her whether she wanted them there.

I reached out and pulled her into my arms.

“They’re never coming back.”

Sofia finally relaxed and nestled against me.

Just then, the butler hurried into the study.

“Madam, St. Mary’s Orphanage just called.”

“They said all five children have gone on a hunger strike.”