Chapter 3

On the other end of the phone, the director of St. Mary’s Orphanage sounded so frantic that her voice had nearly changed beyond recognition.

“Madam, they’ve refused to eat anything since you left.”

“Giada was already in poor health, and she even fainted once just now.”

I looked through the care plan my personal physician had just delivered, my tone remaining as calm as ever.

“If they’re sick, call a doctor.”

“If they’re refusing to eat, handle it according to your rules.”

“As for whatever methods they choose to force me to change my mind, that has nothing to do with me.”

The director was momentarily speechless.

After a pause, she finally lowered her voice and said,

“They said that as long as you’re willing to bring them back to the Vitale estate, they’ll start eating immediately.”

I laughed.

So young.

Yet they’d already learned to use their own bodies as bargaining chips.

In my previous life, I’d mistaken this for what they called loyalty and devotion.

Only now did I understand that they’d simply calculated how softhearted I was.

Suddenly, an argument broke out on the other end of the phone.

Soon, Matteo’s voice came through.

“Mrs. Vitale, we’re not forcing you to do anything.”

“This is our own decision.”

He paused, his tone firm.

“If you’re going to take us back, then you have to take Giada with us.”

His tone made it sound as though he were negotiating a deal in which he’d already secured every advantage.

I leaned back gently in my chair.

“Matteo.”

“Have you misunderstood something?”

The other end of the line fell silent.

“Why would I have to take you with me? The Vitale family has never lacked talented people.”

“And you’re certainly not the only four boys willing to pledge their loyalty to me.”

“Don’t overestimate your own importance.”

With that, I ended the call.

That evening, a secretly recorded video suddenly began spreading rapidly across the internet.

In the footage, the five children were huddled together.

Giada’s eyes were swollen and red from crying as she repeatedly insisted that she was willing to stay behind, asking only that I take her four brothers with me.

Beneath the video was a glaring headline:

Vitale Family Godmother Refuses to Adopt Five Orphans Simply Because Four Boys Refuse to Abandon Their Sister.

Within just a few hours, the video had spread throughout the private circles of numerous family members.

People who knew nothing about the truth were quick to condemn me.

“How can someone who manipulates children like this deserve to be the Godmother of the Vitale family?”

“If she won’t even take in children like these, what kind of heirs is she looking for?”

“People with power and wealth really do care about nothing but someone’s value to them.”

My personal adviser soon arrived at the estate.

“Madam, the news has already reached other families.”

“If this continues to spread, it could damage the Vitale family’s reputation.”

“The safest option would be to bring them back first.”

“Once the controversy dies down, we can slowly sort out their identities and arrangements.”

I looked at him.

“You want me to bring five people who schemed against my daughter back to the estate just because of a few rumors?”

He hurried to explain.

“They’re still just children, after all.”

I tapped my fingers lightly against the desk.

“Children?”

“A thirteen-year-old boy already knows how to manipulate public opinion to pressure others into giving in.”

“Do you really think they came up with all of this on their own?”

With that, I pulled up another video.

It was the complete security footage from St. Mary’s Orphanage.

No editing.

No background music.

And none of those deliberately heart-wrenching sobs.

At the beginning of the footage, Giada hadn’t fainted at all.

In fact, she was leaning against the wall, looking perfectly relaxed.

“Mrs. Vitale has so much power and influence,” she said softly.

“Taking care of one more person wouldn’t mean anything to her.”

Reese looked visibly uneasy.

“But what if she really refuses to take us?”

Matteo straightened his cuff.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of panic on his face.

“She won’t refuse.”

“She came here in the first place because she wanted to find protectors for Sofia.”

“As long as we make her believe that Giada and we can’t be separated, she’ll eventually give in.”

The camera shook slightly.

Luca walked over and deliberately adjusted the phone to get the best angle.

Then Giada pinched her own arm hard.

The next second, she rushed into the frame with reddened eyes.

After watching the footage, my adviser’s expression changed completely.

“This…”

“This is no longer just childish mischief.”

I turned off the screen.

“Don’t rush to make it public.”

Tomorrow was the Vitale family’s annual charity gala.

Several of Italy’s oldest and most established families, our allies, and influential figures from the underworld would all be attending.

St. Mary’s Orphanage was also on the guest list.

Since they wanted to use public opinion to force me to bow my head, I’d give them a real stage.

The following afternoon, I personally helped Sofia change into her formal dress.

Standing before the mirror, she looked like a delicate little princess.

The car slowly pulled into the estate’s banquet hall.

The moment the car door opened, I immediately spotted Matteo standing at the far end of the red carpet with the other three boys.

Giada stood between them, her innocent face still carrying just the right amount of timid apprehension.

And on her finger, she was wearing a black onyx family ring that I had personally kept by me for many years.