Chapter 3

That night, Elias pushed open my door.

He didn't come in. He stood outside, as if he didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea.

"Vivian let you hold Caterina today. You should be satisfied."

"Yes. I'm grateful for the Donna's kindness."

Elias paused before he continued.

"Felix is about to start his lessons. Soon he'll begin training to succeed me as Don of the Voss family.

"So I don't want you showing up in front of him anymore. And don't say anything you shouldn't."

Then he looked at me like he was waiting for my reaction.

But I only nodded.

In the past, I would have sobbed and screamed. I would have begged him not to cut me off from my child completely, pouring every ounce of my desperation into the plea.

Then he could self-righteously tell me to fix my attitude, think of the children, and understand that the Don of the Voss family could never marry a nanny's daughter and make her Donna.

Now that I stayed silent, he didn't know what to do.

"If you're unhappy, you can tell me. Don't pretend.

"There are plenty of people in the family watching Felix and me, and none of them mean well. Only an heir born to the Don and Donna can command the family's respect."

I didn't argue. I even smiled.

"Yes, Don. I understand.

"I've made my peace with it. You need a Donna from the right family and an heir of unquestioned lineage. That's your duty as Don of the Voss family."

Elias stared at me, a little dazed.

He looked into my eyes as though searching for the girl I had been when we were in love.

Back then, I helped him dress every day, cooked for him, and held his hand on the terrace while we looked at the stars.

To recreate the stew his late mother used to make, I went through every note she'd left at the estate. By the time I brought back the taste of his childhood, my hands were covered in tiny knife cuts.

I'd have done anything to make him happy.

But at some point, all that was left between us was silence.

"Flora..."

His voice was soft but thick with emotion when he said my name.

I couldn't tell whether his voice held any love or guilt at all.

But in the end, he turned and left. Once again, he chose his guilt toward Vivian and his duty as Don over me.

The next day, after breakfast, Vivian summoned me to the great hall.

The Donnas of other families, along with the wives and daughters of the Voss family, sat around her.

They laughed and chatted in their lavish gowns while I bowed before them in my coarse maid's uniform.

A long time passed before Vivian pretended she'd only just noticed me and allowed me to straighten up.

"Elias went to see you last night, didn't he?"

"Yes, Donna."

Vivian raised an eyebrow.

"You should understand that a maid who meets privately with the Don commits an offense punishable by death."

I hesitated, but with everyone watching, I had no choice but to bow my head low before her.

"I'm sorry, Donna. The Don only came to tell me that Master Felix is about to begin his lessons."

Vivian gave a small snort, malice flashing in her eyes.

"Flora, I hope you'll remember your place and stop trying to seduce the Don like you used to.

"Elias only shows you any consideration because of the children."

They were the ones who'd forced me into Elias's bed, just so I'd have children for them.

But I couldn't argue.

Because Vivian was the Donna, and I was just the lowest-ranking maid on the estate.

"I'm sorry, Donna. I forgot my place."

Vivian wasn't satisfied. She smiled coldly.

"Since you know you were wrong, you deserve to be punished.

"The kitchen needs someone to do the heavy work. You can help there. And of course, you'll keep up with the gardens too."

Vivian ruled the estate as Donna, while I was only a maid who was barely allowed a glimpse of her own children.

Even though I knew she was targeting me out of spite, I couldn't fight back.

All I could do was stoop and haul heavy baskets of vegetables and fruit into the kitchen, one after another.

While Vivian enjoyed fine meals with my children, I rushed between the kitchen and the gardens without a moment's rest, choking down a cold, hard biscuit with cold water between jobs.

Late that night, when I dragged myself back to my room, Vivian was waiting outside my door.

She was in silk pajamas, looking down her nose at me.

"Tired after a long day's work?

"But that's exactly what you should be doing, because I'm the Donna of the Voss family and Elias's lawful wife.

"We're equals. I've risked my life by his side.

"You just got lucky. You happened to grow up with him, and you happened to give him two children.

"Too bad Elias and the children all belong to me now. All you're fit for is living a miserable life on this estate."

I looked at her, but in the end I said nothing. I went quietly into my room and shut the door on all her malice.