Chapter 3

Rebecca's POV

I got to my feet, ready to slap Margherita across the face, but Niccolo grabbed my wrist before I could. Everyone stared at me like I was their sworn enemy.

Jacopo was still sobbing hysterically in Margherita's arms. "She's bad! I don't want to see her!"

Niccolo grabbed me and shoved me toward the front door. "Jacopo's scared of you. Just leave for now. We can't have him crying like this."

I could barely steady myself and walk out on my own when he had already pushed me outside. I hadn't had time to react before the door slammed shut in my face, cutting me off from the festivity inside.

A drizzle was falling from the sky. I was about to drive away when I realized my car key was inside. I turned around and knocked on the door, but all I got in return was a barrage of insults.

"Look at her! She's been kicked out, yet she's still begging to be humiliated! Is she determined to scare Jacopo half to death?"

"Give me my car key!" I shouted through the door.

Niccolo's voice came from inside. "Jacopo's upset. I can't let him be triggered again. I'm not opening the door. Figure out how to get home yourself."

My hand slowly dropped from the door. The rain outside grew heavier, and it felt as though my heart was being soaked through with it.

By the time I finally got a ride, I was drenched from head to toe. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering uncontrollably.

Then the hospital called. "Hello, Ms. Gallo. The special medication you ordered has arrived. When would you like to pick it up?"

There were two reasons Ivano recovered so quickly after surgery. One was the careful attention I had given him. The other was this very medication.

He might look fine now, but in reality, his condition was heavily reliant on this drug.

It was highly effective, but production was extremely limited while demand was enormous. Not only was it expensive, but patients also had to wait in line to get their hands on it.

I had gone out of my way to use my connections at the hospital to get Ivano on the medication as soon as possible. Without my connections, he might've had to wait another two years or more before it was his turn.

"I won't be picking it up anymore. Give it to someone else who needs it."

I asked the driver to turn the air conditioning up to the highest temperature. Seeing how drenched I was, he kindly handed me a blanket. I finally began to feel a little warmer.

I sent Nathan a message. "It's completely over between Niccolo and me."

He replied promptly, "I figured as much. Otherwise, you wouldn't have agreed to be with me."

"Doesn't it bother you?"

"I pursued you, which means I'm willing to accept every part of you, no questions asked. That piece of trash was never good enough for you in the first place."

My palms grew slightly damp as I held my phone.

"Let's get married in three days. I'll bring all my connections and resources with me."

"Okay. See you outside the city hall in three days."

I put my phone away and finally had time to rest.

Three days later was supposed to be the day Niccolo and I finally got married, but now, he was having a child with another woman, and I was marrying someone else. Fair was fair.

Unfortunately, my sleep didn't last long. The moment I closed my eyes, Niccolo called. He launched into a tirade as soon as I answered.

"Rebecca, your tantrum today gave Papa such a headache that he's still in agony now. You ruined what was supposed to be a wonderful Christmas Eve! And Jacopo has been crying ever since you knocked him over. He doesn't feel safe."

He continued, "To make it up to him and help him feel more secure, I've decided that Margherita and I will be getting married instead in three days. So, don't bother showing up."

Honestly, whatever. I was getting married in three days, too, anyway.

"Sure," I replied casually.

Niccolo fell silent for a moment, clearly caught off guard. Then he continued, "This is also your chance to make up for what you did. You'd better not have any more objections."

"I don't," I said calmly.

By then, I had arrived home.