Chapter 2

When I returned to the estate, Luca was already sitting in the middle of the living room, waiting for me.

Two guards stood behind him. The grand hall was silent.

At the sound of the door opening, he looked up and fixed me with a cold stare.

"You were gone all afternoon and didn't answer a single message.

"Annie just has a little fever. You don't have to make such a big deal out of it just to get my attention."

He kicked a gift bag leaning against the sofa, and a fluffy keychain tumbled out.

"Annie likes cute things like this, doesn't she? Give it to her.

"Tell her to behave and stop making a fuss. I'll spend time with her when I'm done with Olivia and Emma. The same goes for you."

I looked down at the tiny keychain and smiled bitterly.

It was a free souvenir that came with the diamond necklace Luca had bought at auction that night.

The three-million-dollar necklace was now around Emma's neck.

Annie only got the free keychain that came with it.

"No. Annie won't need it anymore.

"She'll never need anything from you again," I said hoarsely.

I turned and walked toward my daughter's room.

Her room was filled with gifts just like it. A pretty doll had come free with an island resort Luca bought for Emma. A rhinestone-covered bow had come with eight custom-made princess dresses that cost him a hundred thousand dollars. Even Annie's cup was a hand-me-down Emma had rejected as ugly.

Luca had commissioned an entire wall of custom display cases for Emma.

They were filled with jewelry, collector's edition dolls, handcrafted figurines, and handmade music boxes.

I remembered Annie's innocent smile, and pain tore through my chest.

"Daddy got Annie another present! Annie's so lucky!"

A little girl had no way of knowing that her presents were just freebies and things Emma didn't want.

All Annie knew was that each gift came from the father she adored, and she treasured every one as if it were priceless.

"Why is Annie's room such a mess? Sophia, you need to discipline her better. We have plenty of staff. How did you let it get this bad?"

Luca followed me into the room, frowning at the clutter.

How could it not be messy?

Every day, as soon as Annie finished cleaning her room, Emma would come over to "play" and mess it up again.

Most of the servants in the main house had worked for the Romano Family for generations.

Naturally, they were more protective of Annie.

But whenever someone tried to help Annie tidy up her room, Olivia would go to Luca with tears in her eyes.

"Is everyone unhappy because Emma and I are living here?

"If we're making things difficult for your family, Emma and I can move back to the guest house..."

After this happened a few times, Luca blamed the servants instead.

He warned them,

"Take care of Olivia and Emma.

"Don't make them feel unwelcome."

Gradually, things changed.

No one dared to openly help Annie anymore.

And every time I tried to help her, Annie would cry and beg me not to clean up.

"Daddy said only kids who clean up after themselves are good kids. Please don't touch anything, Mommy. If you help me, I won't be a good kid anymore..."

Annie wanted her father's approval so badly that she clung to every word he said.

I was about to defend Annie when Olivia called Luca.

"Luca, Emma really wants to talk to you. You're not busy right now, are you?"

The impatience vanished from Luca's face. His expression softened in a way that made my chest ache. I turned away.

"What is it?"

A little girl's sweet voice came through the phone.

"Uncle Luca, I saw these matching family outfits. They're so pretty! My daddy's gone. Can you wear one with Mommy and me?"

Luca's eyes softened. "Of course. If you like them, I'll have Marco buy them for you. Just tell me when you want us to wear them together."

He hung up, the warmth still lingering in his eyes. Then he noticed me watching him. There wasn't a trace of guilt on his face. Instead, he spoke as if everything he had just said was perfectly normal.

"You know my best friend died protecting our territory. He asked me to look after Olivia and Emma if anything ever happened to him. Emma's still a little girl, and she's already lost her father. I owe it to him to keep that promise."

"I understand," I replied coldly.

"You're being awfully well-behaved today. If there's anything you want, just send me a picture. I'll have someone buy it for you. No authorization needed."

So this time, I didn't need his signature.

It was absurd. He expected me to be grateful because he would buy me something without making me ask for authorization first.

I shook my head. "No, thank you. I don't need anything."

When my daughter and I truly needed something, he treated us like we were asking for too much.

Now that we needed nothing from him, he tossed us scraps and expected us to be grateful.

I was tired.

I had trusted his promises and walked straight into a cage. In the end, I couldn't even save my daughter.

I had already booked my flight. I was going to take Annie's ashes and leave this place for good.

The crematorium called and informed me they were ready for Annie.

As I left the estate, Luca was still lecturing me over and over about not spoiling Annie. He told me to stop raising her to be so bitter and mean, always trying to make trouble for Emma.

I looked at him. My first instinct was to explain that Annie wasn't like that, but the words stuck in my throat. I couldn't get them out. All I could do was stare at Luca.