Chapter 4

Valentina's POV

The moment I finished speaking, Carlotta immediately pointed a finger at me and snapped at me harshly, "You'd better watch your tongue, Valentina! Isabella had to spend five miserable years hiding abroad! How can you still say such hurtful things to her?"

Mom publicly berated me as well.

"How I wish I never gave birth to you! Ms. Bianchi is a sweet and thoughtful young woman. She has been nothing but considerate of Don Antonio. Meanwhile, look at you! You're so petty, spiteful, and narrow-minded. You don't show the slightest hint of tolerance or understanding at all!"

The mask on Isabella's face finally shattered. Furious and humiliated, she raised her hand and swung it toward my face.

But I was prepared for that. I caught her wrist and flung it aside. She immediately stumbled backward, and Antonio strode forward, catching her securely in his arms before shoving me aside.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I lost my balance and crashed onto the floor.

Pain shot through my body, spreading all over. My knees had scraped against the floor and had started to bleed. I braced both hands against the floor and tried to push myself up, but I failed both attempts.

Antonio's eyes flashed with remorse. He took half a step forward, saying, "Are you—"

Isabella suddenly furrowed her brows and whimpered softly, "Antonio, my wrist really hurts… I think I twisted my waist, too."

All at once, the concern in Antonio's eyes vanished. He swiftly cradled Isabella in his arms and carefully rubbed her reddened wrist for her.

Then he turned back toward me, his tone clipped and icy as he declared, "How dare you lay a hand on someone as sweet and gentle as Isabella? It's my fault for indulging in your temper, allowing you to become this arrogant and domineering!"

Even my parents and Carlotta didn't bother helping me up. Instead, they were busy urging Antonio to calm down and not get upset because of me.

They all hurried out of the airport together. Not one of them turned around to look at me.

I lay there on the floor, watching as they left without a thought for me. A bitter, self-deprecating laugh escaped me, and the tears soon followed beyond my control, turning me into a humiliating and pathetic mess.

…

When the plane landed, I turned my phone back on. It'd been off the entire day. The moment I unlocked the screen, dozens of missed calls from Antonio came flooding in. There were also several text messages.

"I let my emotions get the better of me at the airport just now. I shouldn't have pushed you like that."

"Where are you now? Are you hurt?"

"Let's talk when you've calmed down, okay? I'll explain everything to you."

I sneered at the screen, my gaze impassive.

Without any hesitation, I opened my contacts list and blocked every single one of them before deleting their numbers altogether.