Chapter 4

I was locked in the attic for three full days. No food, no water, and not a single person came to check on me.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, the lock was suddenly pried open.

My cousin, Luca Gallo, came in and helped me up. "Are you okay?"

He ordered the servants to bring warm water and food. I sat on the living room couch and wolfed it all down.

Vera and Carmela soon came downstairs.

Luca glanced up at them, his voice clipped with displeasure. "I looked into Vera's missing bag. It was in a drawer in her walk-in closet the whole time. It had nothing to do with Elsa."

"You locked her up for three days over a made-up accusation? Vera being stolen as a baby wasn't Elsa's fault."

Carmela's startled gaze landed on Vera. "Vera, is what Luca said true?"

Vera's face went ashen, then flushed red.

That reaction told Carmela everything she needed to know.

She turned to the servants. "Go check Vera's room. See if the bag is in her closet."

"Mother!" Vera grabbed the hem of Carmela's sleeve, screeching. "I'm sorry! I lied. Please forgive me!"

"Vera, how could you frame Elsa like that? If she hadn't protected you during the trial, you would have died at the port!"

Carmela's voice trembled, and her eyes reddened instantly.

She took Vera by the arm and steered her toward me. "Go apologize to Elsa."

Vera said nothing. The next second, she spun around and dashed into the kitchen.

When she came back out, she was gripping a paring knife and pointing it straight at her own throat.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I was just terrified Elsa would take your love away. I was so insecure. That's why I did it.

"Mother, I don't want to put you in a difficult position, but I can't control myself. So maybe if I were dead, all of this would just stop."

She pressed the blade down slightly. A thin red line bloomed across her pale throat.

Carmela went white. She reached out with shaking hands. "Vera, don't do this! You're the one I love most!"

Cole arrived after hearing what was happening and coaxed her in a gentle voice. "Sweetheart, give me the knife. Don't hurt yourself."

He inched closer and was about to reach for the blade.

Vera suddenly wheeled around and charged at me with the knife raised.

The cold tip slashed across my arm. Blood poured out instantly, soaking through my sleeve.

My whole body shuddered with pain.

The next second, Cole rushed to Vera's side, his face full of concern. "Vera, are you all right?"

Carmela threw her arms around Vera, her voice shaking. "Cole, hurry! Get Vera to the hospital!"

They carried Vera out without looking back at me once.

"Elsa, you're hurt." Luca snapped out of it and hurried over to help me toward the door. "I'll take you to the hospital."

"Just bandage it. I don't need a hospital."

Luca went upstairs for the first-aid kit. As he wrapped the wound, he kept apologizing. "I just thought they were being too cruel to you. I didn't expect Vera to actually snap and hurt you. I'm sorry."

He was the only person in this family who still stood up for me.

I shook my head and told him it wasn't his fault.

Vera had done it on purpose. She wasn't sick. She wasn't out of her mind. She just wanted to use these stunts to drive me out of the Gallo house for good.

But I kept quiet. She was Carmela's biological daughter, and she counted on Carmela's love for her. There was no point saying anything.

My phone buzzed twice. Two text messages.

The first was from Carmela. [When we get back, don't provoke Vera again. She can't handle stress.]

The second was from Cole. [Apologize to Vera later, and we can put this whole thing behind us.]

Not a single word asking if I was all right.

I was the one Vera had framed. I was the one Vera had cut. And somehow, I was still the one who owed an apology.

Luca stood beside me and asked quietly, "Elsa, are you okay?"

"Take me outside."

Luca didn't understand, but he did as I asked. The moment we stepped through the door, he froze.

A black Bentley was parked by the curb. The door swung open from inside, and a man in a tailored black suit stepped out, the Rossi family crest gleaming on his chest.

He bowed slightly. "Princess. The Don sent me to bring you home."

I gave Luca a relieved smile. "Goodbye, Luca. I'm going home. My real home."