Chapter 4

Lucia's POV

Tears instantly brimmed in Gisella's eyes at Matteo's words. She threw herself into his arms and sobbed softly.

"I just couldn't stand how lenient you were being with Lucia. Are you still in love with her?" she choked out.

A frown crossed his face.

"You're overthinking it. Back then, I only drugged her to make sure the charges against those three traitors would hold.

"At the end of the day, she didn't deserve such a harsh punishment. Besides, she wouldn't have broken down if you hadn't sent her the condom just to provoke her," he said.

His words only deepened Gisella's grievance. "So, are you trying to pin the blame on me? If that's the case, you might as well throw me into the punishment chamber too!"

Gisella made a show of leaving as soon as she finished speaking, only for Matteo to grab her and pull her straight into his arms.

"Alright, don't make a scene. How could I bear to send you to a place like that?" he coaxed her.

The revelation left me reeling in shock. It felt as though all the blood in my body had turned cold.

All this time, the person who'd sent me to those men's beds had been Matteo himself.

Then what had all my guilt over the past year been for? What was the point of all the punishment I'd endured?

And the child who'd died at the hands of those guards… What had that child died for?

The shock sent me staggering. I fumbled for the wall before I barely managed to steady myself. Tears threatened to spill, but I forced them back with everything I had.

When I finally raised my head again, my gaze had turned completely cold. I stared at the two figures locked in an embrace before me.

This time, I didn't walk away. Instead, I headed straight for them.

The two of them instantly pulled apart at the sound of footsteps.

Matteo cleared his throat before he broke the silence. "When did you get here? I didn't hear your footsteps."

I stared at him with reddened eyes, my voice hoarse. "You just sentenced me in front of the entire Commissione. Shouldn't you personally escort me back?"

Matteo simply thought I was throwing a tantrum when he heard the catch in my voice. A trace of irritation flashed past his gaze.

"What's the point of saying all that, Lucia?" he snapped.

Gisella held onto his arm and chimed in. "Matteo's accompanying me to a concert later, so I'm afraid he won't have time to send you back."

He avoided my eyes and continued, "Paolo will come and pick you up later."

I didn't say another word. Instead, I simply stood rooted to the spot and watched as they walked away arm in arm.

After taking a few steps, Matteo suddenly stopped and glanced back. "From now on, don't use the word 'escort' again. You know I don't like hearing it."

His voice was quiet, but the chill in his tone left no room for argument.

I stared at his back and replied, "I've got it."

My voice was so soft it was barely audible.

Once he'd left, footsteps sounded behind me as several members of the Castello Famiglia approached.

"How pitiful. The Donna used to be so arrogant, but now she's been reduced to nothing more than a nameless mistress," one of them mocked.

Another sneered. "Even a mistress wouldn't be locked up. If you ask me, she's nothing more than caged livestock."

I listened quietly, but not even the slightest emotion stirred in me. I simply opened my phone gallery and looked at the countless pieces of intel I'd stored inside.

At first, I'd only wanted to exchange the arms-dealing map for my freedom. But I never expected Matteo to give me such a surprise.

So be it, then. Everything in his study, along with the filthy relationship he'd fought so hard to hide—I would drag them all into the light.

I dialed Carlo's number with an icy look on my face. "Are you here yet?" I asked.

A low chuckle came from the other end of the line. "Turn around," he said.

Just then, a white beam of light flashed across my eyes. I squinted against the glare and looked up at the black Bentley parked in front of me.

The car window slowly rolled down to reveal Carlo. He raised his hand and gestured for me to come over.

Just then, another engine rumbled from the opposite direction. Paolo's car had arrived, and it was clear that he was looking for me.

I let out a cold laugh. Without the slightest hesitation, I pulled open the car door and got into Carlo's car.

Then, I handed him my phone with a sneer. "This time, I don't just want Matteo to pay a price. I want you to destroy him completely," I gritted out.