Chapter 2

As I got out of bed, I found a hastily scribbled note on the entryway table.

"Company emergency. Don't wait up."

That liar. I stormed into Leon's study, furious. I'd never set foot in this place during our five years of marriage.

I knew the study was where he handled business and confidential matters, so I never asked questions. He never bothered locking it since I was so understanding. Now, I needed to find the truth I was looking for. I had to know whose body my kidney was actually in.

The drawers weren't locked. As I searched through them, the first things I found were photos. He and Penny were captured in all of them. The almost devout focus in his eyes when he looked at Penny made my eyes burn.

Finally, in an inconspicuous file folder, I found that organ transplant agreement.

"Donor: Veronica Bianchi

"Recipient: Camilla Rosario"

My hands were shaking. It was true. Everything was true! The kidney that should have saved Mom was now inside Camilla, the mistress who made her cry herself to sleep every night!

And Mom had died watching her daughter's kidney go into the body of the person she hated most, while she was abandoned and left to die alone!

The overwhelming grief and rage made me unsteady on my feet. I staggered back, and my elbow accidentally knocked over a thick leather notebook by the desk.

It hit the floor with a thud and fell open. I instinctively bent down to pick it up, but my gaze was fixed on the photo at the top. In the photo were Leon, Penny, and a pale but smugly smiling woman on a hospital bed.

It was Camilla.

The three of them were holding champagne glasses, beaming as they celebrated something. Penny was holding a huge jewelry box in her arms and smiling radiantly.

I turned the photo over with trembling hands and saw the date written on the back. It was the day after my kidney donation surgery when I was unconscious, and the day my mother, Sofia, supposedly died from rejection reactions!

What kind of absurd lie had I been living in?

A suppressed whimper escaped from my throat. I covered my mouth tightly, digging my nails deep into my palms. I used the pain to force myself to stay calm.

"Don't cry, Veronica. This isn't the time to break down."

Past tenderness turned into cold hatred, replacing the sadness and quickly filling my heart. I had to leave this place right now!

I quickly restored the study to its original state, taking only the organ transplant agreement and the photo, hiding them carefully. These would be evidence for future reckoning.

Back in the cold bedroom, I dialed a number I hadn't contacted in a long time. "Hello, Uncle Dante?"

The man on the other end was silent for two seconds, then his deep, concerned voice came through. "Veronica? Why are you calling this late? What happened?"

I suppressed my churning emotions. "I need your help."

"What did Leon Costa do to you?" Uncle Dante's voice instantly turned cold.

"He lied to me," I said quietly. "He let Mom die on the operating table."

I told him everything. He was silent for a moment. His breathing grew heavier with anger.

"No problem. Do you want a divorce? I'll arrange the best legal team immediately and leave him with nothing!"

"No, Uncle Dante," I interrupted him. My voice was unusually calm. "I don't want to go through divorce proceedings. It's too slow, and he'd still be able to find me.

"I want to disappear completely."

"Disappear?" Uncle Dante's voice sounded surprised. "What do you want to do?"

"The timing will be the day after tomorrow," I said quickly. "Penny and Marco are having their wedding anniversary party on a yacht, and they personally invited Leon and me. With all those people there, it's the perfect opportunity."

"A yacht?" Uncle Dante laughed.

His response was decisive. "Perfect. The water will hide everything. I'll make the arrangements."

"Thank you, Uncle Dante." After hanging up, I could finally breathe easier.

Overwhelming exhaustion washed over me. I collapsed on the bed, stared at the ceiling, and forced myself to smile. Soon, I would be free from all of this.

…

The next morning, when I woke up, Leon was already back. He sat on the edge of the bed, holding a box of my favorite pastries.

"You're awake?" His voice was gentle as he offered me the raspberry panna cotta. "I had someone get in line early for this."

Penny loved this too. Back when I was with Marco, it always belonged to Penny. I couldn't even touch it without him mocking me.

"Am I not feeding you enough? Do you really have to compete with your sister over this?"

But with Leon, the whole portion belonged to me. I used to think this was favoritism. Now, it just made me sick.

Staring at that elegant packaging, I suddenly raised my hand. I knocked the box over, and raspberry sauce splashed on the carpet like a pool of blood.

Leon froze. "Veronica?"

"I don't feel well," I said coldly.

He frowned, reaching to touch my forehead. "Did you catch a cold?"

"I miss my mom," I said, interrupting him.

He sighed, and his expression was guilty. "If I had known your mother would die from rejection reactions, I never would have let you donate your kidney."

He was still putting on that act. I stared at him intently. "Are you sure my mom really died from rejection?"

His expression stiffened, then his face darkened. "Veronica, what do you mean? Who funded your surgery back then? Who saved you when Marco abandoned you?"

As expected, he was getting defensive. I gave him a thin smile. "I didn't mean anything by it."

He stared at me, and his eyes were unreadable. "Then, what are you suspecting?"

"Nothing." I calmly looked away. "I just suddenly remembered that Marco and Penny's wedding anniversary is coming up, isn't it?"

He narrowed his eyes, clearly not expecting me to bring this up. "You... want to go?"

"Of course." I smiled. "After all, we're family, aren't we?"

Leon's expression was complicated. It was as if he were trying to figure out my intentions. But finally, he just nodded. "Alright. I'll make arrangements."

I turned away and closed my eyes. Only 36 hours left until my freedom.