Chapter 4

Giovannina's POV

I was about to turn in for the night when someone knocked on my bedroom door.

When I opened it, I found a medical kit on the threshold. I recognized it instantly; it was the one Carlo always carried with him.

He used to do this in the past, too. He'd awkwardly bring me the things I wanted. However, I no longer needed him.

Having been trained as the heiress of the Famiglia my entire life, I had always toughed out minor injuries on my own. I thought this time would be no different. Yet, I'd overestimated myself.

Realizing the sudden spike in my body temperature, I decided to go downstairs to look for the medical kit.

The moment I stepped out of my room, Margherita trailed after me. "Giovannina, are you really going to stand trial?" she chirped.

I stopped in my tracks.

A smile slowly crept onto her face, and the malice in her eyes was impossible to hide. "Giovannina, once you leave, I'm afraid you'll never be able to come home again."

She sauntered up to me and chuckled lowly. "No one ever comes back from the trial alive. Soon enough, you'll be six feet under with that useless Mamma of yours!"

My pupils contracted, and anger surged through me as I seized Margherita. "I dare you to say that again!"

Margherita no longer pretended to be afraid like she used to. In fact, she looked triumphant and smirked arrogantly.

"Oh, did I hit a nerve? Your Mamma was nothing but a dog on a leash for the Carrettiere Famiglia until the day she died, and you won't be any better than her!"

Rage consumed me. My entire body trembled, and I wanted nothing more than to teach Margherita a lesson.

I was about to make a move when Carlo appeared at the top of the stairs. He yelled for me to stop and marched up to us.

"Giovannina, she's being sent off to face trial tomorrow. Can't you be nice to her for one night? If I hadn't been here, were you planning to push her down the stairs?" he fumed.

"I wasn't," I growled. My head was beginning to feel heavy, and the figures before my eyes began to blur.

Carlo didn't believe me. His gaze was ice-cold as he chided, "You've truly let me down. You're nothing like your Mamma. She was gentle and kind-hearted, but you… you're nothing but cruel! How could I possibly marry a woman as vicious as you?"

I braced myself against the wall to stay upright. Then, mustering every ounce of strength left in me, I slapped Carlo hard across the face.

He instinctively raised his hand, intending to hit me back, but he froze when he noticed my flushed face.

I glared at him, my voice hoarse yet crystal clear. "You don't deserve to speak of Mamma! Listen here, Carlo; I'm the one who's going to stand trial, not Margherita!"

As soon as the last word rolled off my tongue, everything plunged into darkness.