Chapter 4

When Serena woke up again, she was in a hospital room. Luca sat at the edge of the bed, wearing the gentle smile she knew so well.

"Serena, you have to understand my position. After you gave birth to Adriano's child, you lost the ability to have more children. The Romano family is vast, and I need an heir to solidify my position as Don."

He sighed. "Ginevra and I, it's not what I wanted. But don't worry, the person I love has always been you and only you. Once she gives birth, we'll go back to how things were before. Okay?"

Serena looked at him and suddenly felt like she was staring at a stranger.

She had listened to this voice, seen this face, and heard these gentle words for over ten years. Now, however, hearing them only made her feel cold all over.

"Mattia's sick. Can you get tested for a bone marrow match?"

Luca paused, then smiled again, though it did not appear sincere. "Of course. After all, Mattia is my son too. Right?"

Serena did not answer. She got up and went to Mattia's room. She asked the doctor and learned that Mattia's condition had worsened because of emotional distress. He needed surgery as soon as possible.

Lying in the hospital bed, Mattia finally asked the question weighing on his mind, "Mamma, why didn't Papa acknowledge me?"

Serena forced a smile. "He was just joking."

"But Mamma, they all call me a bastard." Mattia's tears fell, guilt written across his face. "They said I'm a rapist's child and that you don't love me either."

Only then did Serena realize that while she was unconscious, her past had been dragged into the open again. Her body trembled. She could feel her depression threatening to resurface, but for her child's sake, she dug her nails into her palms and held herself together.

"That's not true. My Mattia is so wonderful. How could I not love you?"

Over the next few days, she did not go anywhere. She stayed in Mattia's room. She heard plenty of cruel gossip. If this were before, Serena would have collapsed already. However, she had to hold on.

One day, she received a call from the hospital saying a match had been found, but they needed to convince the donor's family. She rushed to the hospital and pushed open the door.

Ginevra sat inside.

The doctor gave them both a meaningful look, then stood and left.

Serena understood. This was Ginevra's way of cornering her, but she had nowhere else to turn.

"Ms. Bianchi, please. I'm begging you to save Mattia. Name your terms. I'll agree to anything."

Ginevra folded her arms, her gaze full of contempt. "You really are shameless. After everything Adriano did to you, you still gave birth to his child. What, did you fall in love with him?

"If you ask me, that kid getting sick is karma. He's better off dead. Why are you even trying so hard?"

Serena grabbed her hand. "No, Mattia can't die. Please!"

Ginevra shook her off. Serena stumbled into the desk but did not cry out in pain.

"You want me to save that bastard? Fine." Ginevra smiled.

"Get on your knees and beg me. Show me you're sincere enough, and I'll agree."

Serena dropped to her knees without hesitation. Ginevra froze for a moment, then her smile widened.

"Hahahaha... Serena Vitale, look at yourself. You look just like a dog right now! How about this? If I tell you to leave Luca, would you agree to that too?"

"I would." Serena looked straight at her. "As long as you save Mattia, even if you ask for my life, I'd agree."

Ginevra sneered, "You think I'm an idiot? A vain woman like you could never give up Luca. Here's the deal. Agree to one last request and I'll save that bastard."

Serena's heart pounded. "What is it?"

"Keep my cousin satisfied."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the door opened. A brutal-looking man walked in while holding a phone. A shrill female voice came from the phone. Serena thought it sounded familiar.

The next second, the phone was tossed in front of her. When she saw what was on the screen, her body began to tremble uncontrollably. It was a video from when Adriano had kept her locked up.

"It's very simple. Just do everything in the video again."

"No... Please, no..." Serena scrambled to her feet to leave, but the man grabbed her.

"Don't touch me! If Luca finds out, he'll kill you!"

Ginevra laughed coldly. "You don't know yet, do you? Luca's the match. He said you and that bastard disrespected me, and he told me to teach you a lesson so that I could vent my anger. Watching you suffer makes him happy. Why would he come save you?"

Serena's expression crumbled piece by piece. She shook her head as tears fell silently. "No... It's not like that... Luca said he wouldn't let me get hurt again..."

"Yeah, right." Ginevra rolled her eyes. "Gabriele, I'm leaving. Enjoy yourself."

"You got it."

The man's foul breath hit Serena's nose. She almost gagged.

"Come here, sweetheart. Let me take real good care of you."

"Don't touch me!" She struggled violently, but she could not budge him. His rough hands roamed over her body, making her stomach churn. In desperation, she bit down on Gabriele Esposito's hand. He threw her against the wall, and the world spun.

Gabriele grabbed her by the hair and slapped her across the face several times.

"Goddamn bitch, who are you trying to fool? You did all kinds of shit in that video, and now, you're playing innocent with me?"

Serena was pinned down and violated. No matter how hard she fought, she could not escape. When the brutal assault finally ended, Serena was thrown to the floor, discarded and broken. After a long time, she gathered her clothes and barely covered herself before leaving.

She could not see Mattia right now as she was afraid he would worry, so she went home.

In the shower, she broke down and sobbed. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at her ruined reflection. She used to think the dark period of her life was over. She never imagined it would happen again.

It turned out no one would ever be her salvation. She could only rely on herself.

She gave herself one month. If Luca would not help, she would go to Adriano and make him save Mattia.