Chapter 2

"No… I just wanted to bring her some food…" I replied.

Before I could even put the thermal container in front of him, Vincenzo snatched it from my hands.

He lifted the lid, glanced inside, and frowned with irritation. His tone was sharp and impatient as he said, "Sofia's carrying our heir. Her stomach is delicate. She can't eat this."

I froze. My fingers were still hovering in the position I'd held when I'd reached out.

I'd started cooking this tomato beef stew at 5:00 am, simmering the beef until it was tender. Vincenzo used to eat two big bowls of this.

However, now, in his eyes, it had become a "risk" to Sofia.

"I made it myself. It's clean, and it suits her tastes," I said in a trembling voice as I wrung my hands.

Vincenzo didn't seem to hear. He turned and dumped the entire pot of stew straight into the trash.

"Ella Pezzano, don't push your luck." He spun toward me, and his gaze was ice-cold.

"If you hadn't doused her with water, would her temperature have spiked to 102 degrees? And now you have the nerve to show up here? Are you trying to hurt her again?"

Sofia, who was lying on the bed, tugged on his arm with fake concern. "Vincenzo, don't be so harsh. Ella just cares about me."

"Cares?" Vincenzo scoffed. "If she really cared, she wouldn't do something like this."

He looked at me again. "You need to learn a lesson. Either you stay home for three days, or you stay away from my and Sofia's residence forever. And don't ever come here again! I won't let you hurt her."

My heart sank. "Stay away? Vincenzo, who gave you the right to control me?"

"You nearly killed the heir of both our families!" His tone left no room for argument. "Sofia's safety comes first."

Sofia spoke at just the right moment. She wore a fake smile. "Vincenzo, don't push Ella. Honestly, I don't really need anything from her. If she's willing to give me the pendant around her neck as compensation, then I'll let this slide."

Her eyes locked on the cross around my neck.

Eight years ago, after Vincenzo had taken 99 lashes and his back was a bloody mess, he had pressed his own blood onto a wooden mold to make this pendant.

At the time, he said it was soaked in his blood, so it would protect me and serve as our token of love. He had asked me to wear it forever.

Instinctively, I clutched the pendant. Just as I was about to refuse, Vincenzo's hand shot out.

He gripped it hard and snapped the chain.

"Here." He handed the pendant to Sofia.

His tone softened instantly, and he even ruffled her hair. "You'll have whatever you want."

Sofia clipped the pendant around her neck and shot me a triumphant smirk. "Grazie, Ella. I'll treasure it."

I watched the pendant that was meant to protect me swing around her neck and suddenly laughed.

I laughed at the absurdity of eight years of loyalty and at the cheapness of Vincenzo's so-called devotion.

"Vincenzo," I said, my voice calm and cutting, "you two suit each other perfectly."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Vincenzo froze. My unexpected reaction threw him off.

As he watched my back, a strange panic stirred in him. He instinctively stepped forward. His Adam's apple bobbed as he called out sharply, "Ella!"