Chapter 3

Heartbane's effects were strong. To purge the remaining effects, Raffaele secretly went to the Caruso family's branch in Buresa for treatment.

Before leaving, he had traced everything back to the rival family and made a promise to me. "When I return, I'll do right by you."

I didn't ask how exactly he would do that. All I knew was that he wouldn't cast me aside as long as I was carrying his child.

His treatment would last for a week.

…

A few maids overheard my conversation with Lucia yesterday. They didn't catch the full context and ultimately spread the rumor that I had "tried to get into the signore's bed".

That same afternoon, Matteo announced, "The future lady of the Caruso family will be Lucia Gallo. Her word is my command."

With that, the mood of the entire estate shifted overnight.

"Have you heard? That assistant from nowhere supposedly took a bodyguard as her lover."

"She even claims to be a top university graduate. Sounds more like she used her degree as a cover to fish for money."

No one had seen me enter Raffaele's room that night, but rumors spread like venomous snakes. They coiled around me in a single night.

To curry favor with the future lady of the house, the maids began openly toying with me. The food sent from the kitchen had sand sprinkled into it. My blankets were soaked with water three days in a row, left so wet that I couldn't sleep at all.

"Looks like your sheets are wet again, Ms. Ricci," Lucia taunted, standing in my doorway with her arms crossed. She sported a fake smile on her lips.

I ignored her. I lowered my head and hung the damp bedding on the drying rack outside the stone corridor.

More and more maids started talking about me behind my back.

"I heard she slept her way through university to get scholarships."

"She wasn't in her room last night. Think she snuck into some bodyguard's room again?"

They were simply parroting rumors and spouting nonsense. Lucia wanted to use gossip to force me to leave on my own, but I had no intention of wasting my energy arguing.

When I returned to my room, I ran into Matteo at the corner of the corridor. He reached out and slammed me against the stone wall, one hand closing around my throat. "Do you really go crazy if you don't have a man for a night?"

His eyes were filled with that familiar mockery.

I couldn't break free. I turned my head and stayed silent.

"Puttana!" he spat out through clenched teeth. "A woman like you would do anything, wouldn't you?"

He suddenly grabbed my chin, squeezing so hard that my cheeks went numb. "What, trying to crawl into someone else's bed again? I can have you if I want, Chiara. But my future wife can only ever be Lucia. If you dare mess around behind my back—"

I slapped his hand away. "Stop talking to me like that."

He released me abruptly, then casually brushed his fingers over my cheek. He said in a low, suggestive tone, "Don't be mad. I know you like me. I can't marry you, but whatever resources you need, I can give them to you."

I frowned. "I don't need them."

His face twisted with sudden rage. He shoved me hard, sending me stumbling back as he shouted, "Didn't you come to work for me just to seduce me? You saw I was no longer interested, so you started fooling around with other men? Get out of the estate. A woman like you doesn't deserve to stay here."

That night, I packed my things, ready to leave Caruso Estate and wait for Raffaele to return. Carrying my bags, I stepped out of my room, only to find Lucia blocking me at the top of the stairs.

"Why must you steal my man, Chiara?" she seethed.

I didn't bother answering and turned to walk past her, but she suddenly screamed, "Ms. Ricci, no!"

Turning around, I saw her fling open the window at the end of the corridor. She jumped from where we were on the second floor.