Chapter 2

I didn’t stop on the first floor. I went straight upstairs.

As I reached the landing, I heard Bianca’s loud, gasping breaths.

Her bedroom door was wide open.

She was leaning over the side of her bed, clutching her chest, dry-heaving. Apparently, the “extreme shock” triggered a panic attack.

My fiancé, Julian, was sitting on the edge of the bed.

He was stroking her back. Whispering softly to her.

My feet felt like they were cast in lead.

Julian and I grew up together. We were supposed to get married.

When I returned from Sicily, he held me at the airport. He cried. He swore to protect me forever.

Now, he was holding someone else.

He heard my footsteps and looked up.

He let go of Bianca and rushed over to me. He grabbed both my hands.

He looked at me with so much emotion, like I was the love of his life. “Valeria, you have to go.”

My heart shattered.

“Just take her place as the hostage for a little while.” Julian played his final card. His voice was sick with fake sincerity. “I swear, once this blows over, I will give you the most magnificent wedding.”

A wedding. In exchange for taking the fall for his real love.

Looking at his earnest, disgusting face, I couldn't even cry.

Every hope I ever had for us turned to ash in that single moment.

I pulled my hands away. A cold smile, uglier than tears, formed on my lips.

“I already said yes.” I looked into his stunned eyes. My voice was empty. “In five days, I’m going to the Vitiello estate.”

I turned and walked downstairs, not giving him a second glance.

My chest was tight. I couldn’t breathe.

I needed air. I wandered into the backyard garden.

And then I froze. The entire garden was filled with white lilies.

Bianca’s favorite flower.

I laughed. A bitter, hollow sound.

Just then, a roll of thunder echoed overhead.

The sky opened up. A downpour, out of nowhere.

The huge drops soaked me instantly. Cold to the bone.

I just stood there in the rain, staring at this huge, beautiful house.

And I suddenly realized. In this place I was supposed to call home, there wasn’t a single corner for me.

I dragged my soaking body back inside, up to my room.

If you could call it a room. It was a cramped attic on the top floor.

No heat. The corners were piled with junk the maids didn’t want.

When I first came back, Bianca had already taken over my old bedroom.

My mother had looked uncomfortable. But Bianca just took my hand. Her smile sweet and innocent. “Val, do you mind taking the attic? It's so private up there! You'll have the whole floor to yourself.”

She said it was just temporary.

But that "temporary" arrangement turned into years.

I slumped onto the hard bed. My eyes fell on the picture frame on the nightstand.

Our only family portrait. The one they used to search for me.

During those ten years of starvation in Sicily, I survived purely on the memory of this photo.

I thought I finally had a home. I didn't realize they had found someone they loved more.

That night, a brutal fever hit me.

My immune system was permanently wrecked in Sicily. Any cold rain brought the agony right back.

My body burned like fire, but a piercing cold seeped deep into my bones.

My throat felt like it was splitting open. I forced myself up. I pushed the attic door open, hoping someone could get me some medicine.

But the entire villa was brightly lit. Every single maid was busy downstairs.

They were carrying hot milk, calming aromatherapy, and imported fruits into Bianca’s room. The whole house revolved around the "traumatized" adopted daughter.

My vision went dark. I leaned against the wall, stumbling downstairs. I accidentally knocked over a vase in the hallway.

The crash echoed sharply in the silent house.

A second later, Bianca’s door swung open.

Dominic stormed out, his brows locked in fury.

He didn't notice my pale, feverish face. He didn't see my shaking legs.

He grabbed my arm hard.

"Bianca finally fell asleep!" Dominic hissed, his voice full of warning and impatience. "Valeria, can't you be sensible for once? Stop causing trouble!"

He shoved me back and slammed the hallway door shut.

I staggered and fell hard onto the cold attic floor.

The moment that door closed, the last shred of my attachment to this family completely snapped.

I clenched my jaw. I used every ounce of my strength to crawl back to the bed.

I picked up that family portrait. I took it out of the frame and ripped it in half.

And then again. I tore it to shreds and threw it into the trash can.

Next, I pulled open the drawer.

I took off the engagement ring Julian gave me. I tossed it into the deepest corner without a second thought.

When it was done, my last bit of strength vanished.

I collapsed on the bed and fell into total darkness.

I didn't know how long I was out.

Until the next afternoon, when glaring sunlight hit my face through the tiny window.

Frantic footsteps pounded up the stairs.

"Valeria, why are you still sleeping?"

My mother pushed the door open, complaining. "Bianca has no appetite today. She's been crying. She wants that strawberry cake you always make. Get up and..."

Her voice abruptly stopped.

"Oh my god, Valeria, what happened to you?!"