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T-3 Days to Farewell
T-3 Days to Farewell
Penulis: Celebrant

Chapter 1

Penulis: Celebrant
After the call ended, I stared at my phone for a long time.

Professor Sofia Bianchi had agreed to help me forge an abortion report.

My husband, Don Enzo Vitale, would never allow me to take his child away.

When I got home, I pushed the door open.

In the living room, my sister, Rosa Esposito, twirled in front of the mirror in a light purple chiffon dress. My papa, Luca Esposito, sat on the couch, watching her with a fond smile, while my brother, Rafael Esposito, snapped a few photos before stepping over to adjust the bow at the hem of her skirt.

I planned to quietly slip past the living room and head to my room.

"Valentina?"

Rosa spotted me first. A hint of amusement glinted in her eyes, tinged with provocation.

"You're back? Take a look at my dress. Isn't it pretty?"

I didn't respond.

Papa turned around, and the warmth in his eyes vanished completely.

"You still remember how to come home?"

A glass flew straight at me. I didn't react in time. It clipped my forehead, and warm blood trickled down.

He shouted, "I told you to help Rosa with her dress, and you ended up spilling coffee all over it! Do you even know it took six months to have that dress made?"

"That's because—"

"Enough!" he snapped, cutting me off. "You just can't stand seeing her happy."

Rafael let out a cold laugh. "Come on, Papa. What's the point of explaining anything to her? If it weren't for her, Mama would still be alive."

Guilt flooded my chest in an instant.

"Raf, I didn't—" I tried to explain.

"Don't call me that," he said without even glancing at me. "You caused Mama's death, and now you're even here to ruin Rosa's coming-of-age party too?"

Rosa walked over and grabbed my wrist. "Rafael, don't say that about her—"

"Stay out of this!" Papa roared.

He slammed his hand on the coffee table and stood up. "She's been willful and spoiled ever since she was young. She caused your mother's death, and now she's putting on an act just to get attention and ruin your birthday party!"

He turned to me in frustration. "How can you be so selfish?"

"I was kidnapped," I said in defense. "That night, I went to pick up the cake. Someone cornered me in an alley. They kept calling Rosa's name when they grabbed me. They locked me up for three days."

I pointed at the wounds on my body that hadn't healed yet. "I got all of these because they beat me up."

The living room fell silent for a moment, then Papa laughed.

He walked toward me. "Kidnapped? You're telling me you were kidnapped?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Then how are you standing here right now?" he asked. "Did your kidnappers kindly let you go? And you expect me to believe they were calling out Rosa's name? Are you trying to say you suffered in her place?"

"I'm telling the truth! I—"

Before I could finish, a slap cut me off.

I stumbled, nearly losing my balance. A burning pain spread across my cheek.

"The truth?" Papa hissed. "Valentina, do you think I'm an idiot?"

Rafael stepped forward, grabbed my shoulder, and pulled me up. "Get up. Apologize to Rosa."

I clenched my teeth. I hadn't done anything wrong. Why should I apologize?

"I said get up!"

Papa seized my arm and forced my face upward.

"Apologize to Rosa."

I met his gaze and said, "Everything I said is true."

He released me. The back of my head struck the floor hard. Everything went black.
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  • T-3 Days to Farewell   Chapter 9

    On the day of the press conference, the venue was packed with people. I stood on stage and addressed the cameras as I introduced the newly developed anti-cancer drug.When the applause began, someone handed me a letter signed with the family name "Esposito".I opened it and saw several lines of familiar handwriting."Valentina, we saw you on TV. You've grown into someone truly outstanding, and we're proud of you. What happened over the years was our fault. We were deceived by Rosa and failed to understand you, which led us to hurt and scold you. "We don't deserve to be your father and brother. We don't expect you to forgive us. We only want you to know we regret everything. We're sorry."I folded the letter and placed it in my bag.Cristiano approached me, carrying Louisa in his arms. "Whose letter is that?" he asked.I took his hand and answered, "No one worth worrying about. Let's go."Louisa tilted her face up and asked, "Mama, when are you and Mr. Romano getting married? T

  • T-3 Days to Farewell   Chapter 8

    Three days later, I suddenly received a call from an unknown number."Valentina, the baby is in my hands. If you want to see her, come to this address."My mind went blank.I received a photo. In it, Louisa was wearing the same small pink outfit as she slept in a crib.I turned and rushed out of the research institute.The address was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts.I pushed the door open and saw Enzo standing beside a helicopter, holding Louisa in his arms."Give my daughter back to me," I said."Come with me, and you'll get her back," Enzo replied.He looked at me with a kind of twisted obsession. "Valentina, I've been wrong all these years. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Just come back with me—"Suddenly, the warehouse doors were kicked open.More than a dozen vehicles rushed in and surrounded the helicopter. Bodyguards in black suits stepped out of the cars, and Cristiano walked over to my side."Don Vitale, this is your final warning. Put

  • T-3 Days to Farewell   Chapter 7

    He had lost a lot of weight. Dark shadows lay under his eyes, as though he hadn't slept in a long time.The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up. He rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace. "I finally found you, Valentina…"He had a travel-worn scent about him, like he had been on the road for a very long time.I pushed him away. "What do you want from me?"He froze for a moment. "I'm here to take you home."I smiled. "Home? Where is that?"He took my hand and said, "Come home with me. I admit I was wrong. I've locked Rosa up in the basement, and she's being whipped every day. Your father and brother already know the truth as well, and they deeply regret what happened. "If you come back, you'll still be the Donna, and everything I have will belong to you and the baby."His gaze dropped to my flat belly, and a trace of pain flashed across his eyes. "It's alright. We can have more children in the future. As long as you come back, we can start over."I pulled my hand away.

  • T-3 Days to Farewell   Chapter 6

    First-Person POVIn Rudosco, I stood by the apartment window, looking out at the distant snow-covered mountains.Three days ago, the plane arranged by Professor Bianchi had landed at Eldrich Airport. We hadn't gone through the normal channels, and no immigration record had been left behind."From this moment on, Valentina Esposito is dead," Professor Bianchi told me in the car. "You are Lena Rossi, my distant niece, here in Rudosco to conduct pharmaceutical research."I nodded.The car stopped in front of an apartment building."You'll stay here for now. I'll take you to the institute tomorrow," she said.In the elevator, Professor Bianchi suddenly smiled. "By the way, there's someone you should meet."At the end of the corridor stood a man in a dark gray coat. When he saw us, he smiled slightly."Long time no see, Valentina."I froze. "Cristiano Romano?"He had been my senior by two years in college, and we had collaborated on a lab project at the time. Later, he went overs

  • T-3 Days to Farewell   Chapter 5

    The basement was dim and damp. Rosa lay on the ground as the heavy iron door slammed shut behind her with a loud clang.Day after day, she was given dirty water and leftover food and forced to kneel as she took a hundred lashes.By the third day, she had lost the strength to even cry out.Enzo stood outside, listening to the weak, sporadic sounds coming from inside."For every cut Valentina got because of her, she'll take the same number of lashes," he said.His men nodded. "Alright, Don Vitale."Enzo turned and headed back to Valentina's room.The room remained exactly as she had left it. He sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the framed photo from the nightstand.In the picture, Valentina was smiling beautifully.His mind drifted back to that rainy night when she was 18, to the moment she ran into his arms and stood with him in the rain until morning.When he proposed three years ago, she had nodded through her tears.He had promised to protect her for the rest of her

  • T-3 Days to Farewell   Chapter 4

    On the other side, I sat by the window on the airplane, watching the city below grow smaller and smaller until it was completely swallowed by the clouds.The cabin was quiet. I closed my eyes and replayed the past 23 years in my mind like a film.Tears slid down my cheeks without me realizing it.It was time to say goodbye to my past.…Third-Person POVThe next morning, the local news reported, "Last night, a speeding car caused a traffic accident and burst into flames. According to the latest updates, the remains of a young woman were discovered in the vehicle."In Rosa's hospital room, Luca handed her the last slice of orange and stood up. "I'll go check on that troublesome one." Rafael let out a scoff. "Why bother checking on her? Let her reflect on her own." Enzo had already headed toward the door. He still couldn't feel at ease. Valentina had just woken up, and she was still injured.The three of them walked down the corridor and pushed open the door to Valentina's ho

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