Chapter 3

A vase crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces that sliced across my arms and legs.

Dad, Marco, and Luca all rushed in at the sound.

“Valentina!”

Marco dropped to his knees and wrapped her in his arms, panic carved into his face.

Dad turned on me and slapped me hard, his voice booming through the room.

“Bianca! What the hell are you doing? Why did you hurt Valentina?!”

“You made your mother die, and now you’re trying to hurt your own sister… and her baby?”

My head spun, my ears ringing from the blow.

“Yes, your wedding was cancelled, but it was Valentina’s dying wish! Why did you have to be so jealous you tried to kill her?”

“How can you be so selfish?”

I covered my face, tears streaming as I tried to speak.

“Dad, it wasn’t me! She fell on her own!”

“She pushed me down the stairs too! Look at me—I’m hurt just like her…”

My voice broke.

“She’s been lying this whole time! She’s not even sick—”

Dad and Marco fell silent, glancing at the collapsed Valentina.

For a brief second, I thought they might believe me.

Then Dad exploded. “Enough with the excuses!”

He kicked me hard, sending me stumbling backward.

“You used to be spoiled and reckless, but at least you were honest. Now you’ll lie about anything to avoid responsibility!”

“Valentina is such a kind girl. She would never push you! Anyone can see you threw yourself down the stairs to get sympathy!”

Hearing them defend her so fiercely, I cried—and laughed—at the same time.

I’d always known they loved her, not me.

So why did I even bother explaining?

Why did it still hurt?

“Get up and apologize to your sister!” Dad barked, kicking me again.

The world tilted. Darkness swallowed me.

When I woke up, my wounds had been bandaged.

Luca was sitting beside the bed.

“Bianca? … Here, drink some water.”

He handed me a glass and gently brushed my cheek.

His voice was soft, painfully familiar.

He had always been there whenever Dad or Marco scolded me.

But now… that tenderness felt like a lie.

“Luca… do you believe that it was me pushed Valentina?” I asked, my voice hoarse, my eyes empty.

He hesitated. Then slowly:

“Bianca, I know you didn’t mean to. You were just too upset.”

“When Valentina wakes up, apologize to her. Then all of this will be behind us.”

I let out a quiet, bitter laugh and said nothing.

He tried to speak again, but when he saw me close my eyes, he only sighed and left.

When I woke again, the room was empty.

Of course.

He must have gone to the hospital to take care of Valentina.

“If no one wants me here… then I’ll leave.”

I stared at the ceiling as I whispered to myself.

After making the decision, I got up and grabbed my suitcase.

Just as I reached the door, my phone buzzed.

A message from Valentina.

“Did you see? I’m the one Luca really loves.”

“Someone like you—someone even your own family hates—doesn’t deserve love.”

Attached was a picture.

Luca was peeling an apple, his expression gentle and focused.

Valentina sat beside him, smiling like she owned the world.

I let out a bitter laugh and shut off my phone.

At the airport, before boarding, I pulled up the home’s security footage.

I sent Dad and Marco the video—

Valentina admitting she caused Mom’s death,

and the footage of her pushing me down the stairs.

After that, I threw my phone away and boarded the plane.

Dad. Marco.

And… Luca.

Goodbye.