Chapter 2

Fiorenzo carried me into the closet while I was still trembling from climax.

"Don't make a sound." He kept his voice low.

Through the gap in the closet, I watched Gianna walk in and pull him into a kiss. Then they had sex frantically all over the bedroom.

The sounds of Gianna's moans tortured me. Only after Gianna exhausted herself and fell asleep did Fiorenzo pull me out of the room.

"Go back now. And don't wear red again. It doesn't suit you."

Later, that red nightgown truly disappeared from my wardrobe; Fiorenzo still controlled every aspect of my life. However, he no longer kissed me or touched me.

The morning after the wedding, I went to the dining room for breakfast and saw Gianna wearing my red nightgown.

She acted as if nothing was wrong, her tone cheerful. "Clarissa, want to try the breakfast I made?"

I saw the vivid kiss marks on her neck. I saw the ring on finger, the one that symbolized her position as Madre of the mafia family.

Once, Fiorenzo had slipped that same ring onto my finger.

For a moment, my blood felt like it had frozen solid.

Fiorenzo spoke in his usual tone. "Go sit down."

I sat down stiffly and lifted my teacup, draining it in one gulp. Instantly, scalding water tore down my throat.

A flash of satisfaction crossed Gianna's face before she put on a helpless expression. "Does it taste bad? But Fiorenzo said you would like it."

Fiorenzo took a sip as well. His expression was relaxed. I understood then that only my tea had been that hot.

"Clarissa, I've been too lenient with you. I've let you forget how to show kindness." Fiorenzo looked at me with disappointment.

The pain in my throat left me momentarily speechless. All I could do was pick up the hot tea and throw it at them.

Gianna screamed. Fiorenzo's man Matteo Conti rushed in reflexively, but Fiorenzo gestured for him to stand down.

"Does it burn? What I just drank was even hotter than this." I left those words behind and walked toward the main door.

This was Fiorenzo's true face. The Don, not my Papa. I knew he could kill me in his rage at any moment.

While he still did not want me dead, I had to leave this place. I had to escape this manor that had imprisoned me for seven years.

Seven years ago on Christmas Eve, my parents and I had just left a shopping center when we ran into a gang shootout. They were killed by stray bullets.

Fiorenzo found me among the bodies. He said he had already dealt with the people who killed my parents.

He brought me to the manor and gave my family the most magnificent funeral. He hired the best tutors for me.

He personally taught me piano. He taught me how to hold a gun.

He said, "Clarissa, you are my one and only Principessa. In this world, no one can replace you."

At least before Gianna appeared, he was attentive to my every need. It made me sink into our twisted relationship.

He denied that his feelings for me were romantic love between a man and woman, yet he even controlled what style of underwear I wore.

I carried my packed luggage toward the manor gates, preparing to turn back and say goodbye to this place.

The second I was about to step through the gate, Matteo's respectful but cold voice sounded behind me.

"Signorina Diamante, Don Ricci requests your presence in his study."

Under the blazing sun, I shivered.

Matteo brought me to Fiorenzo's study. Fiorenzo stubbed out his cigar and glanced at me.

"Clarissa, who gave you those clothes?"

This outfit was something I had traded for with a diamond necklace to a housekeeper named Maria Rossi, but I did not answer.

Suddenly he stood and pulled me firmly by the shoulder to the floor-to-ceiling window. Down by the fountain, Matteo was shoving Maria's head into the water over and over again.

"Stop! Stop it!" I said angrily to Fiorenzo.

He acted as if he had not heard me. Not until my voice turned to begging.

He called out loudly toward the door. "Tell Matteo to revive her.

"Clarissa, you must remember this. For the sake of the family's interests, I will not allow anyone to leave with our secrets."

Fiorenzo pulled me into his arms. I felt his kiss fall on the top of my head.

The warmth of his body made me think of him tangled up with Gianna. Instantly nausea rolled through me.

I shoved him away hard and ran out of the study.

Downstairs, I found Gianna looking up suspiciously. I walked down the stairs anyway. Just as I was about to brush past her, she bumped into me.

"Clarissa, stop trying to seduce Fiorenzo."

"I think you should say that to your husband. Your husband is the one who keeps seducing me!"

I mocked her without mercy before turning to leave but Gianna blocked my way.

"My papa was an elder in this family. Even though he's dead, his influence remains.

"The position of Madre isn't for some little girl who's barely dry behind the ears. You don't even know how to please Fiorenzo. All you know how to do is spread your legs like some fragile pillow princess."

At her words, I realized Gianna knew I had witnessed her and Fiorenzo having sex from inside the closet that night. But I no longer felt angry at what she said.

I only replied calmly, "Signora Ricci, wait, no. Madre, I sincerely wish you and my Papa all the best."

I turned to walk away. Suddenly Gianna threw herself backward.

She screamed. Then came the massive sound of something heavy falling.

The entire world became eerily quiet. I felt cold all over.

I looked up. Fiorenzo stood at the second-floor railing like a god, his eyes dark and unreadable as they looked down at me.