Chapter 3

Back in the studio, my fingertips were raw and bloody, and I was so exhausted that I nearly had my entire finger crushed by the machinery.

The door creaked open, and Riccardo appeared at the threshold.

Had he come to save me? A flicker of hope ignited in my eyes.

His expensive custom-made leather shoes stopped just outside the door. His gaze was as cold as a blade of ice. When he saw my bloodstained hands, his expression didn't soften in the slightest.

"You have quite the nerve to deliberately ruin Sofia's gemstone necklace just to embarrass her. Do you think your worthless life could ever repay it?"

"I didn't! My restoration work was flawless," I signed with trembling hands.

"How dare you make excuses?" Riccardo's face was contorted with rage. "While I was away, you stole gems and embezzled diamonds. Liliana, since when did you become so despicable?"

I opened my mouth, but no defense came out.

Despicable? I'd suffered through inhumane torment while waiting for him to come back, only to be met with his scorn and disgust.

The hero who'd once saved me was now standing with the executioner, wounding me deeply.

"Sofia is generous enough to give you one more chance. You have 48 hours to restore the necklace. If even one diamond is missing or there's the slightest mistake, your fate will be no better than being fed to the sharks."

I stared down at him, no longer bowing my head.

Riccardo's expression darkened at my stubborn defiance.

"What? You don't want to do it? Do I have to remind you that you're the one in the wrong?"

"The only thing I did wrong was falling in love with you," I signed rapidly, and that completely enraged him.

He barked a command toward the door, "Alberto, watch her closely. If she dares to slack off or try any tricks, she's yours to deal with."

With that, he left resolutely.

"Don Volsi has long been tired of you. Since you're nothing but a hussy anyway, why not let us have some fun?"

Alberto, grinning menacingly, stepped forward with two other bodyguards.

I grabbed a sharp file from the corner of the table and swung it wildly at them. Even if it meant taking them down with me, I would never let anyone humiliate me!

"Stupid mute!" Alberto lunged forward, grabbing my hair and yanking my head back. Then, he slapped me across the face several times.

My cheeks instantly swelled up, my mouth filling with blood.

"Lock the door! Cut off her water and food! It'd be better if she died. Don Volsi will just think a dog has died."

Pain and hunger consumed me. If I didn't work, they'd continue to torture me.

Sofia came by once. She looked down at me from above, every word she spoke a fatal blow.

"I have good news for you. Riccardo and I are about to get engaged. The wedding will be the talk of the entire mafia circle in Littoria, and I'll soon be the rightful Donna Volsi.

"Meanwhile, you're less than a rat in the gutter. The family has decided to eliminate you—the most disgusting stain on Riccardo's life—before the wedding. You'll rot in the dirt, and I'll never have to see your face again."

I felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing my heart. I let out a faint laugh and suddenly coughed up blood.

Hatred was all that kept me breathing.

The day I was released, the estate was bustling with grand preparations to welcome distinguished guests.

Sofia wore the full set of jewelry I'd poured my heart and soul into restoring. She nestled in Riccardo's arms, while he gazed at her with eyes full of admiration.

My vision had already blurred, and even the slightest breath sent a pain worse than death through my chest.

Yet, I still walked toward the front hall.

A family member said disdainfully, "Riccardo, is this lowly laborer allowed to appear at such an occasion?"

Riccardo shot me a glance and replied indifferently, as if bestowing a favor, "It's fine. Let her be."

To him, allowing me to stand here was already a great mercy.

"Liliana, this isn't a place for you. Please don't embarrass Riccardo, alright?" Sofia said, clinging intimately to his arm.

In that moment, my mind was clearer than ever before. All my restraint, humiliation, and love immediately went up in flames.

I rushed forward in three quick steps and tore the dazzling gemstone necklace from Sofia's throat. The brilliant gems burst apart instantly, scattering across the floor, and livid deep red welts immediately rose on her neck.

"Have you gone mad?" Sofia's expression turned dark and stormy. "How dare you hurt me and destroy my jewels? I'll kill you!"

I held up my deformed hands, my fingers covered in bloody wounds. Numbly, I used my bloodied fingers to write, "This jewelry is stained with my blood. Every gem is laced with poison. How do you feel wearing it?"

"How dare you harm me, you hussy?" Sofia seethed with rage. She clutched Riccardo's arm and roared, "Riccardo, kill her! Kill her now!"

Riccardo's face was dark with fury. "Liliana, let's discuss this later. We have important guests arriving today."

My eyes held no emotion when I looked at him.

He watched as I signed, "You're not worthy of it."

Alberto forced me down to my knees. I coughed up a mouthful of blood that splattered and bloomed across Sofia's dress like a hideous flower of gore.

Riccardo's expression darkened instantly.

I had humiliated two mafia families. In his eyes, I was probably already a dead woman.

Sofia snatched Alberto's gun and pointed it straight at my head.

"I'll send you to your death right now!"

"Sofia, wait!" Riccardo shouted sharply and immediately grabbed her wrist to stop her.

But it was too late. She pulled the trigger in a frenzy.

In the next instant, two deafening gunshots rang out at once.