Chapter 3

Watching Monica's face twist into something close to madness, my heart slammed against my ribs.

This woman was unhinged. There was no telling what she'd do.

I forced myself to stay calm. "Let us go. The cameras are rolling, and every guest here just witnessed what you did. Don't dig yourself a hole you can't climb out of."

Monica wiped the wine off her face, her eyes turning venomous.

"Begging now? Where did all that fire go?"

Teresa was shaking with rage. She finally spat the rag out of her mouth.

"Let go of me, you bitch! I'm calling Luca—I want to ask him what the hell he thinks he's doing!"

Teresa looked even more furious than I was.

She hated betrayal more than anything.

When Luca's father had run around with some actress years ago, she'd thrown him out herself.

"Those who betray family don't get to stay in the family."

That was what she always said. And now, her own son—the one she'd raised—had betrayed me.

"You old hag, how dare you talk to me like that!"

Monica lunged forward, swinging her hand toward Teresa's face.

I don't know where the strength came from. I broke free and threw myself in front of Teresa.

Smack!

My ears rang. The taste of blood spread fast through my mouth.

She went for a second hit. I caught her wrist on instinct.

The four guards closed in immediately.

I let go, slowly.

Monica saw my hesitation and grinned even wider. "What happened to all that fight? Don't want to throw hands anymore?"

I swallowed the fury and narrowed my eyes. "Let's end this here. Let us walk out, and I won't pursue this any further."

Monica's laughter rang out even louder.

"You really think I'm that stupid? You expect me to buy that crap? Take your time, sweetheart. No rush."

She smiled coldly and gestured. "Lock the old one in the cellar first. Let her cool off."

Two guards grabbed Teresa and dragged her toward the iron door at the back of the hall.

Behind that door was a narrow underground passage, leading down to the deep wine cellar.

The moment Teresa saw that passage, she froze.

"Don't touch me…" Her voice changed. "I'm not going in there! Let go of me… I want out!"

She started struggling wildly, her breathing speeding up, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.

My heart dropped.

Years ago, Teresa had been kidnapped by a rival family and locked inside a tiny shipping crate for two days.

Ever since then, she couldn't step into any enclosed space alone.

"She has severe claustrophobia!" I lunged forward. "Let her go!"

One of the guards grabbed my hair and yanked me back.

Monica watched Teresa with amusement.

"You two aren't even good at this. Your excuses are laughable." She waved at the guard. "Take her down!"

The guard dragged Teresa through the door.

"If anything happens to Teresa, you won't be able to handle the consequences!" I locked my eyes on her. "Let her out now!"

Monica crossed her arms and tilted her chin up at me.

"Let her out?" Her voice turned icy. "Fine. Admit you're a fraud. Admit you're not the Donna. Apologize to me, and I'll think about letting the old woman out."

The guests were grinning at me, pointing, whispering.

All those stares cut into my skin like knives.

I glanced at the cellar door and clenched my fists.

Teresa's muffled screams filtered through the crack, fragmented and desperate.

I dropped my head. I nearly ground my teeth to dust as I forced the words out, one by one.

"I… I'm a fraud…"

"What's that? Scammers don't get paid enough to speak up? Say it louder."

The guests' laughter slithered through my ears like greasy little snakes, crawling under my skin.

"I'M A FRAUD!"

"Good. That's the volume we needed. And what else?"

My whole body was shaking. "You're the real Donna of the Moretti family. I was too ignorant to recognize you."

Monica covered her mouth with a light laugh. "See? If you'd done this from the start, we could have kept things civil."

"Enough?" I snapped my head up. "Now let Teresa out. Right now."

Monica tapped her chin with her index finger, pretending to think for a long moment. Then she sighed.

"I said I'd think about it. I've thought about it. And I've decided she's staying down there."