Chapter 3

[Alessia's POV]

Cecilia took a deep breath and laid everything out before me.

She and Vito were already together and madly in love three years ago. They'd been serious enough about each other to discuss marriage.

Then, she was suddenly diagnosed with a rare blood disease. There was only one extremely expensive, life-saving drug that could keep her alive. In all of Nuvak, my father was the only one with an exclusive channel to get it.

Vito had swallowed his pride and gone to beg my father. My father named his price—he had a spoiled, out-of-control daughter that no one could rein in. As long as Vito married me and made me have his child, my father would indefinitely supply the drug to Vito.

And so, Vito had married me, cutting off any future he could've had with Cecilia.

That explained everything. I now understood why no matter how wildly I acted, Vito was dead set on marrying me. All the indulgence he'd shown me after marriage was nothing but a forced compromise for another woman's sake.

His persistence in bed and his almost desperate desire to have me every night were because he wanted to knock me up and make me have his child so he could trade that child for his lover's life.

I stared at Cecilia, my gaze as cold as ice. "If any part of what you've just said is a lie, I'll make you suffer a fate worse than death."

With that, I turned and walked away. I got into the car, put the pedal to the metal, and shot straight back to Moretti Manor.

The moment I pushed open the door, warm candlelight spilled out toward me. My father sat at the dining table with his mistress and those illegitimate children he adored so much. They were all gathered around and enjoying a cozy family dinner.

There were golden-brown steaks and champagne bubbling in crystal flutes. They looked like one big happy family.

"Paolo, I have a question for you!" I snapped.

His expression darkened. "Watch your tone! Is that any way to speak to your father?"

I stared hard at him, my eyes blazing with rage. I didn't say another word. Instead, I lunged forward, grabbed the edge of the heavy tablecloth with both hands, and yanked it with everything I had.

Glasses and plates crashed to the floor, shattering in an instant. Steaks rolled everywhere, and the champagne splashed across the expensive carpet. The candles went out, and hot soup flew up and splattered all over the mistress' face. She let out a sharp, ear-piercing scream.

"Now, can we have a proper conversation?" I asked coldly.

My father's face turned steely. His mistress tried to smooth things over, but I cut her off with a harsh shout. "Get out! All of you, out! This is between him and me!"

They looked at my father, then at me, taking in the rage rolling off me in waves. In the end, they slunk upstairs with their tails between their legs.

Soon, only my father and I were left in the dining room.

I met his gaze head-on and forced out, "Did you use Cecilia's medication to force Vito to marry me?"

For a second, his expression stiffened. Then, he admitted it, albeit impatiently. "So what if I did? I did it for the sake of your happiness!"

"My happiness? You call a marriage built on lies and bargaining chips happiness?" I took a deep breath and ripped away the last of his mask. "Don't you dare say you did it for me. You just wanted to get rid of me so you can leave every last cent of the Moretti fortune to the bastards your mistress gave you!"

His face went from red to pale as every word hit dead center.

I burst out into laughter, but the tears spilled over at some point. Even so, I kept my back straight and clung to the last shred of my pride. "Fine, then. I don't want your stupid money."

A flash of joy lit up his eyes, as clear as day. I didn't miss it.

I added, "But I have two conditions."