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Chapter 2

Author: Lianne
Only ten days left.

I closed my eyes again.

Just ten more days to endure before I could leave this loveless home for good.

The next morning, the noise from the living room woke me up. I blinked awake, still half asleep, washed up, and stepped out of my room.

Sophia was back.

She sat on the couch in a flowing white dress, looking like a regal principessa.

Vincent, Natalie, Christina, and Salvatore were all gathered around her.

The butler brought out a cake. Everyone sang in unison, "Sophia, happy birthday!"

Sophia's eyes shone with happiness. "Thank you, Dad, Mom, Christina, Salvatore!"

Then, she added, "I just got out of the hospital. Did you all get me any presents?"

My parents and Christina each handed her their gifts. Salvatore was just about to give his when he noticed me stepping out of the storage room.

"Irene, you're up. Come here and celebrate Sophia's birthday with us."

He waved me over, not noticing the change in my parents' and sister's expressions.

Sophia smiled at me warmly. "Sis! I'm sorry I didn't come to pick you up yesterday. I got sick. You don't blame me, right?"

Sis?

Before I could respond, Salvatore spoke first. "Irene is generous. She wouldn't hold it against you."

At that, Sophia reached for his hand and looked at me. "Sis, it's my birthday today. You should give me a present! I want you to give me Salvatore."

She said it so openly, yet no one in the room said a word. They were all waiting for my answer.

I had never seen anyone so shameless before.

My hands clenched.

"What if I say no?"

Sophia's expression froze. Then, she suddenly switched to French, her voice soft and aggrieved. "I was just joking. I didn't think she would take it so seriously."

Natalie comforted her in French. "Sophia, don't be upset. Irene is nothing like me. She's petty and pretentious."

Vincent added, also in French, "Sophia, don't argue with her. No matter what, your mother and I only see you as our real daughter."

Christina chimed in, "Exactly! I only have one sister, and it's you."

What a perfect family.

I pretended not to understand and turned to Salvatore. "What are they talking about?"

His gaze deepened, his lips parting slightly. "Sophia said she was joking. Everyone just doesn't want you to overthink it."

Not overthink it?

I did not know how Salvatore and my family could lie so calmly right in front of me.

They had no idea I understood every word.

Natalie was a well-known artist from Milano, and Vincent had once dominated the business world in his younger days.

Ever since they found me again at the orphanage, they had looked down on me for not having a proper education, so all their attention went to their adopted daughter, Sophia.

Ten years ago, Sophia and I took our graduation exams together. When she got into an art academy, they celebrated as if it were the biggest event in the world.

What my family never knew was that I had already received an offer from Veridian University. I had taught myself French, and I could also speak German and Spanish.

However, none of that mattered anymore.

Soon, I would leave this fake family behind, and Salvatore too.

"I just got out of prison. I haven't even had the chance to see what Sicelia looks like now. I'm going out. You all can enjoy yourselves."

With that, I limped out of the house under the disdainful stares of my family and the servants.

Behind me, I could hear Vincent, Natalie, and Christina criticizing me freely in French.

They had all forgotten.

Today was my birthday too.

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  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 22

    Salvatore stayed in Napleton City for seven days.He did not try to see Liliana again.Every morning, he parked his car at the corner across from the shipping company and watched her walk into the warehouse.In the evening, he watched her come out, then get into the car Joseph had sent and leave.The way she walked had changed. Her left leg still carried a slight stiffness, but she no longer kept her head down or her shoulders drawn in.She walked steadily, her back straight.Sometimes she would greet the workers, smiling as she said a few words.They respected her. Not the kind of politeness people faked, but real respect.She was doing well in the Conti family.On the seventh evening, Salvatore saw a man come to pick her up. The man wore a sharply tailored black coat and had a tall, solid build. He stepped out of the car and opened the door for her.Joseph.Liliana walked up to the car. Joseph leaned in and said something to her.She smiled.It was a smile Salvatore had

  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 21

    Napleton City. Three days later.Liliana stood at the entrance of the shipping warehouse, a cargo list in her hand.By now, she was used to checking the incoming and outgoing shipments herself every morning.Lucas said she was too meticulous, but she would just smile and keep going."Miss Liliana." A worker ran up to her, looking nervous. "There's someone outside asking for you."Liliana looked up. "Who?""He didn't give a name. He just said he's an old friend."An old friend?Liliana's fingers tightened slightly. "How many people?""Just one."She set the list aside and walked out of the warehouse.The wind at the port was strong, carrying the salty scent of the sea. A cargo ship sat in the distance while workers loaded and unloaded goods. Seagulls circled overhead, their cries sharp in the air.A man stood at the warehouse entrance.He was wearing a black coat and had a tall figure. His back was to her, facing the sea.However, Liliana recognized him immediately.She s

  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 20

    Sicelia, Palemore.Salvatore stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his study, a glass of whiskey in his hand. Outside, the rain had been falling for three straight days.A full year had passed since Irene disappeared. He had searched all of Itania, Francia, Suisse, Austriel, and Germaria, yet he had found nothing.Joseph's methods were even more thorough than he had imagined. Irene had vanished from the world, as if she had never existed at all.However, Salvatore had not given up. He hired the best private investigators and planted informants across multiple countries. He had even gone to Napleton City himself three times. Each time, he was ‘politely’ escorted out by the Conti family.He could not see Joseph.He could not see Irene.A lot had happened to the Moretti family over the past year.Sophia's ‘illness’ had miraculously disappeared after Salvatore called off the engagement. She tried to win him back. She even asked Natalie to speak for her, but Salvatore did

  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 19

    Three days later in the Conti Estate.Liliana stood at the entrance to the basement.The space was vast and brightly lit. The walls were made of rough stone, lined with portraits of past dons of the Conti family.At the center hung Joseph's father, a man with a shadowed, brooding gaze. Beside him were photos of Marco in his younger years, along with even older ancestors.Core members of the Conti family sat along both sides of a long table. Marco sat at Joseph's right, and the other capos were seated in order of seniority.Joseph sat at the head of the table. He wore a black suit, the silver eagle crest of the Conti family pinned to his chest.Candlelight flickered across his face, deepening the sharp lines of his features."Liliana."His voice was not loud, but every person in the room heard it clearly.Liliana stepped forward.She wore a fitted black suit, and her hair was pinned up, revealing the slender line of her neck. Her left leg still carried a slight stiffness, but

  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 18

    One year later.Liliana had fully become part of the Conti family. She was no longer the thin, fragile girl who had just walked out of prison, limping and worn down.She had put on a little weight, and there was color in her face now.Her hair had grown to her shoulders and was usually tied back with a simple band. She wore clean, simple clothes, usually a white shirt and black pants. It was neat and practical.She was now the true boss of the Conti family's shipping company.Lucas still held the title of manager, but she made every major decision.In just one year, she had increased the company's profits by thirty percent. Marco had praised her openly during a family meeting."Anthony's daughter really does carry his blood."No one questioned her identity anymore.That evening, as Liliana stepped out of the shipping company, she saw Joseph's car waiting at the entrance.The window rolled down."Get in."Liliana got into the car."Where are we going?""The port."The car

  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 17

    Six months later.Liliana began getting involved in the Conti family’s business. Joseph did not throw her straight into core operations. Instead, he started her at the foundation.She learned about the family's legal businesses. They had two shipping companies at the port of Napleton City, several restaurants in Vomerra Heights, and a hotel on Capria Island."Learn the legal side first," Joseph told her. "We'll talk about the rest later."Liliana had no objections.Every morning, she went to the shipping company. In the afternoon, she visited the restaurants. At night, she returned to the old apartment.Her days were full.The manager of the shipping company was a man named Lucas. He was in his forties, balding, always speaking quickly and with urgency.At first, he did not think much of this newcomer being pushed into the company. To him, she seemed like someone who was only there to pass the time.That opinion did not last long.On her first day, Liliana did not sit in the

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