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Chapter 4

Author: Lianne
The main building of the Moretti estate was only two stories high. It was barely thirty feet from the rooftop to the ground.

However, the moment Sophia jumped, my parents, my sister, and even Salvatore all rushed toward her.

That night, the sound of ambulances echoed through the estate.

After they all left for the hospital, I limped back to the storage room that passed for my bedroom, the silence settling in behind me. I sank onto the bed and pulled out my phone. It was December 2nd, 12:13 AM.

Salvatore had broken his promise. He had not stayed to celebrate my birthday. Somehow, it did not hurt the way it used to.

With that dull realization lingering in my chest, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

Eight days left.

In eight days, Joseph would come and take me away from there.

…

For the next five days, I went to work as usual.

My parents and Christina stayed at the hospital to take care of Sophia, and none of them came home.

That day, the restaurant TV was playing the news.

"Mr. Salvatore of the Vitale family and Miss Sophia of the Moretti family have announced their engagement."

My pupils shrank.

When I returned home that night, everyone was already there—Vincent, Natalie, Christina, Sophia, and Salvatore.

Natalie glanced at me and muttered something in French, her tone sharp. "Coming back this late? Who knows where you've been fooling around?"

Vincent shot her a look.

Only then did she soften her tone and switch to English. "Irene, you're finally back. We've all been waiting for you."

Vincent spoke next. "Irene, the doctor says Sophia's condition is getting worse, so we made a decision for you. We've given your engagement to Sophia. You don't have any objections, do you?"

I listened quietly, the corners of my lips almost curling up.

They had already decided for me, yet they were asking for my opinion.

I looked at Salvatore, even though I already knew the answer.

"Did you agree to this too?"

He stood up from the sofa and walked over, taking my hand. "Sophia's only wish right now is to marry me. Don't worry. I won't wrong you. I'll just hold a wedding with her to fulfill her wish."

'You're going to marry someone else. How is that not wronging me?' I pulled my hand away.

"Fine. Do whatever you want."

Something flickered in Salvatore's chest when he heard that. He looked like he wanted to explain, but before he could, Sophia spoke from where she sat between my parents.

"Sis, if you won’t agree to it, then forget it."

As she spoke, her fingers dug hard into the back of her own hand, scratching until blood surfaced.

Beside her, Christina quickly grabbed her wrist to stop her, then turned to me and shouted, "Irene! Can't you see Sophia is sick? Do you expect our whole family and Salvatore to beg you to make the right decision?"

Even my own sister could not tell right from wrong.

Her words pulled up old memories.

When I first arrived at the Moretti house, they made me give up my room to Sophia.

Later, they made me give up my spot to study in Milano.

After Sophia committed a crime, Natalie stood in front of me and said, "I raised Sophia. She's not a bad person. She's too fragile. If she goes to prison, she won't survive. I'm begging you, just this once.

"Take her place in prison."

Thinking back on all of it, I looked at Christina.

"Sure," I said. "If you all beg me, I'll agree to give the engagement to Sophia."
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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

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  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 18

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  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 17

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