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Chapter 8

Author: Lianne
That day, the entire Moretti estate was alive with excitement. The wealthy guests surrounded Sophia and Salvatore, showering them with praise.

"Sophia, you and Salvatore are perfect together. Remember how he used to pick you up and drive you home all the time back in high school?"

"I remember when he beat up a group of street punks and shielded you during that car accident. He never thinks about his own safety when you’re involved. He only cares about protecting you. You're the only person who can sway his judgment."

One of Sophia's best friends chimed in, "Salvatore treats our Sophia so well, and Sophia has always been just as devoted. Years ago, when Salvatore was injured, she even gave him her kidney!"

"Wow, that's real love!"

"They both love each other so much!"

In high society, in families like mine and Salvatore’s, love was a luxury. It was rare and almost unheard of.

I sat quietly in my small corner and almost laughed.

Everything they were talking about Salvatore doing for Sophia…

Were things he had done for me.

Salvatore was older than me.

When I was in high school, he was already in college.

Maybe he felt sorry for me. Every time he came back from Romara City, he would have the driver wait so I could ride back to the estate with him.

I used to get harassed by street thugs, so he would take off his suit jacket and fight them for me.

Once, we were in a car accident on the way home, and he held me tightly, shielding me so I was not hurt at all. That was why I fell for him without hesitation, why I gave him my kidney.

However, the Salvatore who cared about me, who protected me, who always put me first, was now gone. The man sitting in the Moretti estate now was no longer the boy who had once seemed to be the only ray of light in my life.

I made up my mind. I did not want him anymore.

Time slipped by, second by second, until night fell and Salvatore lit up the entire city with fireworks for Sophia, their brilliance painting the sky. Then, he called me outside. "Irene, once the wedding with Sophia is over tomorrow, we can finally be together."

I thought about everything he had done for me before, all the times he had helped me, all the times he had saved me, and slowly, I opened my mouth.

"I'm sorry, I won't—"

I meant to say, ‘be with you anymore.’

However, I did not get to finish my sentence.

Christina called out from behind him, "Hey, hurry up. Everyone's waiting for the groom to join the party. Come on!"

The groom.

Salvatore replied, "Got it." Then, he looked back at me. "What were you saying you wouldn’t do?"

I forced a weak smile. "Nothing. Go have fun."

He squeezed my cold hand. "After tomorrow's wedding, everything will be over." Then, he turned and walked away.

I watched his tall figure disappear.

Yes.

Everything would be over by then.

…

Fireworks bloomed across the sky, and everyone gathered in Sophia's room. I walked alone into the main building of the estate and glanced at the time on my phone.

7:15 PM.

One hour and forty-five minutes left.

I took a long, careful shower. When I stood in front of the mirror afterward, I took in the sight of myself, my body marked all over with scars left behind by prison. Then, I changed into the cleanest, nicest outfit I had and waited for Joseph to come for me. There was only one hour left.

My gaze drifted around the room I had lived in for so many years. The storage room was not small, but there was very little in it that truly belonged to me. A few worn-out clothes, a couple of old pairs of shoes, a blanket the servants had thrown away, and a battered notebook on the table. Beside it sat the only decoration I had, a photo frame.

I threw away the clothes, the shoes, and the blanket, then walked to the desk and picked up the frame.

Inside was a photograph taken twelve years ago, when I had just returned to the Moretti family, with both the Vitale and Moretti families gathered together. My parents, Christina, Sophia, and Salvatore were all in it. All my loved ones had once been inside this single picture.

I took the photograph out of the frame, tore it apart piece by piece, and threw it into the trash.

Then, I picked up the notebook, which I had started writing in when I first returned to the Moretti family at fifteen. I opened it to the first page.

[December 3rd, 2012. Sunny.]

[I’m finally home. I got to see Mom and Dad again. Dad is so handsome, Mom is so beautiful, and my two sisters are so pretty. I'm so happy! I finally have my parents now, and I have two amazing sisters.]

I flipped forward.

[March 1st, 2013. Cloudy.]

[I couldn't get the money for tuition fees today. I don't know how to explain to my teacher. Mom and Dad must have their reasons. I'll earn the money myself. I can't burden Mom.]

[June 7th, 2013. Sunny.]

[I saved three months of my part-time wages to buy Christina a necklace, but she didn't like it. Next time, I'll earn more money and buy her something better.]

I kept flipping until the last page, which was the day before I went to prison.

[December 1st, 2017. Rain.]

There was only one sentence.

[They never loved me.]

…

At that moment, my eyes burned. I picked up a pen and began to write again.

This time, I wrote in French.

[December 10th, 2024. Light snow.]

[I'm leaving, Mom and Dad.]

[Before I go, I can't help but ask: if you never liked me, why did you search for me everywhere back then?]

[Is it really true, what people say? That a child you didn't raise will never matter to you?]

[But why do some parents look so happy when they find their children again?]

[They say when parents find their biological children, it feels like losing them all over again. Maybe I'm the exception. Being found by you was when I truly lost my parents. I had a perfect image of you guys in my mind, and you ruined it.]

I poured out every question, every piece of resentment I had carried all these years.

[Christina, you said you only want Sophia as your sister. Today, I'll grant your wish. From now on, you'll only have one sister.]

Finally, I wrote to Salvatore.

[Salvatore, you said you wanted me to wait until after your fake marriage with Sophia for us to finally be together.]

[I'm sorry. This time, I won't wait for you.]

[I wish you and Sophia happiness.]

[This is goodbye. Let's never meet again.]
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  • The Silenced Songbird Sings Again   Chapter 22

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