Chapter 3: The Little Girl Who Needed a Mother

The car carrying Valentina stopped in front of a tall, open iron gate. As soon as the vehicle passed through, Valentina immediately pressed her face against the window to take in the view.

A long road stretched toward a magnificent mansion standing in the middle of a sprawling estate, surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens and small lights illuminating every corner.

Valentina blinked several times. "Is this your house?" The question slipped out as the car came to a stop in front of the main staircase.

Dante got out first without showing any particular reaction, as though a building that enormous was nothing more than an ordinary home to him.

Valentina followed more slowly, her eyes still wandering over the towering pillars, large windows, and the main door, which was even taller than the door to her own house. "This is way too big to be called a house."

Dante glanced at her before walking up the stairs. "Come on."

Valentina hurried after him, but her curiosity only grew stronger. "Who are you, really?"

Dante stopped for a moment and turned around. "This house was simply a gift from someone."

Valentina looked at him suspiciously. His answer only raised more questions in her mind. "A gift?"

"Yes." Dante continued walking without offering any further explanation.

Valentina followed him, occasionally glancing around. "The person who gave you this house must be incredibly generous."

A line of servants stood neatly at the main entrance to welcome them. "Welcome, sir."

Their voices sounded almost perfectly in unison. The servants bowed their heads respectfully, causing Valentina to stop for a moment. She looked at Dante, then back at the servants, who did not even dare raise their heads until Dante had passed them.

Someone then approached from the side of the room. The man still looked young, perhaps only a few years older than Valentina, dressed in a neat black suit with a tablet in his hand. He stopped in front of Dante and bowed his head. "Sir. Everything has been prepared."

Dante nodded. Then he turned his attention to all the servants still standing in their respective places. "Starting today, Valentina is the lady of this house."

Several heads immediately lifted before lowering again. Dante continued in a firm voice that left no one brave enough to object. "Treat her with the same respect you give me."

"Yes, sir." The servants answered in unison.

Valentina grew increasingly uncomfortable, then glanced at the young man standing beside Dante. "Who is he?"

The man smiled politely before introducing himself. "I'm Ethan, Mr. Dante's assistant."

Valentina gave a small nod. Before she could ask anything else, Dante had already started walking toward a long hallway on the side of the mansion. "Follow me."

Valentina quickened her pace to catch up, and soon they stopped in front of a dining room that was just as spacious.

A little girl sat in one of the chairs with her arms folded across her chest, while a middle-aged woman stood beside her holding a bowl of food.

"Miss Viona, just eat a little more, okay?" the head housekeeper coaxed gently.

The six-year-old girl simply turned her face away and pressed her lips together. "I don't want to."

Dante stood in the doorway, watching his daughter. His expression softened when his gaze fell on Viona, although his face remained difficult to read.

"That's my daughter, Viona... Ever since her mother died three years ago, she's become more withdrawn and doesn't easily accept new people."

Valentina was still looking at Viona. The little girl did not look at them at all, busy playing with the spoon between her fingers. "I'll try."

Valentina approached the table, and the head housekeeper immediately straightened. "Miss doesn't want to be disturbed," she said sarcastically.

Valentina chose not to react to the housekeeper's tone.

"Let me try," she said firmly.

Valentina took the bowl. She then pulled out the chair beside Viona and sat down without immediately offering her any food.

"You may leave for now," Dante told the head housekeeper.

"Yes, sir." The woman stepped back several paces, but Valentina could still feel her watching from a distance.

Valentina looked at the bowl in her hands. Warm soup filled it, along with pieces of vegetables and meat, food that a child Viona's age should have liked, but it was not appealing enough to make the little girl open her mouth.

Valentina stirred the soup slowly, letting the steam rise between them. Viona was still looking away, but her eyes occasionally followed the spoon as it moved around the bowl. Valentina noticed, but she did not immediately offer her any food.

"This soup looks pretty ordinary," Valentina murmured, studying its contents seriously. She picked up a piece of carrot with the spoon and held it up in front of her eyes. "The carrots are too big. Who cooked this?"

Viona glanced over unconsciously, but quickly turned her face away again. Valentina pretended not to notice and picked up a piece of meat. She took a small bite, then chewed with a deliberately hesitant expression. "Hmm... It's actually not that bad."

Viona looked at her again. Her gaze fell on the spoon in Valentina's hand before quickly darting away.

Valentina suppressed a smile, then picked up another piece of meat and put it into her mouth without saying anything. This time, she gave a small nod as though she had just discovered something interesting.

"This one is good. What perfect timing. I'm hungry, so I could finish all of this."

Viona frowned. Her arms, which had been folded across her chest, slowly came apart. "That's my food."

Valentina turned to her with an innocent expression. "Oh, so you want it?"

Viona immediately fell silent. The little girl looked at her bowl. "No."

"Then that's fine." Valentina moved the bowl slightly farther away from Viona. "I'll finish it myself."

Valentina picked up the spoon but did not actually bring it to her mouth. She simply stirred the soup while occasionally picking out pieces of vegetables.

A few seconds later, Viona finally reached out with her small hand and pulled the bowl back toward herself. "Don't finish it."

Valentina stopped. The corner of her lips lifted as she handed the spoon to Viona. "Then, do you want to try it yourself?"

Viona accepted the spoon, but she still looked hesitant. Valentina waited patiently for the little girl to decide.

Finally, Viona scooped up a little soup and tasted it. The little girl chewed, her eyes shifting toward Valentina.

"Is it good?" Valentina asked.

Viona gave a small nod. She took another bite, this time more than before.

Dante, who had been watching them, felt relieved. "I knew I made the right choice."