Chapter 17

Livia stood in front of the bed.

Her eyes were fixed on the dress that had been neatly laid upon it.

A white dress.

Simple.

Without luxurious details.

Without any sparkle that could draw attention.

But for someone like her…

the dress still looked expensive.

Too expensive.

Too far from the life she had been living all this time.

Her hand slowly lifted.

Touching the fabric carefully.

As if afraid to damage it.

As if it did not belong to her.

Livia’s chest felt tight.

Painful.

Yet she kept smiling.

She turned to look at Rossa.

“Mom… this dress is very beautiful,” she said softly, trying to sound cheerful.

“If I wear it tonight, I will surely become the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Her tone was light.

Too light.

And Rossa knew it.

Rossa could not respond.

The woman only nodded slowly.

Trying to smile.

But her tears had already betrayed her.

She knew.

She knew very well.

Livia’s smile was a forced one.

But she also knew…

she could not appear weak.

Because if she fell apart—

her daughter would shatter as well.

“Mom,” Livia spoke again, “I must not be late. Even being a little late… will become a problem for us.”

She took a towel.

Her movements were calm.

As if this were just an ordinary day.

“I’ll take a shower first… so my body feels fresh.”

Without waiting for an answer, Livia stepped out.

The small room did not have a bathroom.

The servants had to share.

Using the public bathroom at the end of the corridor.

Livia’s steps remained steady.

Until the bathroom door closed behind her.

And at that moment—

everything collapsed.

She did not immediately pour water over herself.

She just stood there.

Silent.

Then slowly…

her tears fell.

Her hand clutched her chest.

As if trying to hold something that felt too heavy to bear.

Her breath trembled.

No matter how hard she tried…

the pain could not be hidden.

Livia covered her mouth with her hand.

Holding back the sound of her sobs so they would not be heard outside.

“I am not afraid of going to that family…” she whispered softly between restrained sobs.

“I am just… afraid of leaving Mom…”

Her tears fell even faster.

“How will she live here… without me?”

That thought made her chest tighten even more.

“The people here… are very cruel…”

She closed her eyes.

Took a deep breath.

But no calmness came.

Only fear.

And regret.

But Livia knew…

she could not take too long.

She knew what would happen if she made them wait.

Melly would not stay silent.

And if that anger appeared…

the one who would become the target would not be her.

But Rossa.

Quickly, Livia poured water over herself.

Her movements were hurried.

Only a few minutes.

Enough to make her body clean.

Without truly calming herself.

She came out of the bathroom with a face that looked fresher.

At least… it looked fresh.

As if no tears had just fallen.

When she returned to the room—

Rossa was still sitting on that wooden chair.

Silent.

Waiting.

Her gaze lifted immediately when she saw Livia enter.

“I… have chosen the best undergarments,” Rossa said softly.

Her hand showed a simple piece of clothing.

Which to others… might mean nothing.

But for them…

it was the best.

Livia smiled.

She took it without hesitation.

Then began to put it on.

“Forgive me…” Rossa’s voice was heard again, even softer.

“I didn’t have time to buy you anything… I should have given you new clothes… proper ones… not like this…”

Livia shook her head gently.

“It’s alright, Mom,” she answered softly.

“This is our life… there is nothing to hide.”

She smiled.

A calm smile.

But somehow… it made Rossa’s heart hurt even more.

“I will help you wear it.”

Rossa stood up.

Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the dress on her daughter’s body.

The simple white fabric fell softly.

And somehow…

it still looked beautiful.

Very beautiful.

“You are very beautiful…” Rossa whispered.

Her smile was sincere.

But her tears—

kept falling.

Unable to stop.

“I will do your makeup… so you will look even more beautiful and fresh.”

Rossa tried to smile again.

She took her small box.

The only makeup she had.

“But… I only have this powder… and this lipstick…”

Her voice weakened.

“It’s not complete…”

Livia smiled.

Without saying anything, she stepped closer.

Then hugged her mother.

Tightly.

Very tightly.

As if she did not want to let go.

As if it were the last embrace.

“I am already very beautiful… without anything,” she whispered softly.

“So you don’t need to worry.”

Rossa let out a small laugh.

Between her tears.

Then nodded.

She tried to hold back her tears.

For Livia.

Very carefully, she began to do her daughter’s makeup.

A thin layer of powder was applied slowly.

Her movements were gentle.

Full of care.

As if she were touching the most precious thing in the world.

Then the lipstick.

Applied to Livia’s small lips.

And a little on her eyelids.

As a substitute for eyeshadow.

Simple.

But full of love.

“Look…” Rossa whispered with a trembling smile,

“now you are very beautiful.”

Livia looked at her reflection in the mirror.

And smiled.

In this world…

perhaps only she was going through a marriage like this.

Without happiness.

Without luxury.

Without choice.

“Back then…” Rossa’s voice was heard again softly,

“I once dreamed of buying you a very beautiful dress… hiring a professional makeup artist… making you the happiest bride…”

Her voice broke.

“But forgive me… I cannot do it…”

Livia turned.

Looked at her mother.

Then smiled warmly.

“The makeup from you… is the most beautiful,” she said softly.

“Even more beautiful than any professional makeup artist.”

Rossa did not answer.

She only looked at her daughter.

And felt something in her chest slowly shatter.

Livia…

was Robert’s daughter.

But why…

could that man be so cruel?

Treating his own daughter…

as if she had no worth.