Chapter 19

A servant stood in front of Livia’s bedroom door. Politely, he said, “Miss Livia, Mr. Robert is waiting for you.”

Livia did not respond. She simply rose slowly from her seat.

“Wherever the place is, and whoever the person is… there is nothing I need to think about. After all, I am already used to living like this.”

She smiled faintly.

“I think Robert is far more terrifying than any devil. Including Adrian.”

She glanced at Charlie.

“To me, Melly and you… are far more terrifying and disgusting than Adrian.”

Her smile remained.

“How dare you?” Charlie’s voice rose instantly, filled with anger.

Livia only looked at her briefly, then smiled again.

Charlie fell silent.

There was something different about that smile.

It was no longer a smile full of fear.

Nor was it a submissive smile like before.

That smile… was cold.

Without saying anything else, Livia walked gracefully toward the door.

There, Rossa was already waiting with a pale face. Her eyes scanned her daughter from head to toe, making sure Livia was alright.

Livia approached, then held her mother’s hand.

Warm.

Fragile.

In silence, a question arose in her mind.

Would she still be able to do this after the marriage?

Would Adrian allow her to visit this house… just to meet her mother?

So many worries filled her thoughts.

Yet her face remained calm.

Outside, Robert was already waiting beside a luxurious, gleaming car.

His gaze was fixed on Livia—the daughter he had never legally acknowledged. Even Livia’s name did not carry his.

“Get in.”

For the first time, Robert’s tone sounded different.

He even opened the car door for Livia.

“Will you be in the same car with me?” Livia asked.

Robert nodded.

“I am your escort.”

Like a father, he would be the one to take Livia to the altar.

“I want to be in the same car with my mother.”

Robert fell silent.

His gaze shifted to Rossa. The woman looked deeply sorrowful. Her eyes were swollen—a sign that she had cried for too long.

“Get in,” Robert said briefly as he shifted slightly.

But Livia remained still.

“Will I be in the same car with my mother?”

Robert nodded again.

Rossa, who had been lowering her head, slowly lifted her face. A hint of happiness appeared. A small smile formed on her lips, even though her tears were still there.

Robert simply watched without saying anything.

After the mother and daughter got into the car, he chose to sit in the front seat, beside the driver.

During the entire journey, there was no conversation.

However, several times Robert glanced at the rearview mirror.

In the back seat, Rossa and Livia sat side by side, their hands tightly clasped.

As if they did not want to let go of each other.

The wedding was not held in a luxurious building like most.

Instead, it took place in an old church on the outskirts of the city.

Quiet.

Empty.

There were no guests.

Only a few cars were parked there—Robert’s car, the car that brought Melly and Charlie, and a black, gleaming car that clearly belonged to Adrian.

Livia stepped into the old church.

Her heart was unsettled.

She once dreamed of marrying a man she loved. And of course… that man would love her too.

Because Livia believed—a marriage could not last if only one side loved.

But now…

She was marrying a man she did not know at all. A man she did not love.

And this marriage… was nothing more than a conspiracy that harmed her.

Rossa tried to enter.

But her steps were immediately stopped.

A man stood at the door—Robert’s bodyguard.

“I want to go in,” Rossa’s voice sounded hoarse. Her eyes were filled with tears.

“You are only a servant. You have no right to enter.”

Robert heard everything.

But he said nothing.

He simply walked inside, holding Livia’s hand.

In his entire life…

this was the first time he held his daughter’s hand.

Livia glanced at her mother.

Then gave a small smile.

“This wedding is not beautiful. There is nothing special. So… it’s better for you to just sit here and relax.”

Rossa did not answer.

Her tears kept falling.

“Please… don’t close the door,” she said softly while looking at Robert.

Robert nodded slightly.

Then walked inside with Livia.

Adrian was already waiting inside.

“How pitiful… your daughter is getting married, yet you are not even allowed to enter,” Melly’s voice was full of mockery.

“You should know your place,” Charlie added with a small laugh. “A servant is still just a servant. In fact… I think she is more suitable to be a slave.”

“Servants in our house are still paid well,” Melly continued while laughing. “But her? She has no salary. She is only given food and a place to live. But well… that’s already more than enough for her.”

Rossa remained silent.

Her tears kept falling without a sound.

The wound that had existed for so many years… seemed like it would never heal.

She was seen as a woman who seduced someone else’s husband.

A woman who gave birth to an illegitimate child.

And for Melly—

that hatred would never end.

Not just hatred.

But also cruelty.

Both physical…

and emotional.

And somehow—

hurting Rossa had become something that gave her its own kind of satisfaction.