Chapter 5

No one knew how many times Robert had whipped his daughter’s body. Livia’s body was already soaked with blood. Her lips were pale, yet she still protected Rossa.

“Livia, switch with me. Let me be on top. Later, if I can’t endure it anymore, you can take my place again,” Rossa said in a broken voice.

“No, Mom, this is nothing. I’ve often experienced worse than this. Do you remember when I was splashed with boiling hot water? At that time it really hurt.”

Rossa cried even harder when her daughter told the story of what had happened ten years ago.

The whipping finally stopped.

Not because Robert was tired.

But because something else was more important to him.

The scandal.

The living room of the Moreau mansion was filled with heavy silence.

Livia still lay on the marble floor, her body protecting her mother. The thin dress she wore was torn in many places. Her back was covered with red wounds that were still bleeding.

In her arms, Rossa cried endlessly.

The woman’s hands trembled as she touched her daughter’s face.

“Forgive me… forgive me…”

Livia shook her head slowly.

Her body trembled, but she still tried to smile.

“It’s not your fault, Mom…”

Her voice was almost inaudible.

“It’s my fault. I was too happy when I was given a beautiful dress and luxurious jewelry. I thought it was my first gift. I was also invited to Claire’s luxurious engagement party. I thought they had already accepted me as family. But it turned out this was only a trap for me.”

Livia’s voice was very small and could only be heard by Rossa.

Rossa cried while covering her mouth.

So that her crying would not be heard.

If the sound of her crying was heard by Robert and considered disturbing, the beating would continue again.

But before she could say more—

Robert threw something onto the glass table in front of them.

BANG!

A thick black folder.

“Enough of this pathetic drama,” he said coldly.

He sat in the main chair of the living room like a judge ready to pass a verdict.

Claire was still sitting on the sofa, leaning on Melly’s shoulder.

Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying all night.

But the corner of her lips almost invisibly… lifted slightly.

Adrian stood near the window.

His face was hard.

There was not the slightest sympathy in his gaze when he looked at Livia.

Robert opened the folder and took out several sheets of documents.

“This scandal has spread throughout the city.”

He threw his phone onto the floor.

On the front page appeared a photo of Livia with Adrian inside the hotel room.

The headline was large and cruel.

ADRIAN DE LUCA INVOLVED IN A SCANDAL WITH HIS STEP-SISTER

Rossa covered her mouth even tighter.

Robert did not care.

He looked at Adrian.

“The reputation of the De Luca family cannot be destroyed because of this cheap girl.”

Adrian did not answer.

But his jaw tightened.

Robert then threw the documents in front of Livia.

“The solution is simple.”

His gaze was as cold as ice.

“You two will get married.”

The room froze instantly.

Rossa lifted her head with a pale face.

“What…?”

Claire sobbed softly.

“No… Father… that isn’t necessary…”

Her voice was weak, full of sacrifice.

But her eyes were looking at Livia coldly.

Adrian finally spoke.

“This is a bad idea.”

His voice was flat.

Robert smiled faintly.

“It’s the only way to shut the media up.”

He pointed at the document on the floor.

“A marriage contract.”

Livia looked at the paper with blurred vision.

Her head was spinning.

Blood was still dripping from the wound on her hand.

“I… can’t…”

Her voice was weak.

Adrian looked at her coldly.

“Can’t?”

He walked closer.

Every step felt like a threat.

“You ruined my engagement.”

His gaze was sharp.

“You think you can just walk away?”

Livia shook her head slowly.

“I didn’t do anything…”

Adrian gave a short laugh.

“Of course.”

He picked up the contract and threw it right in front of Livia’s face.

The hard and sharp corner of the folder cut Livia’s temple until it bled.

“Please, don’t treat my daughter like this,” Rossa cried while covering the wound on Livia’s forehead.

“Cheap woman, you’d better not speak!”

“Please have mercy on Livia, she is also your daughter.” Even though she knew what Robert would do to her, Rossa still begged.

BANG.

A hard kick landed on the woman’s chest.

Livia immediately hugged Rossa. “Mom, don’t beg him.”

“You just ‘happened’ to be in my bed?” Adrian asked.

His eyes were full of contempt.

“A very expensive coincidence.”

He crouched in front of Livia.

Their faces were only a few inches apart.

“Listen carefully.”

His voice was low and cold.

“You will sign this contract.”

Livia closed her eyes.

“I don’t—”

Adrian suddenly grabbed her chin roughly.

“If you try to run away,” he said softly, “that woman will pay for everything.”

His gaze shifted toward Rossa.

“She will bear the Moreau family’s debt.”

Rossa immediately turned pale.

“No!”

Her hands grabbed Livia’s arm in panic.

“Don’t do that for me…”

Livia’s tears fell.

She looked at her mother.

The woman’s body was full of wounds.

Weaker than her.

If she refused…

Her mother would be destroyed.

Robert threw a pen onto the floor.

The pen rolled until it stopped in front of Livia’s hand.

“Sign it.”

There was no choice.

Livia picked up the pen with trembling hands.

Her hands were full of wounds.

Her skin was torn.

Blood was still dripping from the tips of her fingers.

Her eyes could hardly focus on reading the writing on the paper.

The letters were blurred.

Her head was spinning.

But Adrian did not give her time.

“Sign it.”

His voice was cold.

Livia finally lowered her head.

Her hand moved slowly across the paper.

When the pen touched the document—

Blood from her wound dripped.

A red drop fell right on top of her name.

Livia Moreau.

She finished her signature with trembling hands.

Her blood stained the contract.

A promise she had never even chosen.

Robert smiled with satisfaction.

“Good.”

He closed the folder.

“Now everything is finished.”

But for Livia—

This had just begun.

This marriage was not salvation.

It was hell.

And the man who would become her husband…

Hated her more than anyone else in this world.