Chapter 3

When I returned to the manor, I locked my bedroom door and called the design institute in Slento again.

After I settled everything over the phone, I suddenly heard laughter from downstairs.

My brother, Giovanni, was back.

When I was little, I used to cling to him constantly. But after he went abroad to take over one of the family's branches, he became so busy that he barely had time to call me.

I had texted him asking if he could come back for my first art exhibition, but he never replied.

I certainly wasn't foolish enough to think he'd rushed home to surprise me, since my exhibition was already over.

I quietly looked downstairs and saw Giovanni holding Victoria tightly in his arms.

"I came home too late to celebrate my principessa waking up," he said dotingly. "I deserve to be punished."

Victoria pouted playfully and slipped her arm through his. "Then you have to make it up to me. Put your work overseas on hold and spend time with me every day," she teased.

Giovanni laughed and nodded without hesitation, his eyes full of indulgence. That kind of open, unguarded affection was something I hadn't felt from him since becoming an adult.

I used to think all the bloodshed in the mafia had made Giovanni cold and distant. But six months ago, I overheard him on the phone with Mamma.

She had asked him why he'd adored me so much when we were children, yet now he would rather stay overseas than see me.

Giovanni sighed and replied, "When Franca was little, she looked so much like Victoria. But now, whenever I look at her, I can't help thinking about how Victoria was lying alone in that cold hospital bed while Franca was living comfortably with us.

"I just couldn't bring myself to treat Franca the same way anymore. It felt like I was betraying Victoria."

That night, I hid under my blankets and cried until I could barely breathe.

I couldn't understand why I had to pay the price for Victoria's accident when it was never my fault. So I started picking fights with her, desperately trying to win back even the smallest bit of attention from my family.

However, that all changed when Enzo threw a forged DNA report in my face. He claimed that I was nothing more than an adopted daughter.

I refused to believe it at first, so I secretly used my savings to get another test done at a private clinic. The results confirmed that I was the Morettis' biological daughter.

But seeing those results broke me. Whatever hope I had left was gone, and I finally gave up.

I let Victoria take my jewelry and ruin my coming-of-age party. I even gave up Enzo, the man I'd loved for years, without putting up a fight.

My own family let Enzo falsify a DNA report to deny my blood ties to them, all to keep Victoria happy. That was the moment I realized I'd never win against her.

Outside my room, Victoria's laughter drifted through the door.

"Fine, I'll give you a chance to make it up to me," she announced. "Come on, let's all go to that Michelin-starred restaurant by the harbor. I've booked a private room. Enzo, you come too!"

Everyone in the Moretti family always catered to her whims.

Suddenly, Victoria's sharp voice cut through the hallway.

"Giovanni! The sapphire earrings you brought back are missing! I was planning to wear them to dinner! I remember leaving them on the dressing room table. It has to be Franca… Why would she steal from me?"

Footsteps hurried down the hall and stopped outside my door.

"Franca, can you please give the earrings back? That was the very first gift Giovanni gave me after I woke up. If you feel like my return took away the love that belonged to you, I can leave. I can move out. But please, don't do this to me."

Inside my room, I was slipping the genuine DNA test into the bottom of my suitcase. Before I could even reach the door, it was kicked open from the outside.

Giovanni stood in the doorway, his face dark with anger. "Franca, hand over the earrings. Don't force my hand."

I never even stepped into Victoria's dressing room, but no one believed me.

Mamma hurried over, her eyes filled with disappointment and disgust.

"I thought you were finally behaving yourself, but it was all a show, wasn't it? You just wanted us to let our guard down so you could steal your sister's most precious gift."

"I didn't take them," I said, my voice dry and hoarse.

Suddenly, Victoria went limp and staggered backward.

Enzo rushed forward and caught her in his arms. Then he snapped at me, "Franca, this is ridiculous! All we asked was for you to give in to her. Do you really have to push her over the edge?"

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Suddenly, I didn't feel like explaining myself anymore. Let them believe whatever they wanted.

Victoria suddenly broke free from Enzo and lunged frantically at my suitcase in the corner, yanking out the clothes inside.

In the frenzy, the folded real DNA report slid out from between the layers of clothing. But that clearly wasn't what she was after. Her hand went straight for the Slento Design Institute offer letter tucked at the very bottom.

"Don't touch that! Let go!" I screamed, lunging forward.

That letter was my only chance to leave this family behind. I couldn't let her destroy it. But Victoria was faster. With a sharp tear, she ripped it to pieces.

I froze on the spot, my head buzzing.

Victoria fell against my shoulder and whispered viciously, "You think you can hide this from me? Want to escape to Slento? Dream on.

"I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life beneath me, living in my shadow. The earrings are right here in my pocket. I just wanted to crush your hopes myself. Happy now?"

I shoved her to the floor and dropped to my knees, trembling as I scrambled to gather the pieces of paper.

Victoria slammed heavily onto the floor.

The veins on Giovanni's temples bulged as he grabbed me and hauled me to my feet. He was just about to hit me when his shoe stepped on a piece of paper.

He instinctively looked down, and two bold red words caught his eye.

"Paternity Confirmed".

Giovanni froze.