جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

Three days later, Napleton City.Irene stood in front of a full-length mirror, staring at the stranger looking back at her.The person in the mirror wore a cream-colored cashmere coat. Her hair had been cut short, exposing the clean line of her neck. She was still too thin, and her collarbones stood out like fragile butterfly wings, but her complexion was much better than it had been three days ago. A faint hint of color had returned to her lips."Your new name is Liliana Esposito." Joseph stood behind her, his voice calm and even."The Esposito family is a branch of the Conti family. Twenty years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Esposito died in an explosion at Napleton City’s port. They did have a daughter. She went missing at the age of two and was never found."From today onward, that girl is you."Irene—no, Liliana—kept her eyes on her reflection. "What about their real daughter?"Joseph paused for a moment. "She died when she was three. My people found her grave on the outskirts of Naple

One month later.Napleton City, the Conti family estate.For the first time, Liliana appeared before the Conti family as ‘Liliana’.The banquet hall was enormous, its domed ceiling painted with Renaissance-style frescoes. Crystal chandeliers hung low, casting warm light across the long table and the people seated on both sides.All the core members of the Conti family were present.Their eyes settled on the girl standing beside Joseph.She had a shoulder-length golden bob, and her face was bare of makeup. She was slender, almost fragile. When she walked, her left foot carried the slightest stiffness. She wore a simple black dress with no jewelry."Don, who is this?" someone asked.Joseph's voice was steady, neither loud nor soft. "Liliana, my long-lost cousin."The room fell silent for a moment.The Espositos had died in the explosion at Napleton City's port twenty years ago. Their daughter had disappeared afterward.The Conti family had searched for years and never found he

Three months later, in Napleton City.Spring had arrived.Liliana had spent the entire winter living in the old apartment at Vomerra Heights.Every morning, she walked to the bakery on the corner to buy fresh focaccia straight out of the oven.The owner, Anna, was a plump woman in her fifties, with a laugh that rang like little bells."Liliana! I saved the best batch for you today!"Anna always slipped her an extra piece of focaccia, wrapping it in oil paper before pressing it into her hands."Eat more. You're too skinny."Liliana accepted the bread and thanked her.It was the first time she had felt kindness from a stranger not because of who her parents were or because of her identity, but simply because they wanted to be nice to her.Slowly, she grew used to life in Napleton City. The sunlight there was stronger than in Sicelia, and the streets were narrower, with thicker crowds pressing in from every side. Laundry hung everywhere, and motorbikes roared past at all hours,

One year later.Liliana had fully become part of the Conti family. She was no longer the thin, fragile girl who had just walked out of prison, limping and worn down.She had put on a little weight, and there was color in her face now.Her hair had grown to her shoulders and was usually tied back with a simple band. She wore clean, simple clothes, usually a white shirt and black pants. It was neat and practical.She was now the true boss of the Conti family's shipping company.Lucas still held the title of manager, but she made every major decision.In just one year, she had increased the company's profits by thirty percent. Marco had praised her openly during a family meeting."Anthony's daughter really does carry his blood."No one questioned her identity anymore.That evening, as Liliana stepped out of the shipping company, she saw Joseph's car waiting at the entrance.The window rolled down."Get in."Liliana got into the car."Where are we going?""The port."The car

Sicelia, Palemore.Salvatore stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his study, a glass of whiskey in his hand. Outside, the rain had been falling for three straight days.A full year had passed since Irene disappeared. He had searched all of Itania, Francia, Suisse, Austriel, and Germaria, yet he had found nothing.Joseph's methods were even more thorough than he had imagined. Irene had vanished from the world, as if she had never existed at all.However, Salvatore had not given up. He hired the best private investigators and planted informants across multiple countries. He had even gone to Napleton City himself three times. Each time, he was ‘politely’ escorted out by the Conti family.He could not see Joseph.He could not see Irene.A lot had happened to the Moretti family over the past year.Sophia's ‘illness’ had miraculously disappeared after Salvatore called off the engagement. She tried to win him back. She even asked Natalie to speak for her, but Salvatore did