Chapter 2
I slowly wiped the tears from the corner of my eye and looked toward the gray, foggy window Maybe the only comfort
left was Leonardo and I were finally free.
As I drifted in that thought, Leonardo called.
“Sofia, you ran to my grandfather again, didn’t you? You ruined the rare time Isabella and I had alone. I’m warning you.
Try that again and I’ll freeze your offshore accounts.”
Once, I would have lowered myself to explain, apologize, and beg for his forgiveness. I would have done anything to calm
him down.
But now, my voice carried nothing but indifference. “Do as you please. It no longer concerns me.”
He went silent for a moment, surprised by my tone, then let out a cold laugh.
“So the baby’s been born. Having a kid really gives you courage.”
“But don’t forget, I’m the one in power here. As long as you’re in the Mancuso family, I have a thousand ways to make
your life hell.”
I closed my eyes. I knew exactly what Leonardo’s “ways” looked like. The first time I caught him cheating, I naively went
to Mr. Mancuso for justice.
Leonardo’s retribution was a masterclass in cruelty. Threatening my grandmother’s treatment, he forced me to stay on
the freezing balcony and slap myself over and over.
That night, he and his mistress moaned in the bedroom behind me until dawn.
By the next morning, my face was swollen, my hands were numb, and the cold had seeped so deep into my bones that
they sent me to the hospital for frostbite.
Whatever love I had left dissolved into the falling snow. After that night, no matter how outrageous Leonardo’s behavior
became, I pretended not to see.
I endured his humiliations in silence. I held the title of Donna by force alone, clinging to what little dignity I still had.
But now, my grandmother was gone. The baby was gone.
This marriage, with its shell long empty, deserved to end. I hung up on him without hesitation. Then I contacted the
funeral home and scheduled the cremation.
When I returned to the ward. I found Leonardo standing at the doorway. He frowned at me, then curled his lips into a
sneer.
“Why aren’t you acting anymore? Running around right after giving birth. Your body looks fine. I guess you don’t need
Chapter 2
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recovery time
I’m bringing Isabella to live at the Mancuso estate. She’s young and delicate and doesn’t do chores, so go ahead and
check yourself out of here. You’ll serve us in the estate.”
He leaned in close, the corners of his mouth twisted with malice. That look of pain on your face has always been my
favorite aphrodisiac.”
His eyes locked onto mine, hungry for the anguish he expected. But I had nothing left to give.
My expression was so calm it was empty. Finding no entertainment in that, Leonardo turned to a nearby nurse and
blocked her path.
The baby. Boy or girl? Bring it here. I want to see.”
The nurse stiffened, panic in her eyes. I exhaled. The baby was taken away by Mr. Mancuso.”
Leonardo opened his mouth to continue, but his phone rang. He answered, and his expression instantly changed. A
second later, his hand flew out and slapped me across the face.
“Sofia, what did you do to Isabella? If anything happens to her, I swear I will make you pay!”
Still weak, I lost my balance and crashed into the railing behind me.
The young nurse hurried to steady me. “Don, Donna just gave birth. You’ll kill her if you keep this up!”
Leonardo didn’t even hear her. His mind was already on Isabella. He rushed out of the room without a backward glance.
The nurse looked at me with genuine pity. My face, ash-gray and hollowed out, didn’t move.
It was as if seven years of love, humiliation, and betrayal had already drained every last emotion from my body.
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