Chapter 3

When I said those words, I thought Dante would at least try to stop me.

But he only pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Once Sienna's condition stabilizes, I'll bring you back."

He thought I was throwing a tantrum. Thought I was competing for attention.

I ignored his last sentence entirely. Under the white light, my face was pale.

"Before I go—give me back the card I gave you."

When I'd followed him to Porto Nero six years ago, I'd sold everything I owned and walked away from a promising career.

One card. Seven hundred and fifty thousand.

It was everything I had.

And now it was my resolve to sever this relationship for good.

All warmth drained from Dante's eyes. His voice turned cold.

"Vivian Thornton, I've never shortchanged you. You know what asking for that card means."

Past betrayals had made Dante deeply suspicious. He could spend millions on me without blinking.

But if I asked for it—that carried a different meaning entirely.

Back in those basement days, Dante would hold me and ask the same question over and over.

"Vivian, will you ever be like the others—choose money over me?"

"Never. Not in this lifetime."

Now, my smile was exactly the same as back then.

"One knife scar. Two children."

"Dante Morano, my youth wasn't cheap either."

The rainy season had arrived, and my old wound ached terribly.

The words had barely settled when Sienna appeared from nowhere.

"You really love money that much? I truly feel sorry for Dante!"

She gently took Dante's hand, tenderly smoothing the crease between his brows.

My parents slapped me across the face and pointed at my nose:

"Vivian Thornton, how did we raise such an ungrateful wretch? Begging for money without a shred of shame!"

Camille jumped in too:

"I really misjudged you. I thought you were just foolish—turns out you're vicious. Ask yourself what Dante has done for you!"

In the end, Dante threw the bank card on the floor.

"Take it and get out. This house has nothing to do with you anymore."

I picked it up without looking at any of them.

Because they weren't worth it.

The wind in Porto Nero blew hard at night. Dante wouldn't let the driver take me.

Years of neglect had wrecked my health—problems everywhere.

He used to never let me go out alone. Even a scraped knee would distress him.

Halfway down the hillside road, the rain began to pour.

Icy, wild raindrops lashed my face.

I clutched that bank card until its edge cut my palm and blood ran.

Before I blacked out, a message came through: "Two more days. Wait for me."

When I woke, I was lying in a house in the outskirts.

Mrs. Lombardi changed the towel on my forehead and whispered:

"Miss Thornton, Mr. Morano does care about you. Please take care of yourself."

For six years, there had always been people acting as Dante's advocates.

I used to listen. But now I only wanted to leave.

My fingertip hovered over the screen. Below that text were a few more messages.

"The weather in Ashford has been lovely. You'll like it."

"Eat well, Vivian."

Inexplicably, something warm stirred in my battered heart.

I remembered there was one last thing I hadn't finished.

When I arrived at the orphanage, I was stopped at the gate.

"Miss Thornton, we no longer need your sponsorship."

The card I'd demanded back from Dante the night before had been snapped in two.

My voice was dry.

"Director, what do you mean?"

Inside, the children who'd once received my donations kept their distance, wary and hostile.

A stack of newspapers was thrown in my face. I unfolded them with trembling hands.

"'Morano Boss Weds Constantino Heiress in Alliance of the Century—Other Woman Cast Out in Disgrace."

The cover showed my rain-soaked, wretched silhouette leaving the night before.

Beside it, a spread of Dante and Sienna's newly shot engagement photos. Picture-perfect bliss.

"Our orphanage doesn't accept dirty money. Please leave."

People came and went, casting countless looks of contempt.

I stood in the sun, my vision going black, drenched in cold sweat.

Someone's shoulder knocked into mine, and I fell unguarded to the ground.

Sienna's beaming face appeared above me.

"Sister, I'll be sponsoring this orphanage from now on. Consider it good karma for the baby."

Behind her, the director ushered her in with utmost courtesy.

Dante's tone was stiff.

"The papers were to let Sienna save face. The Constantinos wouldn't agree otherwise."

"Go home. It's windy here."

I looked at his familiar brow and eyes, and suddenly remembered lying in the hospital.

Dante too afraid to close his eyes all night.

"Vivian, I swear no one will ever hurt you again."

Now the person hurting me was him.

I laughed and laughed until the tears fell.

Sienna laced her fingers through his, staking her claim.

"Sister, tomorrow is our engagement banquet. Will you come?"