ssi

nt. The tears were gone. In their place, a glacial resolve settled over my bones. I couldn't save Dante by cowerin

utton on the wall. "Luci

e bodyguard entered the room. I didn't give them a

he sharpest cut," I ordered, my voice devoid of any t

mirror. My face was slightly softened by the pregnancy, but my eyes were entirely dif

. It felt like armor. I looked at the two women

ving no room for hesitation. "It's time to t

a blatant display of Moretti power, rolled through the wrought-iron gates of the Rinaldi estate. The gaudy, gold-leafed ar

estate staff and ordered everyone-family

ntly absent, likely hiding in his study or out managing his petty rackets. My mother, Elenora Visconti, sat rigidly beside me.

eyes darted nervously toward me and the hea

letting their anxiety feste

against the Moretti family," I announced. My voice wasn't l

h the servants. My mother stiffe

"She attempted to murder my unborn child-the heir to the More

a death sentence. The color drained entirely from my mother's face, leaving behind a mask o

ng strength. "This family will not tolerate such a betrayal," Elenora

rantic figure shoved through the line of terrified mai

ed with panicked tears. "No! It's a lie! Bianca is innoc

g but absolute disdain. "Oh? And whe

e grasped at the first desperate lie she could think

etting my words drop like stones. "That's impossible. She is curren

r face as the horrific reality of the basement cells dawned on her. Sh

of enduring this woman's presence under h

e absolute authority of the true Matriarch. "On your k