Chapter 5

My mind was still stuck in a haze when I heard Salvatore's voice. "Didn't you say you were only going to scare her a little to stop her from fighting you for the role of successor, Antonia? Why did they hurt her so badly?" "I don't know, Salvo," Antonia replied in a weak and choked-up voice. "I just wanted to scare her a little. I didn't think they would actually beat her up. Maybe she bullied them a lot when she was still the successor, so they held a grudge against her and used this opportunity to take revenge." "That's not possible," Salvatore retorted immediately. "Regina's always had a good temper. She would even get up in the middle of the night to make supper for me if I said I was hungry." Silence descended upon the room the moment the words left his lips, leaving only the sounds of Antonia's quiet sobbing. A long time passed before Stefano broke the silence. "I had no idea you knew her so well, Salvatore," he said, sounding displeased. "You even let her make supper for you?" "I just mentioned feeling hungry. I didn't know she was such an obedient person," Salvatore explained hurriedly, sounding as if he was afraid of getting involved with me. "Besides, she's just a free maid and person to warm my bed, isn't she?" "That's enough," Stefano said coldly. "We won't speak of this matter again. Clean up the scene. We can't let her find out that Antonia was behind the attack. As for Regina… It's only natural for her to be punished since she wants to go up against Antonia." Stefano was the man who I had called my husband for the last three years, while Salvatore was the man who I had slept with every night for the past three years. Both of them had chosen to hurt me to protect Antonia. I subconsciously clenched my fists as tears spilled from the corners of my eyes. I would rather still be unconscious at that moment. I wished I didn't hear the cruel words from the two men that I had orbited for the last three years. I didn't know how long had passed before my consciousness finally cleared. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Salvatore sitting by my bedside. Worry was etched all over his face. "You're finally awake, Gina. It's all my fault. I didn't protect you." Salvatore's voice was colored with gentleness and heartache, but I wasn't moved in the slightest. I knew that every bit of gentleness he showed me was nothing but a lie. I ignored him, looking down and gently stroking my stomach. The child was a lot stronger than I expected. Although it had experienced such a crisis, it had obediently remained in my stomach. My actions seemed to make Salvatore nervous. He grabbed my wrist and asked in a trembling voice, "Gina… Don't tell me you're carrying a child in your belly?" I felt like my heart was being stabbed by needles as I looked at him. If he was so scared of getting pregnant, why didn't he take the necessary precautions? Suppressing the sour sensation spreading through me, I calmly pushed his hand away and said, "No. My stomach just hasn't been feeling well." Salvatore sighed in relief and hugged me as usual. "Gina, The Rosas' enemies attacked you because they thought you were still the successor. Being the successor is too dangerous. You should just obediently stay home and be Mrs. Farro from now on." His voice was as gentle as ever, and his eyes were shining with sincerity. If I hadn't overheard his conversation with Stefano and Antonia, I would have actually believed that he cared about me. I lowered my gaze, unwilling to look at his hypocritical face any longer. Salvatore wrapped an arm around my shoulders and continued to try to convince me. "I know you like overthinking, Gina. But you're my wife. I can't bear to see my wife getting hurt." I whipped my head up and stared at him. "Do you really see me as your wife?" I asked, intentionally refraining from calling his name. A look of bewilderment crossed Salvatore's face before his expression morphed into one of adoration. "Of course, Gina. I swore to make you the happiest person in the world on the day we got married." I inhaled deeply before asking in a hopeful voice, "Then, are you willing to help me even if I don't give up on being the successor of The Rosas? Are you willing to help me find out who's responsible for today's attack?" Salvatore's face darkened instantaneously. "I've already dealt with those men, Gina. Stop overthinking this. You also must give up on being the successor. You know the rules of being the daughter-in-law of the Farro family." Rules, rules, and rules—Stefano had tricked me for three whole years using these so-called rules. And now, Salvatore wanted to use them to continue lying to me. "I don't want to be the daughter-in-law of the Farro family anymore then." I shoved Salvatore's hand away. Powering through the pain, I got up from the bed and headed outside. Salvatore yanked me back into the room. His eyes were completely bloodshot when he demanded, "What the hell are you saying, Gina?"