Heartbane's effects were strong. To purge the remaining effects, Raffaele secretly went to the Caruso family's branch in Buresa for treatment.

Before leaving, he had traced everything back to the rival family and made a promise to me. "When I return, I'll do right by you."

I didn't ask how exactly he would do that. All I knew was that he wouldn't cast me aside as long as I was carrying his child.

His treatment would last for a week.

…

A few maids overheard my conversation with Lucia yesterday. They didn't catch the full context and ultimately spread the rumor that I had "tried to get into the signore's bed".

That same afternoon, Matteo announced, "The future lady of the Caruso family will be Lucia Gallo. Her word is my command."

With that, the mood of the entire estate shifted overnight.

"Have you heard? That assistant from nowhere supposedly took a bodyguard as her lover."

"She even claims to be a top university graduate. Sounds more like she used her degree as a cover to fish for money."

No one had seen me enter Raffaele's room that night, but rumors spread like venomous snakes. They coiled around me in a single night.

To curry favor with the future lady of the house, the maids began openly toying with me. The food sent from the kitchen had sand sprinkled into it. My blankets were soaked with water three days in a row, left so wet that I couldn't sleep at all.

"Looks like your sheets are wet again, Ms. Ricci," Lucia taunted, standing in my doorway with her arms crossed. She sported a fake smile on her lips.

I ignored her. I lowered my head and hung the damp bedding on the drying rack outside the stone corridor.

More and more maids started talking about me behind my back.

"I heard she slept her way through university to get scholarships."

"She wasn't in her room last night. Think she snuck into some bodyguard's room again?"

They were simply parroting rumors and spouting nonsense. Lucia wanted to use gossip to force me to leave on my own, but I had no intention of wasting my energy arguing.

When I returned to my room, I ran into Matteo at the corner of the corridor. He reached out and slammed me against the stone wall, one hand closing around my throat. "Do you really go crazy if you don't have a man for a night?"

His eyes were filled with that familiar mockery.

I couldn't break free. I turned my head and stayed silent.

"Puttana!" he spat out through clenched teeth. "A woman like you would do anything, wouldn't you?"

He suddenly grabbed my chin, squeezing so hard that my cheeks went numb. "What, trying to crawl into someone else's bed again? I can have you if I want, Chiara. But my future wife can only ever be Lucia. If you dare mess around behind my back—"

I slapped his hand away. "Stop talking to me like that."

He released me abruptly, then casually brushed his fingers over my cheek. He said in a low, suggestive tone, "Don't be mad. I know you like me. I can't marry you, but whatever resources you need, I can give them to you."

I frowned. "I don't need them."

His face twisted with sudden rage. He shoved me hard, sending me stumbling back as he shouted, "Didn't you come to work for me just to seduce me? You saw I was no longer interested, so you started fooling around with other men? Get out of the estate. A woman like you doesn't deserve to stay here."

That night, I packed my things, ready to leave Caruso Estate and wait for Raffaele to return. Carrying my bags, I stepped out of my room, only to find Lucia blocking me at the top of the stairs.

"Why must you steal my man, Chiara?" she seethed.

I didn't bother answering and turned to walk past her, but she suddenly screamed, "Ms. Ricci, no!"

Turning around, I saw her fling open the window at the end of the corridor. She jumped from where we were on the second floor.

The maids downstairs screamed as they rushed out onto the porch, followed by the sound of Matteo's footsteps.

"Lucia!" he yelled, rushing over and scooping her up from the ground. "Someone get the family doctor—now!"

Lucia leaned against him, her voice trembling with tears. "I slipped by accident… I swear it wasn't Ms. Ricci who pushed me. I was just scared she'd take you away from me…"

"Chiara Ricci!" Matteo growled, his gaze cutting coldly toward me. "Bring her to me!"

Two bodyguards in black uniforms immediately grabbed my arms, roughly dragging me downstairs and forcing me to my knees. My forehead slammed against the edge of a stone step, sharp pain flaring up.

Matteo loomed over me, his eyes icy. "How dare you try to harm her?"

I gritted my teeth. "It wasn't me. There are cameras everywhere. Check the footage and you'll see."

Lucia tugged at his sleeve, softly pleading, "Don't blame her, please… She didn't mean it."

"How are you still defending her?"

Matteo's anger flared. He held her tighter and said, "I'll make sure you get the justice you deserve, Lucia."

My lips pressed into a bitter line. He never even tried to hear me out.

"Slash her face," he ordered coldly.

My head snapped upward, my eyes as wide as saucers. I screamed, "No! I didn't do anything wrong! You can't do this to me!"

Matteo sneered, "Not so brave anymore, are you? Well, too late."

He waved his hand. "Retrieve the dagger."

Meanwhile, Lucia glanced at me with a sly, victorious smile. I was livid. She had obviously staged this fall to set me up!

Matteo wielded a military dagger and slashed it across my face. The sharp and cold blade sliced across my thin skin, the pain so excruciating that I started trembling from head to toe. Ruby-red blood trickled down my cheek, staining the stone step maroon.

"This is the price for not knowing your place," he said viciously, towering over me. "Try it again, and I'll make sure you disappear for good."

My blood slowly turned cold, but my chest burned with hatred.

He was just as heartless in my previous life. He let me and my children be mocked within the family for eight long years.

Matteo raised the dagger again. "Are you going to keep up with the stubborn act? Admit you were wrong, and I'll let you off."

I stared straight at him and enunciated every word through gritted teeth, "I did nothing wrong. Why don't you go screw yourself?"

His gaze sharpened, and he lifted the blade decisively.

At that exact moment, footsteps echoed from the porch. A deep voice cut through the air, carrying an authority that couldn't be ignored. "What do you think you're doing?"

Raffaele had returned.