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.