I was locked in confinement. Aside from Cesare Esposito, the staff who brought my meals each day, I had no contact with anyone.

Still, I had to get out of this room before I could plan my escape.

I asked Cesare to relay messages, but he always said Fiorenzo was not at the manor.

I knew Gianna was behind this. I decided to take a gamble.

One rainy night, I confirmed that Fiorenzo's Rolls-Royce Cullinan had not left the grounds. Cesare delivered my dinner through the small window in the door right on schedule.

Just as he was about to leave, I called out softly, "Cesare!"

He seemed to know what I was going to say and answered without hesitation.

"Signorina Diamante, Don Ricci is not at the manor today."

"It seems Gianna has given you plenty of incentive, but if I die, do you think Fiorenzo won't take his anger out on you?"

Then I broke the porcelain plate and slashed at my wrist. Blood poured out, dripping onto the expensive handwoven wool carpet.

I smiled at Cesare through the blood, a smile that said I would get what I wanted.

Through my fading consciousness, I heard Fiorenzo's anxious voice. He had nearly lost all the composure and elegance befitting a Don.

"Listen, I don't care how hard it's raining right now. The blood I need must arrive immediately.

"String up Cesare and hang him in the basement.

"If anything happens to my Principessa, everyone will pay a terrible price!"

When I opened my eyes again, I heard him say tiredly, "You're awake. Looks like I'll have to replace all your dishes with plastic ones."

"No, Papa. I've come to my senses." I lowered my eyes, showing just the right amount of vulnerability.

Fiorenzo studied me, weighing my words.

"If I disappoint you, you can confine me anytime."

In the end, he gave in.

For the first time since the wedding, he kissed my forehead. His tone was as helpless and indulgent as always.

"Clarissa, you know I can never say no to you."

After regaining my freedom, I learned to hide my time. Fiorenzo took the doctor's advice and allowed me to walk in the manor gardens to clear my mind.

I walked alone in the garden, thinking of ways to escape, when a familiar figure entered my line of sight.

It was my piano instructor from two years ago, the one I had left without saying goodbye.

"Signor Lombardi, it's been a while." I greeted him.

"Signorina Diamante."

Luigi Lombardi's awkward movements drew my attention to the fact that he was now missing several fingers.

"What happened to your hand?" I walked over, concerned.

"It's nothing. This is the price of gambling debts. Now Don Ricci has me working here as a gardener." He moved his hands behind his back.

My instincts told me there might be more to this story.

"Out for a walk?" He changed the subject.

"Yes, but it's just as boring. If only I could leave this place forever." I shrugged with disappointment.

"Perhaps I can help you." Luigi looked at me with certainty.

I had not expected an opportunity to come this quickly.

"That's wonderful. How?" I said quietly, my voice excited.

"We can use the delivery truck to get out. The driver is from my hometown. Today is his last delivery here. I'll go talk to him."

Luigi's blue eyes lit up as he ran toward the truck unloading flowers.

"Clarissa, you're flirting again! I'm going to tell Fiorenzo and see how your Papa punishes you!"

Damn it! Gianna appeared out of nowhere.

She thought she had caught me red-handed, but as she brushed past me, she accidentally pushed me into a mud puddle.

At that moment, Fiorenzo's voice also carried over from the distance. "Have you seen Clarissa?"

"Tell him I'm not here. I'll go clean myself up!" I said in a low but stern voice.

Not wanting to anger Fiorenzo, Gianna hurried past and intercepted him behind a row of small pine trees. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Luigi helped me onto the truck. I said to him, "We need to hurry."

Everything went so smoothly that it felt suspicious. Though I did not want to think too much. I just wanted to get away from Fiorenzo's land as quickly as possible.

Luigi and I pawned my jewelry and bought a secondhand yacht. Finally, we sailed toward the shores of freedom.

We planned to head to the city of Morok.

The Curiaca family there was at odds with the Ricci family. Fiorenzo would not venture there easily.

On the boat, Luigi told me the truth. His missing fingers were also courtesy of Fiorenzo, because Fiorenzo believed Luigi had developed feelings for me that he should not have.

I caressed his damaged hand. "So do you really have feelings for me?"

His cheeks flushed red. He nodded.

This was an honesty Fiorenzo did not possess.

I realized that perhaps I should find someone close to my age, have a normal romance, and live an ordinary life.

At this thought, tears suddenly fell without my control. Luigi carefully wiped away my hot tears, his tone as reverent as a believer facing God.

"Clarissa, from the first moment I saw you, I secretly vowed to become your most loyal knight. As long as you are happy, I will give you everything, even my life."

Under his gaze, I kissed his forehead. "Thank you."

As the boat pulled away from the mainland, I poured red wine for us and raised my glass. "To our new beginning!"

Just then, a massive firework bloomed in the sky, lighting up the night. I saw a superyacht approaching in the distance. Several people stood in a line at the bow and seated in their center was a familiar figure.

Fiorenzo.

"Signorina Diamante, Don Ricci says this fireworks display is to celebrate finding you. He hopes you enjoy it. Now please come back with us." Matteo shouted through a megaphone.

"Never!" I crossed my hands in front of my chest in an X.

Luigi stood and started toward the cabin to gun the engine. Then came a gunshot.

Luigi collapsed in a pool of blood.

I saw someone beside Fiorenzo holding a sniper rifle aimed at my small boat.

I rushed to Luigi and pulled him into my arms, but the bullet had hit his head. He was no longer breathing.

Tears rolled down my face. It felt like falling from heaven to hell. This boy who had helped me gain freedom, who had expressed his love for me, had just been killed by Fiorenzo.

Fiorenzo was a ruthless executioner. He had killed my hope for the future.

His large boat pulled alongside. Several burly men had already jumped onto my deck.

I was roughly dragged before him.

"Fiorenzo Ricci, you lunatic." I roared at him hoarsely.

"You imprisoned me for seven years, then brought home a woman to humiliate me. I want to leave, but you refuse to let go. What exactly do you want?"

"Imprisoned?" Fiorenzo looked hurt.

"Clarissa, you think those seven years were nothing but me imprisoning you? That damned piano teacher poisoned your mind. One bullet was too merciful for him."

He gestured to his men. "Throw that piano teacher into the ocean. I want his body to never see daylight again."

"No!" I screamed.

However, it was useless. I could only watch helplessly as Luigi's body was lifted and thrown into the endless ocean.

At the same time, a man in a white coat carrying a medical kit walked toward me.

I knew he was going to inject me with a sedative again. Maybe I was not sick at all. This was just his way of controlling me.

Just as the doctor was about to inject me, I bit down viciously on the man holding my right arm, then grabbed the syringe and stabbed it into the left man's eye.

"Come any closer and I'll jump!" I backed up to the edge of the deck.

"Clarissa!" Fiorenzo stood, looking at me with fury.

"Fiorenzo, let me go." I begged.

After staring at me silently for a few seconds, he said, "It's far from land here. If you jump, you'll die."

An emotion I could not read flickered in his dark green eyes. He reached out his hand toward me.

"You've always been a delicate little girl. Come back to Papa. Papa can give you everything you want."

I remained unmoved.

Fiorenzo shook his head in disappointment, then turned coldly to his men. "Seize her."

"Damn it, I'll never be at your mercy again!"

I turned to look at the sea, dark as ink in the night. My young lover's pure and innocent soul now slept there.

I no longer hesitated. Without looking back, I leaped down.