By morning, the boys were knocking furiously on my door. I opened it and was instantly blinded by a slap that sent me reeling to the floor.

I saw stars as I saw Giacomo standing over me, his eyes bloodshot with anger. His right fist clenched and unclenched at his side, over and over, like a second heartbeat.

"W…what is going on?" I managed to croak out.

"What did you do to my baby? Something is wrong and she's not breathing properly, you vile creature!" Giacomo yelled at me.

"I… I didn't do anything, I've been sleeping—"

Nadina's loud sobs interrupted me as she ran toward me and knelt. Her fingertips found the hollow of her throat.

"If you were upset why didn't you hurt me instead, huh? Why offer to feed my baby last night and poison her?" Nadina cried.

I was stunned. "Poison? Feed? I haven't even left—"

"And to think we were trying to be nice to you. Witch!" Pietro spat on me, interrupting me.

"If anything happens to Angela, I will make sure you beg for death, Liliana!" Giacomo swore.

I watched with swollen eyes as they all left in a hurry. I slowly stood up from the floor, my ribs aching in pain.

Wincing slightly I stared at the calendar and a bitter smile crossed my lips. Today was the four-year anniversary of my fake blood-bound union with Giacomo.

I took off my clothes and stood in front of the mirror naked and I couldn't recognize the woman staring back at me.

She seemed to have aged faster than her age. She was covered in bruises, the price she paid trying to make love work.

I shook my head. This isn't the woman I want to keep being. I walked into the bathroom and took a long hot shower as I massaged my swollen eyes with an ice pack.

Then I did a little makeup and dressed up in a beautiful short red dress. The next time I looked into the mirror again with my dark sunglasses, I saw a different woman filled with confidence.

I spent the next hour curating an anniversary package for Giacomo. I wrapped up three boxes and wrote a small note and pinned it to those boxes as I gave them to the courier.

"Make sure they're delivered and opened immediately. Giacomo Russo. The Russo compound," I instructed.

After the courier left, I grabbed my bag and ordered a ride. As I stood inside the compound one last time, a cruel laugh escaped my lips.

"Wait for my vendetta, sweet Russo family," I whispered.