Gianna and Vince had known each other since childhood, growing up together, attending the same university, and eventually being driven apart by Roxan’s interference. Their relationship soured into mutual resentment, and their forced marriage was now a bitter entanglement.
She had endured enough and no longer wished to suffer any longer.
Gianna was a light sleeper. When she heard knocking on her door, she chose to ignore it, pretending not to hear.
The doorknob rattled with clumsy and heavy movements, irritating her.
She opened her eyes to see Roxan entering with a tray, carrying a cup of warm milk.
Roxan's tone was gentle. "Gianna, you must not have had dinner yet. Have some warm milk before going to sleep."
Gianna turned her gaze away, her voice icy. "Take it away. I don’t need it."
"Gianna, I know you’re upset with me, but please don’t take it out on your health," Roxan said earnestly, her tone laced with a hint of tears.
"Is playing dumb fun for you?" Gianna, tired of Roxan’s fake innocence, sat up and coldly glared at her. "Even kindergarteners know drinking milk on an empty stomach causes diarrhea. You, a grown adult in your twenties, don’t know such basic common sense?"
Despite being exposed, Roxan still clung to her pretense.
"I didn’t know that. Growing up, my family struggled, and milk was a luxury we only had during the New Year. It’s normal for me not to know."
After a few sentences, her eyes brimmed with tears again. "Gianna, I know you’ve always minded how close Vince and I are. But we’re just friends—he dotes on me like a little sister..."
"You know the truth better than anyone," Gianna interrupted sharply. "Since you’ve already crossed the line from friends to something more, don’t pretend to be innocent or pitiful. I’m not buying it."
Her blunt words tore away the last shred of pretense between them.
Roxan froze for a moment, tears streaming down her face.
"Yes, I admit you’ve known Vince ten years longer than I have. But the one he loves is me, and you’ve felt it too. Vince himself said that everything you have now—a marriage certificate and a place in his life—is only because your mother traded her life for it. Without her, you’re nothing."
Her words were light, but each one cut deep into Gianna’s heart.
Three years ago, after Vince's father, Antonio, suddenly passed away, TerraLink Group’s stock plummeted, and enemies within the boardroom sought to eliminate any remaining family influence. Assassins waited outside the Perkins family villa, targeting Vince. On that fateful day, Gianna’s mother happened to be with him and took the fatal blow meant for him.
That day, Gianna lost her only family.
To compensate for this, Michelle revived the childhood engagement between Gianna and Vince, forcing the two into marriage. The original intent was to have Vince care for her.
But Vince believed Gianna had used her mother’s sacrifice to break him and Roxan apart. For the next three years, he harbored resentment, treated her coldly, and caused her pain.
Perhaps she should have realized sooner and left before it came to this.
The sharp sound of glass shattering against tiled floors jolted her from her thoughts. Gianna turned to see the broken shards scattered across the floor, with Roxan slumping on the floor, her hands bleeding.
"Ah… it hurts so much," Roxan whimpered.
The scene was perfectly timed for Vince, who rushed in after hearing the commotion. He immediately helped Roxan up, his expression furious as he turned to Gianna.
"Roxan was kind enough to bring you some milk, and you made her get hurt?!"
Gianna didn’t defend herself. She merely stared back coldly.
There was no point in explaining herself. Vince’s bias had already condemned her. Why waste her breath?
"Don’t blame her, Vince," Roxan interrupted, her voice trembling as she clutched her injured hands. "I tripped over the chair leg myself. It has nothing to do with Gianna. Please don’t be angry with her."
