My heart slammed. I dug my nails into my palms so hard I almost drew blood, just to keep my expression.
Marco strode toward me, towering above, looking down like he was trying to see straight through my eyes.
A chill crept up my spine. I stepped back, putting distance between us, and kept my voice polite, cool and distant:
"It's a surprise. I prepared a wedding gift."
That gift was my departure. Forever.
He must've sensed the distance. His brow furrowed, eyes locked on me, searching.
After a long moment—finding nothing—his voice came low and rough:
"Good. I'm glad you understand. You know I only love you. "
"You're still young. After the wedding, go do whatever you like. What if I send you overseas for your studies?"
I bit my lip. My chest tasted like lemon, sharp and bitter.
Silence stretched. Then I nodded, docile as a lamb:
"Don't worry, Cognato."
Marco went still. His Adam's apple bobbed. He looked like he wanted to say something else.
But a burst of laughter from downstairs cut through the moment.
"Oh my God... that dress... it's torn to shreds!"
"What a bitch. She'll do anything to climb into Don Marco's bed."
"..."
I looked down.
Liliana stood in the middle of the crowd, wearing a nightgown that had been sliced open, barely covering the important bits.
Her face was bone-white, trembling with humiliation.
Then she saw Marco, like a drowning woman spotting a savior.
She threw herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically.
"The maid brought this dress... said it was a pajama party... that Serana specially picked it for me... said she hoped to see me wear it... so I did..."
Marco shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders, covering her bare skin.
Then he looked at me, his brow furrowed tightly, his eyes filled with blatant exhaustion:
"Serana, I've already told you that Liliana won't threaten your position in the future. Why do you still have to resort to such cheap tricks?"
Something tore open in my chest.
I lifted my chin, forced the tears back—but my voice still shook:
"I didn't send that dress. I didn't have anyone deliver that message."
Seeing my scalding tears, Marco's expression faltered. He hesitated, as if wanting to walk toward me.
Just then, Liliana burst into tears. "Did I really come out looking like this? Just to be mocked by everyone?"
Marco’s brow furrowed deeply, his tone turning stern:
"Serana, you've truly gone too far this time. I really have spoiled you rotten."
He had never spoken to me with such severity before.
I froze. Staring at this familiar face, I felt an overwhelming sense of alienation. Suddenly, I couldn't find the words to say.
"Serana, it's my fault. Please don't let this come between you two. This is all my fault."
Draped in Marco's suit jacket, Liliana rushed over to me, weeping as she threw her arms around me to apologize.
I froze, completely at a loss.
Suddenly, Liliana grabbed my hand. Her eyes flashed with blatant smugness as she yanked us both into the pool.
The noise from the shore was instantly cut off. I choked on a massive mouthful of water.
"Help! HE…LP!"
She thrashed wildly in the water.
But I knew how to swim. Fighting the burning in my lungs, I struggled to keep my body steady.
Marco plunged into the pool immediately, swimming toward me instinctively.
I tried to reach out and grab him. Just then, Liliana's voice rang out again: "I can't... swim... She can... Save... me first."
Marco's body froze. Then, he swam toward Liliana. He chose her again. He pulled her into his arms and carried her to the shore.
"Serana, why... why did you push me?"
Liliana asked, coughing violently, her voice laced with sorrow.
I had just dragged myself onto the edge of the pool. My lungs were screaming in agony, and the unhealed wound on my leg had torn open again. The stinging rush of the pool water made the pain unbearable.
"I didn't... It was her! She pulled me in!"
Marco's brow furrowed deeply.
Liliana was crying even louder: "You got an A in swimming. I can't swim at all. Why would I pull you into the water!"
Seeing Marco hesitate, Liliana cried even harder.
In the end, Marco left only one cold command:
"Enough. Take the Principessa back to her room and let her rest."
With that, he scooped Liliana into his arms and strode away.
He used to cherish me exactly like that, cradling me safely in his arms as if I were his precious princess.
My body hadn't fully recovered yet. Dizzy and disoriented, I slowly collapsed to the ground.
The butler panicked, wanting to shout at Marco.
"Wait!"
Fighting through the dizziness, I called out to him. Watching my Cognato hold another woman as he disappeared around the corner.
The heartbreak had long eclipsed everything else. My consciousness began to fade, bit by bit...
My vision blurred...
Ten years. Ten years of his care and protection. I'd pay it all back.
After that, Cognato, we'd be square.
Then the darkness swallowed me whole.
