Chapter Three

Sienna's POV

Three days later, the memorial reception for Elena is held at the Valentino family's largest estate.

This is the final farewell Alessandro and I prepared for her. Giovanni's ridiculous "invitation"? He has no idea I'm the one organizing the entire event.

I'm wearing the black dress Elena gave me before she passed, a black pearl necklace gleaming darkly at my throat. Since this afternoon, I've been personally reviewing every detail—guest list, seating arrangements, wine selection.

"Sienna."

Giovanni's voice comes from behind me, shock mixed with disbelief. He strides over, looking me up and down. Shock, realization, then settling on malicious glee.

"Looks like you've crawled into some Valentino manager's bed and landed yourself a servant's job at the estate." His voice drops. "You could have walked in here on my arm. But you had to be difficult. Now you're stuck here serving drinks."

I look up calmly. "Are you finished?"

"At the casino last time, because of you, we missed our chance to meet Don!" He snatches the folder from my hands and hurls it to the floor.

I glance down at the scattered documents.

"But... for old times' sake, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself." He reaches out to touch my face. I dodge.

He laughs even more brazenly, his gaze roaming over me. "Sleep with me for one night. I'll forget about the casino incident."

Snickering laughter erupts behind him.

Giovanni slides his hands into his pockets, looking down at me. "This is your last chance. Miss it, and you can keep serving drinks and warming beds here—who knows when you'll get tossed out. Stay with me, and you'll at least have a decent life."

I take a deep breath, look up, and say coldly: "Get lost."

Giovanni's smile freezes. "You—" His face flushes red. "Sienna, you're just a servant working in someone else's house. Cross me, and one word from me will get you thrown out of here!"

"Giovanni!"

A shrill voice cuts through the air. Rosanna click-clacks over in her sky-high heels, wrapped in a blood-red gown. She sees me and her expression changes instantly. "Sienna, what are you doing here?!"

Her gaze falls on my dress. Her eyes widen, and she whips her head toward a group of society ladies nearby. "Lucia! Come look at this!"

The woman named Lucia walks over and gasps at my dress. "My God, isn't that the one the late Elena wore in that magazine two years ago?"

"And that necklace—" Rosanna's eyes move to my throat, her voice growing shriller. "Black pearls with diamonds—that's the Valentino family heirloom!"

Guests gather around, whispers rising like a tide.

Rosanna's face contorts viciously. "You whore! It's one thing to copy the late Elena, but you dare wear fakes and pretend to be a Valentino!" She looks around. "Everyone, good thing I caught this early! If we let this con artist in and she angers Don and his wife, we'll all suffer!"

Giovanni steps back, addressing the onlookers coldly. "This woman is shameless."

"You hear that?" Rosanna points at my face. "Get out! Now!"

I lift my head, looking at her calmly. "Are you sure? You're the ones who should leave."

"Still talking back?!" Rosanna lunges at me like a rabid animal, reaching for my necklace. "Take off that fake!"

I try to dodge, but my heels and swollen belly slow me down. Rosanna's nails rake across my neck, leaving bloody scratches.

"Grab her!"

Several women immediately close in. One of them suddenly sticks out her foot. I stumble, falling hard onto the marble floor.

Sharp pain shoots through my knees and palms. Instinctively, I protect my belly.

Rosanna pounces, grabbing my hair and slamming my head against the floor. "Bitch! Let's see you pretend now!"

Mocking laughter rings out around me. Someone steps on my dress—there's a ripping sound as the fabric tears.

"Look at that! This cheap fabric and she dared pass it off as Elena's dress?"

"The necklace must be fake too! Probably plastic!"

Rosanna yanks my hair harder, her other hand going for the necklace. I'm protecting my stomach, unable to fight back.

"Stop—" I grit my teeth. "I'm Alessandro's—"

Rosanna slaps me across the face, sneering. "What? Are you going to claim you're Don's wife now?"

The crowd erupts in even more derisive laughter.

Giovanni walks over, looking down at me. "Sienna, if you beg me right now, the maid position Rosanna mentioned is still on the table."

I look up at his stupid expression and suddenly smile.

"You. And you." I say each word deliberately. "Both your families are finished."

Giovanni freezes for a second, then throws his head back laughing. "Listen to her!" He leans down, eyes full of mockery. "Sienna, what gives you the right to say that? You don't actually think you're the lady of the Valentino house, do you?"

Rosanna laughs hysterically. "My God, I think she hit her head!"

She walks toward me, raising her hand. "Since you don't know any better, I'll wake you up—"

That's when Alessandro appears in the doorway.

He's wearing a black tailored suit, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, exposing the sharp lines of his throat. His right hand holds a small boy—Rafael in a perfectly cut little suit, with the same deep blue eyes as Alessandro.

Rosanna's hand freezes mid-air. She snaps her gaze between me and Alessandro at the door, her face draining of color. She quickly withdraws her hand, frantically tugging at Giovanni's sleeve, voice urgent and hushed. "This bitch is dressed like that! If Don gets angry, we're all dead!"

Rafael suddenly pulls away from Alessandro's hand and runs toward me.

"Mama!" He rushes to my side, his little hands hovering in the air, afraid to touch me. "Why are you hurt?"

Rosanna's smile stiffens on her face. Her body sways, barely able to stand. Giovanni looks like someone's choking him, mouth open but no sound coming out.

Don's son... just called me Mama?