6 Chapter 6
I regretted it all. O
She shot me a venomous glare. Seeing that I didn’t respond, she grew bolder.
“Everyone here has eyes. Who can’t tell those wounds are fake? That brand is just a
tattoo.”
Four years ago, this was the abuse I had endured in exchange for Rocco’s life.
At her words, the shocked silence in the room curdled into contempt.
Those scars were a history I never dared to speak of.
Rocco stared at the marks on my body in disbelief.
It was my fault. I was so wrong.
“My poor Rocco, to have met a monster like this.”
I moved so fast Isla didn’t have time to react.
Rocco let out a cold laugh from the bed.
Rocco’s mother could no longer contain her grief, tears and snot streaming down her face.
“My brother was so disgusted by her he had to find comfort elsewhere, and she still had the nerve to try and control him.”
“Are you counting on me to believe you, just so you can lie to me again?”
The blades he forged from words couldn’t hurt me anymore.
They were secrets I had sworn to take to my grave.
I didn’t hesitate. The slap I delivered was twice as hard as the last.
But I said nothing.
“Yes, I’m crazy. I’ve been crazy for a long time.”
I strode up to her and shoved her hard.
I exposed the jagged scars on my legs, and then the ugly, branded insignia of the O’Malley clan on my hip.
“The person in this world with the least right to judge me is you.”
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6 Chapter 6
“What… what happened?”
“She’s a jinx, a walking curse.”
“I saw through your tricks four years ago. You’re still trying to fool me?”
It had destroyed any hope I had of confiding in him.
As for me, I could barely remain standing.
At the time, I didn’t blame him. I just foolishly waited.
Enraged by Isla’s tirade, I finally snapped.
Even now, he was still so self–righteous.
Isla finally shut her mouth.
“Rocco Corleone, open your damn eyes and see clearly. You owe me, not the other way
around.”
Rocco stared at me, standing behind Salvatore.
Everyone’s expression grew grave.
That’s why he had abandoned our vows without a second thought and started a new life
with Carmela.
But I was not the same woman today.
As if I owed him my life and had to atone forever.
“Uncle, you don’t know how disgusting this woman is. She cheated on my brother.”
The pain I had never spoken of, he was only learning of it now.
Rocco’s eyes traced every scar, his voice trembling when he finally spoke.
I could feel Salvatore’s gaze on me from behind.
“Lucia, that’s a clever trick. If you want Rocco to feel guilty, you don’t have to put on such
a show.”
I knew that, deep down, Rocco believed every word.
Back then, because I loved him, his words had cut me to the bone.
“Uncle, you have no idea. God knows how many men have been inside her, how many babies have died in that filthy womb.”
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6 Chapter 6
Isla’s reckless words struck the room like a physical blow.
Four years ago, that same expression had shattered my defenses.
“My brother loved her so much, and she was screwing countless men behind his back.”
His face was a mask of endless mockery.
“Are you crazy?”
After the crisp sound echoed through the room, Rocco glared at me, his eyes burning with
rage.
Rocco, who had been wavering, instantly hardened. Jealousy and possessiveness drove
him mad.
I thought he would come back to me. But all I got was his complete betrayal and the
“accidental” deaths of my parents.
“You have no right to judge me.”
She lamented every hardship Rocco had faced since meeting me, her voice rising in pitch
until she was sobbing uncontrollably.
His parents were speechless.
Isla, who had been momentarily silenced, now threw all caution to the wind.
Without hesitation, in front of everyone, I tore open my heart.
He didn’t get an answer from me. He got a taunt from Carmela.
Just as Salvatore was about to intervene, I stopped him with a look and walked over to
Rocco.
“Is she wrong? Isn’t that exactly what you are?”
I retorted without mercy.
“If I weren’t crazy, would I have put up with you for so many years?”
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