Chapter 10

Isabella was sitting on the sofa beside Favio.

She looked completely comfortable, as if nothing had happened.

Favio glanced at me once.

His expression remained cold.

Isabella looked me over and smiled.

“Adeline, since you're finally done causing trouble, I need you to do something for me.”

I didn't answer.

She continued, “Go to the hospital laboratory and retrieve your kidney.”

I slowly looked at her.

“My kidney?”

“Yes. The one they removed from you before Angelica's transplant.”

My stomach twisted.

She was talking about the kidney I had given for my daughter.

The kidney that was supposed to save Angelica.

She crossed her legs and spoke casually. “The hospital kept it after the investigation. I need it for my research project, and since it belongs to you, you can go get it yourself. I'll return it when I'm finished studying it. Then you can decide what you want to do with it. You can throw it away, or you can bury it beside Angelica.”

My fingers curled.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to throw something at her.

I wanted to ask Favio how he could sit there and let her talk about our daughter's death like it was some school project.

But I was too tired.

My whole body still hurt from the punishment.

So I simply nodded.

“Okay.”

Isabella raised an eyebrow.

“Okay?”

“Yes.”

I looked at her with empty eyes. “I'll go get it.”

She smiled, clearly pleased.

“Good. See? Things are much easier when you cooperate.”

I didn't answer.

I turned toward the stairs.

Favio watched me.

“Addy.”

I stopped but didn't turn around.

“Don't cause another scene at the hospital.”

My fingers tightened around the railing.

“I won't.”

Then I walked upstairs.

Once I reached my bedroom, I closed the door behind me and changed into a simple blouse and black pants because I didn't want to walk into the hospital wearing the clothes I'd been tortured in.

I brushed my hair, washed my face, and picked up my handbag.

Then I looked at myself in the mirror.

My face was pale.

My eyes were swollen.

There was a faint bruise around my wrist from the restraints.

I barely recognized myself.

I whispered, “It's almost over.”

I didn't know whether I was talking to myself or Angelica.

Maybe both.

I picked up my bag, took my daughter's urn, hid it inside the bag, and left the room.

When I came downstairs, Isabella was still sitting beside Favio.

She glanced at me. “Ready?”

I nodded.

“Yes.” She smiled. “Good. Don't take too long. I need the kidney today.”

I looked at her for a moment.

Then I walked straight past her.

I didn't wait for a driver.

I didn't wait for Favio.

I walked out of the villa alone.

The guards at the gate opened it for me, and I stepped onto the street.

I stood there for a moment, breathing in the cold Italian air.

Then I raised my hand and stopped a taxi.

“Airport, please.”

The driver looked at me through the mirror.

“Which airport?”

“Malpensa.”

He nodded and started driving.

I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes.

The moment the villa disappeared behind me, I opened my handbag and took out my phone.

I looked at the divorce documents I'd kept hidden inside.

The cooling-off period was over.

I had already decided what I was going to do.

I wasn't going back to Favio.

I wasn't going back to that house.

And I wasn't going back to the woman I'd been before.

The taxi stopped at the airport.

I paid the driver, stepped out, and pulled my suitcase behind me and walked into the airport without looking back.

Meanwhile, Favio spent the entire day with Isabella. He didn't think about me.

Why would he?

As far as he knew, I was probably somewhere doing whatever Isabella had ordered me to do.

It wasn't until evening, when dinner was being served, that he finally noticed my absence.

“Where's Adeline?”

Isabella looked up from her phone.

“Maybe she's still at the hospital.”

Favio frowned. “She should've been back by now.”

He took out his phone and called me.

The call didn't connect.

He tried again.

Nothing.

His brows slowly pulled together.

“What the hell?”

He checked the number and called once more.

This time, the automated voice answered.

“The number you have dialed is not in service.”

Favio froze.