"I have spoken to Giovanni. He is ready to marry Renata," Paolo announced as he stepped back into the living room.
The decision was already made, one that required no one else's approval. There was no hesitation in his tone, no trace of concern for the daughter whose fate he had just sealed.
Luisa let out a quiet scoff, folding her arms across her chest as she looked down at Renata with open disdain.
"Your daughter has completely lost her senses," she said coldly, her lips curling with faint disgust.
Renata was still on the floor, exactly where they had left her. Her hair hung loose around her face, partially hiding her tear-stained cheeks.
Her hands rested limply at her sides, but she refused to surrender. The pain in her chest was unbearable, yet something inside her refused to break completely.
"I won't abort the child."
Her voice was sharp enough. It startled everyone, including herself.
Slowly, she lifted her head and looked directly at her father. Her eyes were swollen from crying, but they held a desperate determination. She pushed herself up from the floor, her legs trembling beneath her weight.
"You've already decided to marry me off to that old man," she said, her voice trembling but firm.
"You've already taken my freedom. Fine. Do whatever you want with my life. But let me keep my baby." Her hands instinctively moved to her stomach, clutching it protectively as if shielding the life inside her from their cruelty. "I'm begging you, Dad. This is the last thing you can do for me as your daughter. If you take this away from me too… I swear I will kill myself."
Natasha rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by Renata's desperation.
"Why are you so eager to keep the child of a man you don't even know?" she muttered, her voice filled with cold judgment. She turned to Paolo and added, "Don't listen to her emotional drama, Dad. Uncle Giovanni will feel betrayed if he finds out she's carrying another man's child."
Paolo's expression hardened even further, whatever little humanity remained in his eyes now completely extinguished. "You cannot keep this child," he said firmly. "And if you are so determined to die, then do it after you are married to Giovanni. At least that way, you will have fulfilled your duty to this family."
His voice rose with anger as he continued, "Have you not disgraced me enough already? If people learn that my unmarried daughter became pregnant from some meaningless encounter with an unknown man, how do you expect me to face society? How do you expect me to carry my name with dignity?"
Renata stared at him in disbelief. At that moment, she realized that her father cared more about his reputation than her life.
Paolo turned his head slightly toward the guards standing nearby. "Lock her in the empty room," he ordered, "and keep a close watch on her."
The guards immediately stepped forward.
Panic surged through Renata's body like wildfire. Her survival instincts took over before her mind could catch up. She turned and ran toward the hallway, her bare feet slamming against the cold floor as her heart pounded violently in her chest. She didn't know where she would go. She only knew she had to escape.
She barely made it a few steps before strong hands grabbed her arms and pulled her back with brutal force.
"No!" she screamed, struggling violently against their grip. She twisted her body, kicked, and fought with whatever strength she had left, but they were far stronger than her. "Please, don't do this to me! Let me go!"
She looked toward her father one last time, hoping and praying that he would stop them.
But Paolo did not move.
He did not speak and did not even look at her.
And in that moment, Renata realized she was completely alone. She was aware that her father stopped caring for her after he married Luisa, but she never expected him to treat her like this.
"Paolo, won't you inform Giovanni?" Luisa asked as she walked toward him. She already knew the answer would favor her plans. Her eyes watched him closely, ensuring he would not falter now when everything was finally falling into place.
Before Paolo could respond, his assistant hurried into the room, holding out a ringing phone with both hands. "Sir, it's Mr. Giovanni," he said respectfully.
Paolo immediately took the phone, pressing it to his ear. "Giovanni," he greeted. But within seconds, his brows furrowed deeply, and his eyes widened in visible shock.
"What?" he exclaimed, his voice rising. "You want to get married this evening?"
On the other side of the call, Giovanni's voice carried unsettling eagerness. "Yes. Now that I've moved forward with the investment in your company, I see no reason to delay. I want Renata to become my wife as soon as possible. Everything has already been arranged. I've even sent the wedding dress to her."
Paolo fell silent for a brief moment. His mind calculated quickly, measuring profit against hesitation. The investment alone was enough to erase any doubts. Renata was no longer his daughter in this moment, she was a transaction, a bridge to secure his empire.
"Alright," Paolo said firmly. "Renata will marry you this evening."
The call ended shortly after.
Luisa stepped closer, her curiosity barely concealed behind her composed expression. "What did he say?"
Paolo lowered the phone slowly and looked at her. "He wants to marry Renata this evening."
For a split second, even Luisa seemed surprised by the urgency, but the shock quickly faded, and was replaced by satisfaction.
"And the abortion?" she asked calmly.
Paolo waved his hand dismissively. "We'll schedule it for another date. Right now, the wedding is the priority. Make sure Renata looks presentable. She must look beautiful. I'm leaving everything in your hands, Luisa. This wedding must happen without any complications."
Luisa's lips curved into a faint, confident smile. "Don't worry. Natasha and I will make Renata understand her place."
Her eyes shifted toward her daughter, silently signaling her.
Natasha had already begun walking down the hallway. She stopped in front of the locked room and nodded at the guards.
"Open it," she ordered.
The guards obeyed immediately, unlocking the door and stepping aside.
The moment the door opened, Renata saw her chance.
She rushed forward instinctively, desperate to escape, but Natasha was faster. She grabbed Renata's arms tightly, her nails digging into her skin as she held her in place.
"My dear sister," Natasha said mockingly, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "You should be happy. Giovanni is eager to marry you. By this evening, you'll officially become his wife."
Renata struggled against her grip. "Natasha, how can you be so heartless?" she said through clenched teeth. "How can you wish something like this upon another woman?"
Natasha leaned closer. "Because I cannot stand you." Her grip tightened more on her arms. "This is what happens when you try to ruin me. When you accuse me for snatching your boyfriend that day. You forgot your place and made Dad slap me."
She shoved Renata backward with force, causing her to stumble.
"I hope you suffer in this marriage," Natasha continued. "And you will. That old man will destroy you completely. And I will watch it happen."
Renata's body trembled as she struggled to steady herself.
Please, God,' she prayed silently. 'Please save me. Please don't let this happen.'