In the room, no one dared to utter a word. Even though they were all Emanuele’s family, they knew better than to interfere when he was in a rage. Attempting to stop him would only fuel his anger and lead to graver consequences.


    Chloe had just finished her portion of pasta but couldn’t suppress the urge to rush to the bathroom and vomit.


    “What’s going on, Emanuele? Was there something wrong with the pasta?” Sophia had a puzzled look on her face. She hadn’t shown any reaction when Isabe had her meal.


    “Of course, something’s wrong. She fed Isabe something even a dog wouldn’t touch,” Emanuele replied, his temper still ring. Thankfully, he holstered his gun and ordered the staff to prepare two steaks.


    “Maybe it’s just because Chloe hasn’t cooked before, and she made an idental mistake,” Sophia suggested. She couldn’t fathom why Chloe would sabotage Isabe, considering their good rtionship.


    Emanuele’s lips twitched. He wasn’t sure whether to believe Sophia’s words, but no matter what, she was Isabe’s mother, unlikely to harm Isabe to protect Chloe, though Chloe might be a different story.


    “Isabe, I seriously doubt your intelligence right now. Even a child would vomit if they ate something awful. Don’t you know that?” Emanuele gritted his teeth, perplexed by the fact that she had consumed something Chloe made, which tasted as terrible as dog excrement, and still put up a facade.


    What was going on? Emanuele couldn’t make sense of it. The woman who was fierce in his presence now seemed as docile as amb. Ever since Chloe arrived, she had been acting strangely.


    “She made it for me, and I didn’t want to be rude,” Isabe exined, looking at the man who was currently defending her. For some reason, she felt less frightened in that moment.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Because he was standing up for her, she felt as though she was being protected.


    Isabe found it strange. Even though this man had always bullied her, he would stand up for her when it mattered. Why was he doing that?


    “Isabe, sometimes I genuinely want to open up your mind and see what’s going on in there,” Emanuele bit his tongue and lightly tapped Isabe’s head. He remembered the events of yesterday, her fall and the bruised forehead, which made him cautious about using too much force.


    He couldn’t understand himself. Seeing this woman injured and vulnerable made him feel a desire to protect her. It was infuriating. He had always wanted her gone, so why couldn’t he bear to see her hurt?


    “From now on, you mustn’t let this happen again, Isabe. You’re the Mafia princess, and you have the right to reject anything that makes you ufortable. If Chloe bullies you, you can tell me, and I’ll take care of her,” Emanuele whispered to Isabe.


    “Thank you,” Isabe couldn’t understand how Emanuele had suddenly transformed into a kind-hearted man, but she was grateful. At least, in this moment, her previously turbulent emotions had calmed down.


    As for punishment, she didn’t think Emanuele was needed for that. If he took action, Chloe might not even survive.


    She felt that it was easy for Chloe to lose her life, but what she truly desired was to defeat Chloe herself, conquering the fears and pains deep within her.


    “Remember, your body isn’t just yours; it’s mine too,” Emanuele added.


    What? Isabe was astonished by Emanuele’s words. She couldn’tprehend why he would say that.


    “Damn it, only I can decide whether you get hurt, not anyone else! You better understand that!” Emanuele’s possessiveness had reached its peak. He believed that if anyone were to harm her, it should be him and no one else.


    He looked at Isabe’s slightly parted lips, luscious and enticing, her mouth a seductive promise. The desire to thrust himself into her mouth, let her envelop him, and then make her swallow his essence coursed through him. These thoughts tightened his muscles, and he became aroused, but not here.


    Emanuele averted his gaze from Isabe and said, “Enjoy your meal.”


    Soon, Chloe returned from the bathroom, her face as pale as a ghost, which added to her eerie appearance. Despite this, she managed to put on a smile and turned to Isabe, saying, “Isabe, I owe you an apology. I shouldn’t have served you pasta without even trying it.”


    At that moment, Isabe saw Chloe’s vulnerability. This woman who had always been arrogant and treated her like a ve also had moments of fragility. In Isabe’s memories, her cousin, three years older, was always like a princess, capable of beating her if she didn’t like something or taking her frustrations out on her. Being well-fed and older, she had always been much stronger than Isabe, leaving her defenseless. As a result, Isabe had preserved this image of her from her childhood, thinking that Chloe was invulnerable.


    But now, Isabe knew better. She was disgusted to see Chloe, who looked like an abandoned stray dog, trembling in fear, seemingly forsaken by her owner.


    Chloe’s apology wasn’t out of guilt but a show of allegiance to Emanuele. Isabe ignored her, concentrating on cutting a piece of steak with her knife and eating it slowly.


    Chloe, feeling ignored, returned to her seat, offering an apology to Sophia, exining her ignorance of the situation. “It’s alright, Chloe. Your parents have always pampered you, taking good care of you, and it’s perfectly normal that you can’t cook. But next time, you should taste the food before serving it,” Sophia advised. “No worries, Chloe,” she reassured.


    Chloe also turned to Emanuele, saying, “I’m sorry, Mr. Lombardi. You know I didn’t mean to hurt Isabe. She’s too kind and doesn’t want to damage our sisterly bond, even if the pasta is difficult to swallow.”


    Emanuele took a sip of whiskey, ced the ss back on the table with a heavy clink, creating a dull sound. This startled Chloe, who tried to convey her plea with pitiful, tender eyes as she stared at Emanuele.


    “Next time, you won’t have the opportunity to make such a choice,” Emanuele threatened, his implication clear – the next time, he might just shoot her.


    “I understand,” Chloe muttered and returned to her seat, relieved that the crisis was over.


    She couldn’t help but re at Isabe, wondering how Isabe had earned Emanuele’s favor to such an extent. What could he find appealing in her, with her obese body and unattractive face? Did he find her different because he had encountered too many beautiful women? She swore that she would take everything away from Isabe.


    After the meal, seeing that Isabe was about to leave, Chloe grabbed Isabe’s arm. “Isabe, can’t you let me stay with you for a couple of days? I’ll be going home in a few days, and I can’t stay in Chicago for too long.” She turned to Sophia, her tone filled with pleading. Isabe, however, couldn’t control the shiver running through her body. That was because Chloe, at that moment, was subtly pinching her arm, just as she used to do to force Isabe to lie in front of her mother. If Isabe resisted, Chloe would pinch her arm, causing bruises and broken skin – something she had experienced all too often.


    In this moment, Chloe’s actions brought back the dread of those nightmarish days when she had been under Chloe’s control.