Unlovable Beyond Smoke

For the next few days, Matteo stayed at the hospital almost every day.

He turned down many meetings. Even several important family council sessions were done via video calls. He tried to make up for everything by giving her nutritionists, caregivers, the best doctors, and the most expensive supplements.

But Alicia did not respond.

That afternoon, the sun finally came out.

A caregiver pushed her wheelchair to the lake behind the hospital so she could get some fresh air.

The wind was cold.

Matteo noticed her fingers were cold. He said softly, “I’ll go get a shawl. Stay right here. Wait for me for two minutes.”

He turned and walked away. Not long after, Sophia appeared.

A bandage still covered her forehead, but her face looked healthier and more vibrant than anyone else’s. She had clearly been well cared for.

She stood by the wheelchair and looked down at Alicia. Her voice dripped with mockery. “Top lawyer, how does it feel to be in a wheelchair? You look worse than I expected.”

Alicia could not be bothered to lift her eyes.

Sophia refused to give up. She said slowly, “Are you still refusing to accept it? When the walkway collapsed, he called your name first. But when it was time to choose, he saved me!

“You’re smart. I assume you know what that means. You understand, don’t you?”

Alicia finally met her gaze. Her eyes were calm and cold. “It means you know very well that you can only ever prove your worth in moments like this.”

Alicia pushed the wheelchair and prepared to leave.

Sophia’s smile disappeared completely. She stepped forward and pressed her hands on the wheelchair’s armrest. “Stop that! Alicia, do you think you still have any dignity left? You’re nothing but—”

She froze. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone nearby. Her expression changed instantly.

She fell to the ground with a pitiful look and then grabbed a rock. She smashed it against her own forehead.

Blood immediately poured out. It stained the bandage and her pale cheek.

Everything happened too quickly.

Alicia watched without surprise.

The next second, Matteo rushed over. “Sophia!”

Sophia ran to him with teary eyes. Her voice shook in just the right way. “I only came to see Donna Alicia, but she said it was my fault that she got hurt so badly… and then, she hit me with a rock!”

Matteo looked at the wound on her forehead and then at Alicia. His brow furrowed. “Alicia, did you do this?”

Alicia said calmly, “Don’t you already have the answer?”

Matteo stayed silent.

Alicia felt a deep exhaustion spreading through her.

She did not want to argue. She no longer tried to explain the truth.

She bent down and picked up a rock from the ground. It was larger and sharper than the one Sophia had used.

As Matteo and Sophia watched in shock, Alicia raised the rock. She struck Sophia’s forehead without hesitation. She hit exactly where Sophia had hurt herself moments ago.

Sophia screamed. Her body went limp.

Alicia looked at Matteo. Her voice was calm and chilling.

“That proves it now. Satisfied?”