Chapter 45 Mom's Estate

"Yes, the Davis family has plenty of rooms, so you don't have to worry about not having enough space to stay."

"That's wonderful." I maintained a natural smile, though inside, I felt utterly miserable.

My father, known for his corrupt behavior and gambling, I doubted he would shield me from my dire circumstances. Instead, he would likely paint an even more pitiful and embarrassing picture to gain my mother's sympathy.

Giacomo was a gentle and gentlemanly man. I knew he noticed the bruises on my face, but he considerately did not ask about them. I was grateful for his discretion, as I hadn't yet figured out how to explain these injuries.

After driving for over an hour, Giacomo announced that we had arrived at my mother's house. I nervously clenched my fingers and looked out the car window. What I saw wasn't a neighborhood or a row of villas but a large gate painted gold, presumably equipped with sensors to automatically recognize vehicles and faces.

I was slightly surprised. Was this a high-end area in Philadelphia, or...?

As the sensors detected Giacomo's car, the mechanism activated, and the gates slowly opened. Giacomo drove through the golden gates, broadening my view.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My God, was that a rose garden? And over there, grapevines and apple trees? Golden sunlight bathed the area where people in uniform were harvesting the fruit. It seemed to be an estate, and they were the staff.

I looked towards the villas at the end of the concrete road, unable to count how many there were. I guessed one of them belonged to my mother. Her wealth was beyond my imagination.

The Cayenne stopped in front of the largest villa. The backseat door was then opened by an elderly man dressed like a European noble's butler.

"Miss Corsetti, welcome home. I am Paolo Marchetti, the butler here, but you can call me Paolo."

"Thank you, Paolo. I am Sienna."

My mother's villa was as grand as a castle. The interior was decorated in a typical Rococo style with Italian hand-woven carpets, European-style palace coffee cups, and an elaborate, luxurious crystal chandelier overhead... It felt like I was on the set of 'Downton Abbey.'

I sat somewhat uncomfortably on the sofa, and a maid had already arranged a platter of fruit slices, cookies, coffee, and tea. Paolo brought over the family doctor.

"Please have the doctor look at your injuries; madam would be worried."

Giacomo urged the doctor to check my feet. I had put on shoes, not thinking he would notice the injuries.

"I am a bodyguard, Sienna," Giacomo explained his keenness. "Always vigilant, ensuring the safety of those I protect is my responsibility."

I nodded. Giacomo fit my image of a bodyguard perfectly, occasionally revealing a fierce gaze and always maintaining tense shoulders, much like Antonio's bodyguards.

After the family doctor confirmed my injuries were well-treated, matching the hospital doctor's diagnosis, Paolo breathed a sigh of relief. He took out his phone to report to my mother, but I asked him not to, "I don’t want to worry her, I'm fine now."

"Madam needs to know your situation; your health is important to her." Paolo refused my request. "It is my job."

Alright, I couldn't ask Paolo to neglect his duties, though I suspected they all guessed the cause of my injuries.

My mother had to postpone her return home due to a sudden emergency at work, and Valentina was also not home.

"Valentina's fiancé is ill; she's at the hospital now," Paolo explained, probably to prevent me from worrying. "She's sorry about this."

"That's okay, we'll have plenty of time together," I politely inquired about Valentina's fiancé.

"It's gastroenteritis," Paolo said. "The top doctors at Philadelphia Hospital are treating him; he'll be fine soon, don’t worry."

I nodded, somewhat at a loss for words.

I'm not great at making conversation, and although Paolo was friendly, he was still a stranger to me. I began to eat the fruit with a fork.

Paolo told me that the fruit was freshly picked from the orchard, the dew still not evaporated when they were picked, specially ordered by my mother for me.

"Is it from the orchard behind the rose garden?"

"Yes, all of it belongs to madam; she likes to relax there." Paolo asked if I wanted to tour the estate since the weather was nice and not too hot.

I really wanted to, but I wasn't sure if wandering around right after arriving at my mother's would be impolite—I knew nothing about my mother's home.

But I couldn't ask Paolo too many detailed questions; it wasn't polite behavior.

All I could do was sit quietly and wait.After arriving in Philadelphia, everything felt like a dream. Just as I was feeling sleepy and Paolo was about to show me to my room to rest, we heard a commotion. Someone had burst in. Paolo stepped protectively in front of me, his voice cold, "Mr. Corsetti, what brings you here so suddenly?"

This was the last person I wanted to see.