Second Chance: An Heiress Reborn

Caterina's father had never laid a hand on her before. He would ignore her, or chastise her, but

never hit her. Her eyes welled up immediately, as hatred spread in her heart. Her mother rushed

to her side, before turning to glare at her husband.

"How could you hit our daughter?!"

Sebastien coldly stared at his wife and child. What a pathetic pair. They couldn't scheme

properly, so what use did they have? If only his wife could give him a son, then perhaps he

would have the chance to rip the company out of his elder brother's hands. What a waste.

"Silence! You did wrong and you still have the nerve to argue? You stupid girl, apologize!''

Sebastien roared. His wife and daughter insisted on embarrassing him. Even if his wife couldn't

muster up the ability to have a son, she could at least have a sensible daughter like his brother

had.

Alessia knew when to attack and when to retreat. He narrowed his eyes at her, for just a

moment, before turning his gaze to his brother.

"I apologise for my daughter's actions. Clearly, I didn't teach her right"

After apologizing to his brother, Sebastien turned to his father and apologised again.

"Caterina, what do you have to say for yourself?!"

Caterina looked at her father with resentment and anger, before turning her eyes on Alessia and her parents.

Alessia's parent weren't even looking her way. Both of them were focused on their daughter, looking at her with warm, loving eyes. She wanted that.

Alessia never had to work for anything in her entire life, yet she had everything? It wasn't fair!

The jealousy and hatred shone in her eyes before she closed them.

No matter what, she would rip everything from Alessia, everything. However, she would still need Alessia's compliance to do so. Only when she held everything within her own hands, would Caterina be able to step on Alessia.

But for now...she would play along.

When she opened her eyes, all one could see was regret, shame, and compassion. Tears streamed down her face, as she kneeled in front of her grandfather.

"Grandfather, please forgive me. I was enjoying my time out with Alessia, and had far too much to drink. I misunderstood what the shop assistant was saying, and I thought she was insulting me, so I lashed out. It was wrong of me to do so."

Without hesitation, Catarina stood up and faced the parents of the shop assistant that she assaulted. She bowed.

"I apologize for my actions today. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I will take care of all the rest of your daughter's medical bills, and will go and apologize to her in person"

The parents were fl.u.s.tered, stammering out an acceptance. The switch in personality was confusing for them, so they just accepted it and bid farewell to all before heading back to the hospital to watch over their daughter.

After they had left, she finally turned to Alessia. Taking her hands, Caterina looked at Alessia with pleading eyes.

"I am so sorry, cousin. In a drunken haze, I blamed you for things that you did not do. You are my best friend and I hope that this doesn't ruin our relationship."

Alessia looked at Caterina in the eye, before smiling. She couldn't see a trace of malice. What an actress!

But so was she.

Alessia sweetly smiled, eyes full of innocence, before saying "Of course I forgive you! I won't hold you accountable for what you did when you were drunk. What would I do without my best friend?"

Caterina beamed outwardly, while sneering on the inside. Stupid girl!

Alessia took things one step further. She turned to her grandfather.

"I know that you will have to punish Caterina, but please go lightly on her. She wasn't in her right mind, and she clearly feels remorse."

Leonardo looked at both of his grandchildren, brows furrowed. While on the surface everything seemed fine, he could read that something wasn't quite right with the two cousins. Not wanting to stir things before he found out for himself what was going on, he nodded.

"Caterina, since you have shown clear remorse, I will let you off lightly. You will have to make a public statement of apology, and do some community service to undo the damage you have done to the Cargona name. Thanks to Alessia, the damage isn't too extensive. Next time, think before you act. I dont want this to happen ever again."

With that said, Leo was exhausted, and with that final decision, he got up and went to his room, bringing an end to this family meeting.

Amara also rose, reaching for her daughter.

"Come, Alessia, it must have been a long and tiring day for you. Go get some rest, I'll bring you a snack, alright?"

Noah and their father agreed, ushering Alessia up the stairs and into her bedroom.

Sebastien watched the them go upstairs with no expression before getting up and leaving his wife and daughter behind.

Victoria reached forward to comfort her daughter, and bringing her to her bedroom. While Caterina sat on her bed shaking with anger, Victoria ordered a servant to bring up a cold compress. As soon as the servant left the room, Caterina picked up a teacup by her bed and through it across the room, causing it to shatter against the wall. Victoria reached over and wrapped her arms around her daughter. She looked at her daughter with worry, before ranting.

"That stupid bitch! Alessia is getting smarter, if not, then you wouldn't have ended up like this! Do you think she knows that we are plotting against her? Did she do this on purpose?!"

Having calmed down a bit, Caterina rolled her eyes before replying to her mother,

"Didn't you see how she defended me to Grandfather? I would have had a much harsher punishment if she didn't say anything. She still thinks of me as a friend"

And Caterina was going to take advantage!