Maria returned on Wednesday, one day before the challenge, though it wasn't really a challenge because Matteo would not return even if he somehow managed to win. My fear was Alessandro would kill him. Mr. Xavier wouldn't allow it or so I assured myself.

Maria looked like hell. The top half of her face was so badly bruised, it wasn't black eyes because it all blended with her nose and cheeks making her features hard to define. They had to put a plate in her cheek, but that scar was at ...