CHAPTER 170: Onlooker

Every time Alice was seen with Felix, I somehow ended up being blamed. I was the one who bore the brunt of my mother’s anger, and Felix knew it well.

But now, the time had finally come. I was leaving him. The fifth year of our marriage was coming to an end. My brother had invited me out, knowing what this milestone meant for both of us.

With each passing year, the thought of staying had become increasingly unbearable.

I met Mateo at a quiet restaurant tucked away from the city noise.

“How are you?” he asked as the server set two glasses of dark red wine on the table.

I met his gaze directly. Though Mateo and I spoke regularly, I had always deflected questions about my well-being. But this afternoon, for the first time, I decided to confront his concern head-on.

“What do you think, Mateo?”

“Gianna…” he murmured, guilt written all over his face.

I leaned back in my chair, swirling the wine in my glass. “Why did you want to meet? To check on your broken sister?”

“No... I just fee