Chapter 4

Over the next few days, the mansion became Isabella's stage. She sat by the window, saying, "Enzo, come be my model! I want to paint you."

Sunlight spilled across her canvas as she smiled up at Enzo. He put away the documents and walked over, gently ruffling her hair. "Of course. As long as it makes you happy."

He sat on the couch, patiently posing, his eyes full of an indulgence I had never seen before. It was a softness that came straight from his heart.

"Come take a walk with me in the garden, will you? The doctor said I need more exercise," she said, linking her arm with his and pouting playfully.

He smiled and rose, strolling out of the room with her. I stood by the window, bitterness in my chest as I watched them walking shoulder to shoulder.

Placing a hand over my belly, I whispered, "Now that your Papa's amore mio is back, Mamma will take you somewhere new and start over, tesoro."

Later, I heard Isabella in the kitchen, softly begging, "Cook for me, Enzo. Ti prego."

Enzo shook his head and rolled up his sleeves to start cooking.

I stood by the door, watching him, my heart tangled with conflicting emotions. I had once dreamed of cooking and living with him, but now those fantasies felt like nothing but smoke.

I had planned to stay invisible before leaving, to avoid disrupting them. Just then, a classmate delivered my visa documents, and Enzo happened to see them.

When he noticed the papers coming from a male classmate, he frowned and questioned, "What's your relationship with him? Why's he giving you things?"

"He's just a classmate and friend," I explained.

A bitter laugh escaped Enzo. "A classmate and friend? You'd better watch yourself, Bianca."

Before I could respond, he pulled me into his arms. Possessiveness radiated from him, the dangerous air of a mafia boss commanding the room. Then, he kissed me.

Just when I felt like I couldn't breathe, he bit my lip lightly and pulled away. "From the moment we're together, you shouldn't be making any more unnecessary friends."

I was taken aback. It felt like an invisible hand was gripping my chest, squeezing all the air out of me. Was this how it was? Was I a person with no freedom to have friends?

"I'm a person, too, Enzo. I have my own life and friends," I said, defending myself, albeit through a trembling voice.

He shot me an icy look. "Don't forget your place. Everything you have comes from me."

I forced back my tears, refusing to let them fall. I might've been just his amante, a possession, but things were about to change. I would shed these labels as soon as I walked away from him.

I was screaming deep inside, but on the surface, I stubbornly held back my already-flowing tears. Seeing my tear-filled expression, he softened his tone a little.

"I know you're upset about Isabella moving in, but she'll be gone tomorrow. And that set of jewelry you liked? I bought it. Tonight, you can wear it to my birthday party."

After saying that, he kissed my forehead as he always did, then turned and went back to the study to work.

Enzo's birthday party carried on as planned that night. I told them I wasn't feeling well and would arrive later. Before they departed, I watched them getting into the car hand in hand.

Listening to the car drive away, I dragged my long-packed suitcase and took one last look at the home that had once been mine. At last, I headed straight for the airport.

Before the plane took off, sunlight streamed through the window. My fingers trembled slightly as I took out my phone. I took a deep breath and sent him one final message. "This is the end of us, Enzo."

The moment I pressed send, it felt like my heart shattered along with it. I turned off my phone, cutting myself off completely from his world of lies and pain. I closed my eyes and let the tears fall without restraint this time.

At last, I shed the identity of being his lover and became myself again.