Chapter 4

The original draft I handed over to Vincenzo was perfectly fine. The signal codes were changed after the documents reached Siena.

Filippo personally came over and told me, "Donna Ricci, the investigation has been completed. You didn't write the signal codes wrong."

I flipped through two pages, then asked, "What about the old warehouses?"

"The verification had been called off, and Don Ricci had also ordered everyone to put everything back where it belonged."

I nodded and closed the file.

That afternoon, I went to the headquarters. Marcello's matter still hadn't been fully settled. I'd promised him I'd deliver the last few documents before I left.

When the elevator doors opened, I heard voices at the end of the hallway.

"So what if she didn't get the signal codes wrong? Everyone knows she's incompetent. She doesn't deserve to be Donna!"

"Siena's been the one helping Don Ricci handle the Famiglia's affairs all these years. If Donna Ricci had to go on a mission herself, would she even know what to do?"

Someone laughed. "Yeah! It's normal for Don Ricci to defend his wife, but if you're going to hold that position, you have to earn people's respect."

Their voices weren't loud. But this time, I was ready to confront them.

But before I could, Vincenzo stepped in first.

The meeting room door suddenly opened, and he stood in the doorway. The men who had been gossiping fell silent and froze in place. He looked at them and said, "Go on."

No one dared say anything as Vincenzo walked in slowly. "Did my presence spoil everyone's fun?"

One of them lowered his head. "Don Ricci, we were just chatting."

"I just remind you of something, then." There was a hint of anger in Vincenzo's voice. "I'm the only one who gets to say whether Melisenda deserves to be Donna. As Donna and my wife, she has the right to punish you guys."

The man's face paled.

Vincenzo continued, "If I ever hear you guys talking shit like this again, I'll decide whether you live or die on her behalf."

Cold sweat rolled down the men's backs, and they scrambled away as soon as Vincenzo dismissed them.

Vincenzo turned around and saw me.

Now that he was finally standing up for me, my heart was eerily calm. I flatly asked, "Have you ever investigated who started saying all these things?"

He paused. "I did."

"Who was it?"

"Siena's confidants."

I nodded. "How do you plan to deal with them?"

Vincenzo frowned. "I've warned those people just now."

"I'm talking about Siena's confidants."

"Melisenda." Vincenzo sighed. "I've looked into what went down with the signal codes. Everyone knows it's not your fault. There's no need to push out every single one of Siena's men now."

I looked at him. "So you're just going to leave it at that?"

"I've already made it clear to everyone where I stand." Vincenzo took hold of my wrist. "Tesoro, that's enough."

I looked down at his hand. I'd been hearing those words for seven years. Every other time I'd heard them, I'd argued with him, determined to make him understand why I felt hurt.

But this time, I simply slipped my hand out of his. "Okay."

After I passed Marcello's document to Filippo, I returned to the manor.

At 6:00 pm, the car arrived at the entrance. The butler asked in surprise when he saw my luggage. "Donna Ricci, where are you going?"

"To the airport."

"Does Don Ricci know about this?"

I removed my wedding ring and tossed it aside. It landed on the console table in the foyer with a clear clink. The divorce agreement that Vincenzo had already signed lay beside it.

"He'll know when he comes back."

By the time the car left the manor, the sky was already growing dark.

As the airport announcement urged passengers to board, my phone suddenly started vibrating nonstop.

It was Vincenzo.

I smirked, let out a cold laugh, and blocked his number.