Chapter 3

On the sixth day, the Vitales hosted a charity gala, and I attended as the "divorced-but-still-friends" ex-wife.

Joanna walked in, arm linked with Erico, basking in the attention of everyone. She was the star of the evening.

"Nina!"

She walked up to me with a flute of champagne in her hand. "How's the old apartment you moved into? It's so brave of you. I hear old places like that are often haunted."

"The ghosts of the Livignis would only protect their own," I said calmly.

Her smile froze for a split second before growing even brighter. "Erico, listen to how funny Nina is!"

Erico walked over, his hand naturally settling around Joanna's waist.

"Having fun?" he asked.

"So-so," I replied.

"That's good."

He then leaned in close, his voice dropping low. "Senator Malfieri is over there. He has old ties with the Rosettis. I need to bring Joanna over to say hello. Entertain yourself for a bit?"

I gave a soft hum in response.

As they walked off, Joanna glanced back at me. Her eyes were openly taunting, like the look a victor gave the loser.

My hands started trembling. The champagne flute shook violently between my fingers. I needed to find somewhere to sit.

"Nina, your hand!" Joanna suddenly cried out, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Mamma mia! Are you having a seizure or something?"

All eyes turned toward me. The glass slipped from my shaking hand and shattered on the marble floor, causing shards and liquid to spray everywhere. I also bumped into the dessert table next to me, and delicate cakes and the chocolate tower all came crashing to the floor.

Laughter and whispers erupted around the room.

"The Livignis' daughter… Poor thing…"

"Ever since that massacre, she's been…"

"Erico's really been very generous, taking care of her all these years…"

Erico's face darkened. He strode over, but not to me. Instead, he told a nearby server, "Take her to the private room to change."

"Erico," I called.

He stopped, but he didn't turn to look at me. "Go change, Nina. Don't make this any worse."

Joanna slipped her arm through his, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear. Both of them laughed.

I was the only one in the entire hall not smiling.

…

On the ninth day, I texted Erico.

"Tonight, 8:00 pm at the old apartment. We need to talk."

"Okay," he replied.

At 7:30 pm, I got a simple dinner ready. 8:00 pm came, but no Erico. At 8:30 pm, my phone lit up. It was a photo from Joanna, showing Erico drunkenly passed out on a hotel bed, shirt half undone.

"He's tired, and we're about to rest. Know your place, and go somewhere where we don't have to see you, okay?"

I stared at Erico's sleeping profile in the photo, at Joanna's lipstick print on the pillow, and at the trail of discarded clothes on the floor.

My hands didn't shake. In fact, I was unnervingly calm. I deleted the photo and blocked Joanna's number.

She was right. I should know my place and stop bothering them.

At 11:00 pm, the doorknob turned. Erico walked in, tie loose and eyes glossy.

"Nina?"

He spotted my suitcase and frowned. "Where are you going?"

"Away," I said.

He chuckled, staggering forward to pull me into a hug.

"Don't make a fuss… I had too much to drink tonight. Joanna's father finally relented, and the docks will be mine soon…" he said, his breath warm against my neck. "Just hold on a little longer, honey. Everything will go back to normal soon."

"It won't," I replied, pushing him away. "Erico, we're done."

He arched an eyebrow. "Because of Joanna? I told you. She's just—"

"Because you don't respect me," I cut him off. "Because you think I can be shelved indefinitely, used, and humiliated, just because the Livignis are gone, and I have no one else to depend on but you. Because when my hands shake, you ignore it. And when I'm mocked, you stand with the people laughing at me."

He stared at me. The drunken haze in his eyes cleared slowly, replaced by something cold and hard.

"So, you're really going to leave the Vitale family?" he asked. "Do you know what that means? Without my protection, those who want the Livigni line wiped out for good—"

"Let them come," I cut in, zipping my suitcase. "At least I'll die standing. At least I won't be living on my knees."

We stared at each other in silence.

Finally, Erico laughed—mocking and indignant. "You won't get far, Nina. Without me, you have nothing."

"Alright," I said, dragging the suitcase. "We'll just see, then."