Gone in the Sea of Faces

Cesare Fontana was the most powerful Don in Navarino. My father, his most loyal subordinate, died six years ago after taking a bullet for him.

As the daughter of the man who saved his life, it was only natural that I entered his world. I was even granted the privilege of living with him.

At first, I never even dared to wish for our relationship to grow beyond that. Yet, everything changed after an ordinary family dinner.

Cesare got drunk and pulled me into his room. His lips pressed against mine fiercely. With a fiery passion, he claimed every inch of me. But once he put his clothes back on, he went back to being the cold, emotionless Don he usually was.

I thought what we did was simply one night of passion. Once it was over, everything would go back to the way it was. However, soon after that, Cesare rejected the marriage alliance his parents arranged for him.

I was there at the estate when it happened. I heard him coldly inform his father, "I don't need to resort to a marriage alliance to secure my power over Navarino. I will choose my own bride, and the only person who will be my Donna is Rosalia Valente!"

Thus, when he officially announced to the family elders that he wanted to marry me—and that I was the only wife he'd accept—I accepted his proposal without any hesitation.

All along, I thought that, as the Don, he was cold by nature, and no one could ever move him. I never imagined his heart could soften for someone else.

When he left an important meeting midway to rush to the airport, an uneasy feeling rose in my chest.

Then, he came back with a woman in his arms, her entire body drenched. His typically immaculate outfit was now completely soiled and disheveled.

Cesare was a clean freak. He couldn't stand even the slightest speck of dust.

I always kept every inch of the house spotless. I handwashed all of his clothes and folded them neatly before putting them away in a pristine closet.

Throughout our five years of marriage, not once did I ever let him feel any discomfort. But now, he had no qualms using the cuff of his clean sleeve to wipe that woman's dirt-stained face.

"Rosalia, prepare one of the guest bedrooms… On second thought, just tidy up your room instead. Sonia prefers a room with a balcony."

My heart slowly started sinking. Cesare had specifically reserved that room for me. He'd put in a lot of effort into renovating it back then.

Once, as we were making love, I asked him why he had gone to such lengths for me. Breathing heavily, he murmured into my ear, "You deserve the best things this world has to offer."

Those were the most moving and romantic words I'd ever heard.

But now, he was nonchalantly telling me to give that room to this woman, Sonia Moretti.

When Cesare noticed that I hadn't moved, the familiar coldness returned to his expression. "Don't make me repeat myself."

I hummed in acknowledgment, my head slightly bowed. I let my tears slide down my cheeks, dripping onto the white woolen carpet.

As I walked away, I heard Sonia chiding him reproachfully, "Even after all these years, you're still as fierce as ever. You need to learn to be more gentle. Don't scare people into tears, okay?"

Hearing Cesare's gentle response to Sonia broke my heart into a million pieces.

Before Sonia appeared, I could still deceive myself. I could tell myself that Cesare, the most powerful Don in Navarino, was just naturally domineering and unfeeling. I could be satisfied with just knowing that he'd made me his wife.

It was only now that I realized how laughable my assumptions were.

As I tidied up my room, I stuffed my belongings inside a suitcase and dumped it in one of the unoccupied guest bedrooms. It was just as well. I needed to pack up my things anyway. It was time for me to leave.

…

In the afternoon, I brought the paperwork I needed for the divorce to the courthouse in the city.

The clerk was so busy with his work that he didn't even look up when I entered. I had to call out to him to get his attention before saying, "I'm here to file for divorce."

At last, he looked at me. After preparing the necessary paperwork and handing it to me, he said with a serious expression, "Divorce is a major decision, signora. You need to think it through carefully."

I took a deep breath. Looking him in the eye, I said earnestly, "I've already given this a lot of thought. I've prepared all the required documents as well. I can sign the paperwork right away."

For a moment, he didn't speak. Eventually, he tapped on the form and said, "Fill in all the details and get it signed by both parties. Once the paperwork has been filed and approved, your marriage will officially come to an end."

Nodding, I filled in the paperwork and left the courthouse with it still unsigned.

My relationship with Cesare had been a mistake from the start, hadn't it?

Well, it was time to correct that mistake.