Chapter 2

Alessandro didn't come back that night.

Chloe's social media, however, was a constant stream of updates, giving me a clear view of their night.

She had secured the East River pier for the family. To celebrate, Alessandro took her to an underground casino, then booked a table at a private club in Manhattan.

The love he had for her, and the love he lacked for me, had never been clearer.

It would be a lie to say my heart didn't ache. But I would never again storm into his territory and cause a scene like I used to.

I was too tired. This relationship had left me utterly exhausted.

I walked into the bedroom and started to pack my art supplies and luggage.

This was supposed to be our room, but since we moved in, he was rarely home more than a few nights a month.

He always used the excuse of handling family business, but I knew that so-called family business was, more often than not, Chloe.

I wasn't an idiot. I had noticed his attention shifting for a long time.

So once, I brought him dinner at the casino, wanting to see for myself what kept him so busy.

I pushed open his office door and saw him and Chloe sitting behind the desk, watching an old movie, their shoulders touching.

In the middle of it, Chloe boldly kissed his neck. For a moment, his tone was stern. "Don't. I have a wife."

But a dark flush crept up his neck.

But when Chloe pressed close and murmured in his ear, "Capo, what's there to be afraid of? A little action on the side keeps things exciting. You know that better than anyone, don't you?"

Alessandro didn't hold back. The next second, he had her pressed against the desk, kissing her.

To this day, I still remember the framed photo of us sitting on the other side of that desk.

From that night on, he sank deeper and deeper into that thrill, each time more blatant than the last.

By the time I had packed everything into my suitcases, it was the middle of the night.

Alessandro still hadn't come home. I sighed, slipped the plain silver ring from my finger, and placed it on the vanity.

Alessandro and I had known and loved each other for seven whole years.

When he was at his lowest, his parents were taken out by a rival family, leaving him with a mountain of debt and enemies hunting him across the city.

I hid him in a leaky basement in the slums, dug a bullet out of his shoulder, cleaned and bandaged his wounds, and stayed with him through his darkest days.

He lay on an old mattress, burning with fever, clutching my hand and refusing to let go.

Back then, I painted portraits for a few dozen dollars a piece. I saved every dollar to pay off his debts and buy him guns and bandages.

All the while, I was sketching on the street in the heavy snow, not even allowing myself the luxury of a cheap cup of hot coffee.

In that old rental, he swore he would spend his entire life loving me.

I practically gave him my entire life. And when he clawed his way to the top with his own ruthlessness, becoming the Capo of his district, in charge of the family's casinos and money laundering operations.

Tens of millions of dollars passed through his hands each year.

Just when I thought I would soon be walking down the aisle, the first thing he did was betray me.

The next morning, Alessandro posted a photo of a sunrise over the sea on Instagram. The caption: [A beautiful sunrise today.]

Scrolling down, I saw Chloe's post.

The same sea, the same sunrise from a yacht, only her shot included Alessandro's back.

[No sunrise could ever be as beautiful as you.]

I let out a cold laugh. How sweet.

I dragged my suitcase to the entryway, my hand already on the doorknob, but I paused.

After a moment's thought, I turned around and headed toward the casino.

Before I left, I wanted one last look at the boy he once was. A final goodbye for my seven years of devotion.