Chapter 1

Early the next morning, I had the servants bring several empty boxes to my room.

Since I had already decided to leave, I needed to clear out everything in the estate that belonged to me.

Over the past seven years, Jonathan had given me far too many things.

Jewelry, gowns, watches, and a gift for every wedding anniversary.

I packed away the things I had bought for myself. I had the servants take everything else to my sister Leonora’s room.

The butler froze.

“Mrs. Alberti, these were all gifts from Mr. Alberti.”

“I know.”

“Then why…”

I snapped the last jewelry box shut.

“I won’t need them anymore.”

Within a week, Adele Vitale would die in an accident.

And dead women had no use for jewelry.

At noon, I went to the guesthouse where Leonora was staying.

Her six-year-old son, Anthony, was sitting on the terrace playing with a model car.

Jonathan had ordered it delivered overnight.

The moment I approached, the boy grabbed the car, stood up, and glared at me warily.

“What are you doing here?”

I stopped.

“I brought some things for your mother.”

He glanced at the boxes in the servants’ hands and curled his lip.

“Mom doesn’t want your things. They were supposed to be hers anyway.”

The courtyard went silent.

Leonora’s maid immediately lowered her head.

I looked at Anthony.

“Who told you that?”

“Aunt Lucia.”

Anthony pointed at the maid.

“She said if Mom hadn’t left seven years ago, this estate would belong to her, and Uncle Jonathan would belong to her too.”

Lucia’s expression shifted, and she hurriedly waved her hands.

“He’s only a child. He was just repeating nonsense.”

Before I could respond, a man’s low voice came from behind me.

“Adele.”

Jonathan was walking toward us from the other end of the corridor.

Anthony immediately brightened and ran toward him, clutching the model car.

“Uncle Jonathan!”

Jonathan lowered his head and ruffled the boy’s hair before looking at me.

“What happened?”

Lucia spoke before I could.

“Anthony upset Mrs. Alberti. She was asking who taught him to say those things.”

Jonathan frowned slightly.

“Anthony is only six.”

I smiled.

“I know.”

“Then why are you taking a child’s words so seriously?”

It was the same familiar tone.

For the past seven years, whenever I caused trouble, he would frown and scold me like this before cleaning up the mess for me.

But today, the words suddenly stung.

I lowered my eyes and didn’t explain.

“It won’t happen again.”

Jonathan glanced at me, seemingly surprised that I had let the matter go so easily.

Just then, a servant carried in the last box, and Leonora stepped out of her room.

She froze when she saw the table covered in jewelry.

“These are…”

“For you.”

I casually opened the nearest box.

Inside was a sapphire necklace.

Jonathan had bought it at auction last year.

Leonora’s expression changed immediately.

“Adele, I can’t take these.”

“Why not?”

“Jonathan gave them to you.”

Her eyes gradually reddened.

“I know what you mean. You’re trying to remind me that for the past seven years, you were his wife, and you were the only one worthy of being treated so well by him. Isn’t that it?”

I hadn’t even had the chance to deny it when Jonathan’s expression darkened.

“Adele, Leonora’s husband is dead, and her own family refuses to take her back. Do you really have to bring these things here just to rub it in her face?”

So that was what he thought.

I looked down at the jewelry.

Every gift Jonathan had given me over the past seven years had suddenly become, in his eyes, nothing more than trophies I was using to flaunt my victory.

Hurt tightened my chest as my fingers curled into the fabric of my dress.

“Jonathan, that wasn’t what I meant.”

“Then take them back.”

“I don’t want them.”

His frown deepened.

“Why are you acting like this again?”

“Then just assume I’m being difficult.”

Leonora immediately walked over.

“Jonathan, don’t blame her.”

She took my hand.

“Adele probably just isn’t used to having me back yet.”

Then she turned slightly and gave Anthony a meaningful look.

The boy caught on immediately. He took Jonathan’s hand and begged him to go play with him in the back garden.

After the two of them left, my sister pulled me down beside her.

“Actually, I’ve always been grateful to you for what you did.”

“If you hadn’t married him in my place, I don’t even know what would have happened at that wedding seven years ago.”

She smiled gently.

“Jonathan needed someone by his side to take care of him.”

“I’m glad it was you. If it had been anyone else, I don’t think I could have spent all these years away without worrying.”

It sounded like a compliment.

And yet, for some reason, my chest felt unbearably tight.

I had married him in her place.

Taken care of Jonathan in her place.

As though my entire seven-year marriage had been nothing more than keeping something safe for her.

Now that its rightful owner had returned, of course it was time to give it back.

Leonora linked her arm affectionately through mine.

“We’re sisters. Let’s forget everything that happened before.”

“From now on, can we go back to the way we were when we were little?”

I looked into her smiling eyes.

A moment later, I smiled too.

“Sure.”

After all, by next week, I would give her everything back—Jonathan and the title of Mrs. Alberti included.