Chapter 7

After Sofia moved in, I became the least necessary person in my own home.

At breakfast, the staff asked what she wanted first.

Guards accompanied her through the gardens.

Luca moved meetings to the estate because she said being alone reminded her of the warehouse.

Sometimes, when I came downstairs, he would ask how I felt.

Before I could answer, she would take his hand and complain of some new discomfort.

Eventually, I stopped trying.

One afternoon, she blocked me at the top of the stairs.

Luca was out.

She didn’t bother smiling.

“You really can take a lot.”

I tried to move past her.

She extended her arm.

“The baby will have the Vito name.”

“That’s between you and Luca.”

“And a place in the family trust.” She watched my face. “Not some allowance to make us disappear. A real future.”

My hand tightened around my glass.

This had never been only about making me carry her shame.

She wanted my marriage, my position, and everything that should have belonged to my child.

She leaned closer.

“Your baby will never have any of it.”

I met her eyes.

“Are you finished?”

Her satisfaction faltered.

“You don’t get to act better than me. Not anymore.”

“Move.”

As I stepped around her, she shoved my arm.

My foot slipped.

The glass shattered.

My head struck the banister.

Then everything went dark.

When I woke, I was in the hospital again.

Luca stood beside the bed.

“Why did you push Sofia?”

For several seconds, I didn’t understand.

“What?”

“She’s pregnant. Do you have any idea what could have happened?”

My head throbbed.

I touched the bandage.

“I’m the one in a hospital bed.”

“She says you pushed her and lost your balance.”

“So you believed her?”

He didn’t answer.

I studied him.

This was a man who could recognize a concealed threat across a conference table.

He simply wouldn’t use that judgment for me.

Or perhaps he saw enough and preferred her version.

“Get out.”

“You need to calm down.”

“Get out.”

His face hardened.

“Think about what you’ve done.”

The door slammed behind him.

I stared at the ceiling as tears slipped into my hair.

This time, it barely hurt.

I was just tired of how long leaving took.

The day I was discharged, my lawyer called.

The final documents had been issued.

Standing outside the hospital, I listened without speaking.

“Elena?”

“I’m here.”

Sunlight stung my eyes.

“I’ll come now.”

When I left his office, the divorce decree and completed financial documents were in my bag.

I was no longer Luca Vito’s wife.

Back at the estate, I took out my suitcase.

Everything that was truly mine fit inside it.

I was coming downstairs when Luca walked in.

“You just got out of the hospital. More donations?”

I didn’t explain.

He placed an invitation on the entrance table.

“It’s Sofia’s birthday. She isn’t holding the stairs against you. Bring a gift and come tonight.”

I looked at the gold lettering.

The party was at the Vitos’ private club.

Perhaps he would promise her child a future in front of everyone.

His phone rang.

“Luca, where are you? Everyone’s waiting.”

“I’m coming.”

He picked up his keys.

“I’ll go ahead. Finish whatever you’re doing and come over.”

At the door, he added, “Don’t forget the gift. Don’t embarrass her.”

I smiled.

“I won’t forget.”

After he left, I found a gift box.

First, I put in the divorce documents.

Then the confirmation of my termination.

Finally, my wedding ring.

I gave the box to a driver taking supplies to the club.

“Give this to Luca. Tell him it’s the gift he asked me to prepare.”

I held his gaze.

“Ask him to open it in front of everyone.”

When he left, I picked up my suitcase.

The housekeeper waited by the door.

“When will you be back?”

I looked once at the house where I had expected to grow old.

Sofia’s favorite flowers stood by the window.

“I won’t.”

Outside, my car was waiting.

I got into the back.

For once, no one needed me to give up my seat.

The door closed.

I didn’t look back.