Chapter 2

Once I left Chicago, I had no intention of coming back.

So I listed my apartment for sale with a real estate agent.

I had bought it five years ago. I had chosen the place and overseen nearly every detail of the renovations myself.

Now that the wedding had been called off, I had no reason to keep it.

After signing the listing agreement, I returned to the bedroom and packed up Dante’s clothes, cuff links, and personal documents.

I handed everything over to the Russo family’s security detail and asked them to take it back to the estate.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

Bianca had posted a photo on Instagram.

She was sitting on a sofa at the Moretti estate with Dante’s suit jacket draped around her shoulders. Julian was handing her a glass of water while Dante watched over her from the other side.

The caption contained only one sentence.

[All clear. Everyone is safe.]

My finger accidentally brushed the screen, liking the post.

A second later, Bianca sent a voice message.

“Elena, I’m sorry. I kept telling Dante to go back, but every time he tried to leave, I remembered the day my parents were killed.”

“If you’re still angry, blame me. They were only worried about me.”

Dante replied immediately.

[None of this was your fault.]

Julian’s message followed.

[Elena has always been calmer than you. We’ll explain everything to her.]

Still, no one asked how I had endured those forty minutes alone at the altar.

A little while later, Dante sent me a photo of a slice of chestnut cake.

[I saved this for you last night.]

On our first date ten years ago, he had waited in line for two hours to buy me the last slice in the shop.

After that, he brought one home whenever we argued.

He thought the photo would make me soften and reach out first, just as I always had.

This time, I did not respond.

A few minutes later, he sent two more messages.

[I know you’re still angry. Take a few days to calm down, and then we’ll set a new wedding date.]

[I kept your ring safe. Next time, I’ll put it on your finger myself.]

He never asked whether I still wanted to marry him.

He simply assumed I would remain exactly where he had left me, waiting for him.

Then another message appeared.

[Bianca’s medication is still at the apartment. Bring it to the estate.]

I stared at the photo of the cake and suddenly laughed.

It had never been an apology.

It was merely the small gesture of reassurance he habitually offered before asking something of me.

I did not reply.

Half an hour later, the apartment door opened from the outside.

Dante and Julian walked in.

Dante stopped when he saw the suitcases in the living room. His expression immediately darkened.

“I told you to bring Bianca’s medication to the estate. Why didn’t you answer me?”

He strode toward me and planted one hand on the lid of my suitcase.

“The wedding was only postponed. Are you packing your things because you think threatening to leave will force me to apologize?”

So he had not rushed over because he was worried something might have happened to me.

He had come because I had failed to obey him and deliver Bianca’s medication.

Julian gave me a cold look.

“Is jealousy and sulking all you know how to do?”

“Bianca could barely breathe last night. All you care about is your wedding. Did it ever occur to you that she might actually have been in danger?”

I looked at my brother as something slowly tightened around my chest.

Before our mother died, she had held Julian’s hand and made him promise to take care of me.

But after Bianca moved into the Moretti estate, our mother’s dying wish gradually became something else.

I had to give in to Bianca.

I had to comfort her.

I had to share everything I owned with her.

Otherwise, I was the cruel older sister who bullied an orphan.

Dante sighed and placed the ring box in front of me.

“Rest for a few days. Once you’ve calmed down, we’ll reschedule the wedding.”

“You will be the Donna of the Russo family. You will be my wife. No one can take your place.”

There it was again.

Because he was certain my position would never change, my feelings could always be put off until later.

After they left, I went to see my attorney.

I signed two sets of documents.

The first returned the lakefront villa Dante had given me before our marriage and relinquished my beneficiary rights under the marriage trust the Russo family had established for me.

The second transferred my shares in Moretti Group to Julian and formalized my resignation from the family council.

I handed the villa keys, the family seal, and all the related documents to my attorney.

“Wait until I’m gone before delivering these to them.”

Dante called that evening.

“You sent all my clothes and personal belongings back to the estate. Are you trying to throw me out of your apartment?”

He paused, his voice still carrying that same condescending patience.

“Fine. I understand that you’re angry. We can live apart for a few days, but don’t take this too far.”

Julian gave a cold laugh in the background.

“She’s been like this since she was a child. The moment Bianca gets any attention, Elena has to make everyone else miserable.”

“You’ve already indulged her enough. She’ll come back on her own in a few days.”

They knew the woman I used to be so well.

That was why neither of them believed I would really leave.

I ended the call, left the family group chat, and closed my suitcase.

Then I emailed the research institute in London, informed them that I was pregnant, and asked whether it would affect my joining the project.

The project director called me less than three minutes later.

She congratulated me first. Then she explained that the institute would arrange a private physician, modify my laboratory duties, and provide full maternity leave protections.

“Your pregnancy will not affect our decision to hire you.”

“Miss Moretti, we look forward to welcoming you to London.”

My flight was leaving in twenty-four hours.