Chapter 1

Lia's POV

At dusk, the roar of a car engine sounded at the estate's front gate.

Out of habit, I put on the composed smile I had practiced countless times and stepped forward to take Luca Vito's coat. Then my gaze swept past him and landed on Ella Larsen, who was walking right at his side.

"Welcome, Ms. Larsen."

I pushed down the emotions churning inside me and kept my poise, signaling for a maid to bring over a pair of slippers.

Ella didn't even look at me. She walked barefoot into the living room.

"Luca, I'm not used to disposable slippers. Since we'll be working together from now on, could you keep a pair here for me?"

Then came Luca's lazy reply. "Lia, did you hear that? Get a guest room ready for Ella. She needs to rest here for a while."

Ella's appraising gaze settled on me, and a wave of humiliation washed over me.

Everyone knew Luca treated me like a treasure. He was always acting as if he were afraid I might get bumped or bruised.

But now, Ella's eyes seemed to mock me: 'Treasure? You're nothing but a servant.'

She had a point. Ella was the CFO Luca had poached for a fortune, a formidable, no-nonsense businesswoman.

How could a lowly assistant like me ever compare?

I put the thought away and, like a dutiful partner, carried the shirt he had casually tossed aside to the washing machine.

It was the same one he had worn yesterday, except now there was a lipstick mark on the collar.

Ella noticed me stiffen and came over to explain on her own.

"So... Lia, is it? I'm not used to high heels, so I twisted my ankle by accident. Luckily, Luca caught me. If you've gotten the wrong idea, you're welcome to check the office security footage."

I forced down the unease in my heart and shook my head. "You've been fighting your way through the business world abroad all on your own for so long. As your boss, it's only right that Luca looks out for you."

The moment I finished, Luca shot me a surprised look.

"I'm glad you understand. I was worried you'd be like before, wanting me to report every little thing and throwing a tantrum. Lia, you've grown up a lot."

I kept a calm, gracious smile on my face.

But my fingers were clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white, and a numbing ache spread across my palms.

So this was it. Now that I no longer asked questions or threw tantrums, he simply thought I had matured.

I lowered my eyes to hide the bitterness welling up in them.

In my head, I was already running through my packing list for Serevast.

As I stepped back, my foot slipped and I twisted my ankle badly.

"Ah... Luca."

I cried out and instinctively reached for his comfort.

But the Luca who would normally have scooped me up and soothed me gently wasn't paying attention to me at all.

He was absorbed in the report in Ella's hands. Only when I called his name again did he snap out of it. "Lia, what's wrong?"

He had barely taken a step toward me when Ella reached out and caught his sleeve.

"Luca, our overseas partner just sent an urgent encrypted message. There are core terms that need to be confirmed right away. It can't wait."

Luca hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Be good and wait for me at home. I'll come back early tonight to keep you company. How about I bring you your favorite maple-glazed salmon?"

With that, he hurried out of the estate with Ella.

The instant the front door closed, I looked up and met Ella's mocking gaze.

I remembered what I had once told Luca.

If another woman ever came into his life, I would never cling to him.