Chapter 2

I returned to the little apartment that belonged to me.

A stack of papers was still spread across the table—the strategic plan for Matthew’s business for the second half of the year, which I had spent an entire week preparing.

Channel expansion, networking, cash-flow schedules…

Every page was filled with notes I had written by hand, along with backup plans for every possible contingency.

I smiled faintly and fed the entire stack into the shredder.

When I was done, I opened my closet and packed my personal belongings and important documents into a suitcase.

Then I booked a flight back to Sicily.

As for Matthew, I had nothing left to say.Whatever had existed between us was over.

By the time I dragged my suitcase to the airport, the television screens in the departure hall were broadcasting the local news.

Matthew was wearing the dark-gray suit I had picked out for him.

With one arm around Lilith’s waist and their fingers intertwined, he smiled at the cameras.

Lilith leaned against him affectionately, her smile sweet and radiant.

“Matthew promised me the grandest wedding in the world,” she said. “He wants everyone to know that I’m the happiest bride in the world.”

That was the promise Matthew had made to Lilith.

Just like the promise he had once made to me.

He said he would give Lilith the best life and the brightest future.

Yet he seemed to have forgotten that I had secured his very first investment.

I had negotiated his very first business deal.

I had handled every difficult negotiation for him and written every single one of his business plans.

And now, I no longer intended to help him.

Sitting in the VIP lounge, I stared through the window at the planes taking off and landing outside.

And I found myself thinking back to the rainy night when I first met Matthew.

That was the year I experienced my first betrayal.

My best friend of twenty years had betrayed me.

She had invited me to Palermo to clear my head, only to secretly sell my information behind my back.

When my father had brought her before me, I had been completely stunned.

In the end, I executed her with my own hands.

Then I walked silently into the rain.

I sat alone by the river.

And then a black umbrella appeared above my head.

It was Matthew.

He had said, “I know this may be presumptuous, but may I sit with you for a while?”

His eyes had been so clear.

His expression had been so sincere.

That was the night I fell in love with him.

For him, I gave up everything.

I stayed quietly by his side, helping him climb higher, step by step, until I pushed him into a position of power.

Five years.

I thought we had both given each other our hearts.

I never imagined he could be this heartless.

Just then, my phone rang.

I glanced at the screen.

It was Matthew.

“Where are you?”

His tone had become firm.

“You must have seen the news by now. I promised Lilith the grandest wedding imaginable.”

“The finest dress and the best hotel—you need to arrange everything. Come on, sweetheart. You know I’m doing all this for our future.”

I listened to him and gave a soft laugh.

“Mr. Matthew, did you forget?”

“I already resigned.”

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then he sighed.

“Eve, are you still throwing a tantrum?”

“You know I have no foundation of my own. I need Lilith’s father’s help. Eve, just give me a little more time. I’ll give you everything you want.”

“You’ve always known how to put the bigger picture first, haven’t you?”

My voice remained calm.

“Mr. Matthew, I’m just a dispensable assistant.”

“How could an assistant like me possibly have access to the finest dress or the best hotel?”

“After all, you’re the one who can do anything in the business world now, aren’t you?”

There was silence on the other end for several seconds.

When Matthew spoke again, his voice had softened.

“Eve, I know you’re upset. But I’m still on my way up. Being with Lilith is the only way I can make the business more stable. If I announced that I was with you…”

Before he could finish, the airport announcement suddenly rang through the terminal.

Matthew immediately shouted, his voice filled with urgency,

“You’re at the airport? Where are you going ? ”