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Chapter 3

Author: September
Lorenzo did not return the money within twenty-four hours.

Late that night, Bianca sent me a contact request. The moment I accepted it, several photographs appeared.

In the first, she sat beside Lorenzo in the blue dress. The second showed two glasses of whiskey with the Vassari family’s Donna ring between them.

Beneath the last photograph, she had written:

Lorenzo says he’ll announce the latest scores tomorrow night. Guess whose hand the ring will end up on?

I did not reply. I forwarded the photographs and the bank transfer record to my attorney, then revoked Lorenzo’s emergency access to my private account.

The next morning, I went to the Vassari family’s private club.

The original marriage certificate and several personal legal documents were kept in the family safe. Since I had decided to leave, I intended to take everything that belonged to me.

The manager told me the safe required Lorenzo’s authorization. He was upstairs with several family members.

As I approached the private room, laughter drifted into the corridor.

“Bianca already has a perfect score. Are you really keeping the Donna competition open for another two months?”

“The rules were announced,” Lorenzo replied. “The process will continue.”

“Everyone knows Bianca will get the ring. What happens to Serena?”

“She’ll continue managing the family’s investments.”

“You expect her to stay?”

“Why wouldn’t she? She understands the banks, the ports, and the shipping companies. Keeping her inside the Vassari family benefits everyone.”

Another man lowered his voice.

“She still believes she’s Mrs. Vassari.”

My hand stopped on the door handle.

“The marriage license was never filed,” Lorenzo said.

The room went quiet.

“So the certificate was fake?”

“The seal and registration number were real. The attorney simply never submitted the final documents. I told her the record had been sealed so our enemies could not trace her through public files.”

“You lied to her for seven years?”

“At the time, I had not secured my position as heir.”

There was no guilt in his voice.

“Serena controlled capital and could persuade banks and port authorities to work with me. She stayed because she believed we were married.”

“And now?”

“Her abilities are still useful. But I will not give the Donna ring to a woman who makes me feel as though I am constantly being examined. Serena can manage the investments. Bianca is better suited to stand beside me.”

“What if Serena finds out?”

“She won’t.”

He laughed softly.

“She’s too proud. She would rather believe she lost to Bianca than question whether the marriage ever existed.”

I stood outside the door while the room seemed to recede around me.

Seven years earlier, Lorenzo had placed a ring on my finger in the family chapel. The Vassari attorney gave me a certificate bearing a notarized seal and registration number and assured me that the legal process was complete.

I believed them.

I lived as Lorenzo’s wife, carried his risks, and placed every resource I could reach behind him.

To Lorenzo, the marriage had only been a way to keep me useful.

I did not enter the room.

Back in the car, I sent the certificate number to my attorney. Less than ten minutes later, he confirmed there had never been a record of our marriage in Sicily’s civil registry.

The number on the certificate belonged to a canceled application. The Vassari attorney responsible had left Italy years ago.

Lorenzo and I had never been legally married.

I opened my encrypted email.

The first notice went to every bank, private fund, port authority, shipping company, and insurer working with the Vassari family. It stated that I had resigned as chief investment adviser and withdrawn every pending guarantee backed by my credit, capital, or professional relationships. Projects awaiting financing were to be suspended, and no transaction using my name remained authorized.

The second thing I did was send an email to every company that had ever worked with Lorenzo’s family.

From that moment on, Lorenzo and I had no connection whatsoever.

Every cooperation, investment, loan, shipment, and private guarantee made under my name was suspended immediately.

As the daughter of the Ricci family chairman, I had been taught one thing since childhood.

When a woman of my blood faced betrayal, she did not beg.

She withdrew her name, took back her protection, and let the traitor face the consequences alone.

Then I sent my father one message.

The marriage alliance can be announced.

His reply came almost immediately.

When are you coming home?

I looked at the sealed windows of the club’s second floor and turned off my phone.

Tonight.
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    Lorenzo did not return the money within twenty-four hours.Late that night, Bianca sent me a contact request. The moment I accepted it, several photographs appeared.In the first, she sat beside Lorenzo in the blue dress. The second showed two glasses of whiskey with the Vassari family’s Donna ring between them.Beneath the last photograph, she had written:Lorenzo says he’ll announce the latest scores tomorrow night. Guess whose hand the ring will end up on?I did not reply. I forwarded the photographs and the bank transfer record to my attorney, then revoked Lorenzo’s emergency access to my private account.The next morning, I went to the Vassari family’s private club.The original marriage certificate and several personal legal documents were kept in the family safe. Since I had decided to leave, I intended to take everything that belonged to me.The manager told me the safe required Lorenzo’s authorization. He was upstairs with several family members.As I approached the private ro

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