Chapter 2

Valentina's POV

Enzo's reply came almost instantaneously, and his words conveyed a sense of elation.

"I'm so happy to hear that! We'll begin preparations for the new private auction house immediately. You'll be the head curator.

"However, we'll need you to go offshore and remain at a closed base for six months during the early stages of preparation, so make sure you take care of everything on your end before that."

I gripped my phone tightly, my fingers trembling a little.

Spending six months at sea, cut off from the outside world, meant I'd be severing all ties with Antonio—and with Carlotta and my parents, who were still standing near me.

I turned around and faced the three of them.

"My relationship with Antonio ends here. I'm calling off the engagement."

The moment I said those words, Dad looked outraged. He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. Caught off guard, I was knocked sideways by the blow. I staggered back several steps, my cheek burning painfully.

Carlotta looked furious as well. "To think that I've been treating you like my best friend this whole time, and this is how you choose to repay me—by maliciously accusing me of using Don Antonio to gain access to the luxury goods business!

"My business success is the result of my own hard work and efforts! I'm not like you, who willfully throws a tantrum and ruins an engagement party. No one would ever be able to put up with your temper!"

Mom stormed up to me as well, looking rather agitated. Her voice was shrill and harsh as she screamed, "I might as well have never raised you! How is Don Antonio not the reason why you have everything that you do right now?

"Your father and I have done everything that we can for you. All we want is for you to marry Don Antonio, but now, you're telling me that you're going to walk away from the relationship just like that?

"It's not just our family business—even your younger brother's overseas trade network depends on Don Antonio! If you call it quits now, you'll be destroying our entire family's future! Get that ridiculous idea out of your head right this instant and apologize to Don Antonio for making a huge mistake!"

I had to clutch the edge of the stage to steady myself. My heart felt numb and cold.

As I stared at the three emotional people yelling at me, I felt nothing but bitter irony.

I didn't bother arguing with them. I simply hailed a cab and returned to the hillside villa where Antonio and I lived together. They probably assumed I was leaving to apologize to Antonio and patch things up with him, so they didn't stop me.

I carefully packed up every piece of jewelry and luxury item Antonio had given me. Then I packed all of my personal belongings as well. I planned to return everything to him and move out at dawn.

Late at night, I finally heard the sound of a key turning in the lock of the front door.

Antonio was back.

He saw the neatly packed boxes and suitcase by the front door before catching sight of the distinct red handprint on my cheek.

Pausing in his tracks, he used his hand to gently caress my swollen cheek, his eyes flickering with barely noticeable heartache. His voice softened, but it carried his usual air of patronizing magnanimity.

"I heard what happened at the ballroom. It's my bad that I had to leave the engagement party without completing it first to deal with the family emergency. I won't hold today's argument against you. Once you've calmed down, we can plan another engagement party, okay?

"I'll make more time for you from now on. I won't let you suffer alone again."

"That won't be necessary." I jerked my head away to avoid his touch, my tone even. "Let's break up, Antonio."

The atmosphere in the living room froze at once.

Exhaustion and displeasure filled Antonio's eyes. He fixed his gaze on me and sneered. "You want to break up with me? You're going to end our five-year relationship over a bunch of old photos?"

I nodded slowly, my gaze unwavering. "Yes. We're not married anyway. Nothing is binding us together."

Antonio stared at me, his eyes filled with bewilderment. But more than that, it held his unshakable conviction.

We'd had countless arguments over the past five years, and I was always the one to compromise and make amends in the end. He didn't think for even a second that I would ever truly leave him.

After a short pause, he scoffed and said indifferently, "If you want to keep this up, fine. No matter how bad our fights got, you were always the one to come crawling back to me anyway.

"You can stay here tonight and take all the time you need to cool off. I still have family matters to attend to."

With that, Antonio turned around and walked out of the villa without sparing me another glance.

As I watched him leave, the last flicker of hope in my heart died out.