2

I crossed the cold marble floor one step at a time and walked out of the villa.

I couldn't even remember when the five families had moved their secret meetings to Tuscany.

All I remembered was that I'd wanted to go with Luca three times.

And every time, Luca had happily agreed.

But right before the first trip, Luca's mother, Rosa Caruso, had a sudden heart attack, and I had to stay behind to take care of her.

The second time, I was already in the car when word came that my brother had gone missing.

The third time, someone sent an anonymous tip about a Caruso family business we'd already made legitimate. Once again, I had to stay and clean up the mess.

Looking back, every one of those moments had been perfectly timed.

I got back to Palermo that same night.

"Mara, I need you to look into something for me."

Mara Greco and I grew up together. She was my right hand, the person I trusted most.

By four in the morning, Mara had found everything I needed, and I drove to the Caruso estate.

I'd lived there for six years.

But that morning, for the first time, the place felt so unfamiliar it scared me.

When I reached the study on the second floor, Rosa, my father, and my brother were all there.

They stopped talking the moment I pushed the door open.

They must have already heard from Luca.

I threw the files down in front of them.

"You all knew Luca had someone else, didn't you?"

My father was quiet for a moment before he finally spoke. "Yes."

"When did you find out?"

"Seven years ago."

Seven years.

His answer tore through what was left of my heart.

The whole way there, I'd kept telling myself that my father and brother had only kept quiet to spare my feelings.

It never crossed my mind that my father had known about Lia before Luca and I were even married.

I'd thought I still had my family, people who loved me.

That at least someone would take my side when everyone else was lying to me.

But it turned out they were in on it too.

"So for six years, you watched me handle Caruso family business for Luca. You watched me give up my own life for him, and you kept his secret anyway?"

My father and brother said nothing.

Rosa's voice was calm. "Lia and the boy don't change anything. You're still the Donna of the Caruso family.

"Salvatore will even call you Mom someday."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You think all I care about is my position?"

"Elena, you have to understand. You didn't marry Luca just for love."

My father stood up, and his voice turned hard. "You're the one who talked us into throwing in with the Caruso family. Whether Luca won was a matter of life and death for all of us.

"If a rival family had found out back then, they could have used it to weaken Luca. The alliance between our families could have fallen apart."

"So you covered for him?"

"I was protecting you."

I looked at him, and suddenly I laughed.

"Protecting me?"

I picked the files back up and flipped to the last page.

It was a prenuptial agreement.

"Then tell me why this agreement says, in black and white, that you'll make sure I never harm Lia Bianchi?"

My father didn't answer.

"Because you all knew from the start that Luca would never give her up."

I said it slowly, making sure every word landed.

"You weren't protecting me. You just needed me to stay Luca's wife and keep the alliance in one piece."

My father's face hardened.

"You're a Moretti. You should know better than anyone that we can't let feelings decide everything."

"Of course I know."

I nodded.

"That's exactly why I never doubted him, no matter where he was or how busy he got. For six years, I cleaned up his messes and kept his allies on his side. Even after we lost our baby, I was the one comforting him."

My voice finally started to shake. "And what about all of you?

"Every single one of you knew he had another woman out there. And a son.

"I was the only one who didn't know. You all treated me like a fool."

My father finally wavered.

"Elena, I know this is hard to accept right now. But you and Luca still care about each other, and he's never treated you badly."

I looked at him and suddenly felt more tired than I'd ever been.

"Whether he's treated me badly isn't for you to decide."

I turned and left the Caruso estate. Mara was still waiting for me out front.

"What are you going to do?"

I stopped.

"I'm divorcing Luca."

Mara frowned.

"But your marriage to Luca is an alliance between two families. The divorce papers have to carry both the Caruso seal and the Moretti seal.

"Neither Luca nor your father will ever agree to it."

She was right. They'd never agree. So I had no plans to tell them.

"When they bring the boy into the Caruso family, there'll be a mountain of paperwork to stamp.

"Luca's used to relying on me. All of it will end up on my desk.

"This time, I'll use their overconfidence to set myself free."