4

That night, Luca came to my room.

He'd brought a diamond necklace. He said it was to make up for everything he'd put me through the past few days.

I looked at the necklace in its box and thought of the diamond bracelet on Lia's wrist.

Same design. Just as extravagant.

Mine had simply cost a little more.

As if Luca thought that as long as my gift was better than hers, I ought to be satisfied.

"Do you like it?"

He wrapped his arms around me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder.

"I remember how much you love sparkly things."

I looked at the two of us in the mirror.

"Does Lia love them too?"

He went still for a second.

"She doesn't matter."

I didn't say anything.

Luca sighed.

"Elena, stop dwelling on this."

He put the necklace back in its box, then turned me around to face him.

"I know this has been hard on you, but I've done everything I can to make it right. No one is going to threaten your place in the Caruso family."

He stroked my cheek.

"You're still my wife. No one can replace you."

I looked at him.

"Then do you love me?"

He clearly hadn't expected me to ask that out of nowhere.

After a short silence, he leaned down and kissed my forehead.

"Of course."

"How much?"

That was when he finally frowned.

"Elena, we're not teenagers anymore. We don't have to say 'I love you' every day."

I nodded.

"I understand."

I turned and closed the jewelry box.

Luca seemed satisfied at last.

He held me from behind again, and his voice went soft.

"Once things settle down with Salvatore, we'll go to Lake Como.

"This time, I won't let you down."

I stared out the window into the pitch-black night.

Six years ago, he'd said something like that too.

Six years later, he still thought one more promise would keep me waiting.

I closed my eyes.

"Okay."

The next day, I called the Caruso family lawyers. I reviewed the support agreement and arranged a private security team for Salvatore.

I checked every document carefully.

I confirmed every arrangement myself.

I even wrote Luca's public statement formally introducing Salvatore to the top members of the five families.

Luca was used to leaving all this to me.

He trusted that I'd never let a single arrangement hurt his interests.

This time was no different.

The next afternoon, I brought every document that needed his signature to his private office.

The thick stack came in two parts.

The first part was the declaration recognizing Salvatore Caruso as Luca's son, plus the plans for his schooling and security.

The second part was Lia's support agreement, along with the terms that spelled out exactly where her rights in the Caruso family ended.

I'd tucked the last document at the very bottom, with only the spot for the seal showing.

He came over to the desk and flipped through a few pages. When he saw how tired I looked, guilt crossed his face.

"Thank you, Elena."

For once, there was real gratitude in his voice.

But I felt nothing.

Then he picked up his pen and started signing and stamping wherever it was needed.

One after another.

I sat quietly across from him. I didn't hurry him, and I didn't point anything out.

I just waited until the Caruso family seal came down on the very last page.

Luca had finally stamped the seal that set me free. He'd done it himself.

He set the Caruso seal back on the desk and reached for my hand.

"There," he said. "When this is over, we'll go to Lake Como. We won't bring anyone. It'll just be us, living a life that's only ours."

I looked up.

"What about Lia and Salvatore?"

Luca's smile faltered for a second.

"Right. Salvatore's still little. I can't be away from him for long right now."

I nodded.

"Then we'll wait a little longer."

He smiled, pleased.

"I knew you'd understand."

He didn't notice that I'd already slipped the documents into my own briefcase.

He didn't notice that, for the first time, I didn't tell him to be safe when he left.

Because this time, I wasn't going to wait for him.

At nine that night, I left the Caruso estate.

Mara was already waiting in the parking lot.

She opened the car door for me, and her eyes went to the envelope in my hand.

"Did he sign?"

I nodded.

"All done."

Getting my family's seal hadn't been hard. I'd stamped it before I ever put the papers in front of Luca.

Mara let out a long breath.

As the car pulled away from the estate, I didn't look back.

For six years, I'd believed I'd married the man who loved me most in the world.

Only now could I admit the truth.

Maybe he did love me.

But he'd never put me first the way I always put him first.

And I didn't want to spend the rest of my life proving I deserved to be loved.

The next morning, Luca walked into the bedroom carrying a bouquet of my favorite lilies of the valley. He looked more relaxed than he had in a long time.

"Elena?"

No one answered.

The first thing he noticed was the bed, perfectly made. Then he saw the wedding ring on the vanity.

Under the ring lay a copy of the divorce agreement.

On the last page was the Caruso family seal. He'd stamped it himself.

Luca froze. The lilies of the valley, still wet with dew, slipped from his hand to the floor.