Chapter 4

Before my flight even began boarding, the same-day courier I'd hired had already delivered the package to Luca.

Not long after, Giulia sent me another video. In it, they opened the package with obvious disgust, pulling out each item and tossing it onto the table.

Several handwritten love letters Luca had written while he was courting me.

A pressed-leaf bookmark we'd made together from fall leaves we had collected during a trip to the countryside.

Photo albums I had carefully put together, filled with memories from every trip we'd taken over the past five years.

And the ring Luca had carved and polished by hand when we got engaged.

None of those things were particularly valuable. But every single one of them had once been proof that we had truly loved each other.

The most expensive item in the box was the designer handbag Luca had given me while we were dating.

Before returning it, I looked up its original retail price and placed the exact amount of cash inside.

I was returning everything to him, even the things that could never truly be repaid.

Dante picked up the stack of cash and burst out laughing.

"Wow. Talk about cheap." He gestured at the items scattered across the table. "She wraps up all this worthless junk like it's some priceless treasure and sends it back to us."

He sneered. "Does she think the Don is a garbage dump? Is she expecting him to clean up her trash for her?"

Giulia let out a mocking laugh. "You don't understand. This is just another one of her tricks.

"She wants Luca to see all this sentimental garbage and feel guilty about how badly she's supposedly been treated over the years."

Her smile turned cold. "Then she'll use that guilt to demand some outrageous compensation."

Luca sat silently on the couch, his fingers slowly tracing the edge of the photo album.

His expression was dark and troubled.

Then, suddenly, he interrupted Giulia. "What if she really does want to break up with me?"

Giulia froze for a moment before laughing even harder. "Luca, you're too close to this to see things clearly."

She shook her head. "Think about who she is. If she leaves you, she'll never get another chance to live this kind of life.

"She's already seen how the other half lives because of you. She's enjoyed your money, your status, and everything that comes with your name."

Giulia leaned closer, saying, "Do you really think she'd willingly give up her chance to become the Donna and marry some ordinary man instead?"

Her tone turned mocking. "Live paycheck to paycheck? Worry about rent, groceries, and bills every month? Raise a house full of poor kids?"

Giulia patted Luca on the shoulder. "Relax. It won't be long before she comes crawling back, begging you to marry her."

The video ended there.

At the same time, my phone rang. It was Luca's assistant.

"Signorina Bianco, the Don wants to know when you're planning to come back."

He paused, then added, "He also said that the properties he offered you last night are still on the table."

I didn't answer and hung up.

My phone vibrated again almost immediately.

This time, it was a message from the HR manager at my former company.

"Mira, the Don's men came by to look into your situation. Your resignation will probably be delivered to him soon."

He then asked, "I heard you and the Don broke up. Are you really sure about this?"

I typed my reply, "I'm sure."

Another message came through.

"Where are you planning to go now?"

I looked through the airport's windows at the runway outside. Then I calmly typed, "Somewhere he can't find me and can't control me."

I closed the chat.

An announcement came over the speakers. It was time to board.

I pulled my suitcase behind me as I made my way down the jet bridge and found my seat.

Before takeoff, I opened my conversation history with Luca.

I scrolled all the way back through five years of messages. Most of the time, it felt like I had been talking to myself.

"It's raining today. Don't forget your umbrella."

"What do you want for dinner? I'll go grocery shopping early."

"I passed a flower shop today and bought some lisianthus. I know you like them."

The same kind of messages filled page after page of our chat history.

His replies were few and far between. And when he did respond, they were usually nothing more than a cold "Okay" or "Got it".

I stared at those five years of one-sided devotion and felt nothing. My heart was completely still.

I typed my final message to him.

"Luca, love can wear away.

"You and your friends don't have to keep testing me anymore. Because I really don't love you anymore."

When the message went through, Luca called almost immediately.

I declined the call. Then I blocked him, Giulia, and every one of his friends.

Finally, I turned off my phone. And for the first time in five years, I felt completely free.

…

Meanwhile, in the private room at the nightclub, one of Luca's men, Leonardo, handed him a document.

"Don Luca, this is… Signorina Bianco's resignation letter."

Giulia immediately reached for it.

"Her resignation? She actually quit? Let's see what kind of stunt she's pulling this time—"

Before she could touch it, Luca snatched the letter away. His fingers tightened around the paper until it crumpled.

His eyes dropped to the message still displayed on his phone.

"I really don't love you anymore."

Then he looked down at the stamped resignation letter in his hand.

Slowly, the color drained from his face, and his expression turned grim.

For the first time, Luca understood that I hadn't been putting on an act and wasn't trying to scare him.

I was really leaving. And this time, I was gone for good.