Chapter Three

Valentina’s POV

Marco pulled away from Serena, and it was almost comical. He looked at me, eyes searching for some sign of pain or anger, but I gave him nothing. I just drank my drink, my face as frozen as a lake. He detested it. I could see the frustration twitching at the corner of his mouth--he wanted me to fight, scream, be the pathetic girl begging for his attention. 

But that girl died the moment I walked out of that bar. “I’m tired of these stupid games,” Serena announced, her voice honey-sweet as she pulled a card from the bowl. "Oh, a dare! 'Kiss the man on your left.”

She turned and her eyes went to Alessio, a guy that was already half-drunk. She walked towards him, a smirk on her lips and for a second I thought it was hysterical. But Marco didn't think it was funny. He was going from zero to a hundred in a jiffy. He lunged, grabbing Serena's wrist in a grip that felt almost painful. 

"Game over," he barked, his voice echoing in the room. “Now we’re going away.”

He refused to look at me. Not a word of apology from him. Just yanked her to the door, and I was left standing in the middle of the room like a prop that had been dropped. There was a heavy, uncomfortable silence, full of pity. Every eye in the room was burning into me.

"Well," I said, turning to Bianca, trying to sound calm and bright. “The host is a bit testy today. Again, happy birthday Biance. I really must be going."

I went to the bathroom, took a minute to breathe. I pushed the door open and heard voices inside. 

“Honestly it’s just sad,” a girl was whispering. “Everyone knows he’s obsessed with Serena. Poor Valentina is just a placeholder until he can find a way to dispose of her. I still can't believe her own sister would do that to her though. Talk about cold-hearted."

"Who cares?" sneered a voice. “She’s always been easy. She'll be here as long as he allows. She has no other options.

I pressed myself against the wall’s cold tile and closed my eyes. They were right about one thing, we were most certainly on our way to a breakup. But they were wrong about all the rest. It wasn't that I had nowhere to go that kept me there. I’d been waiting for the moment when I could destroy the life I’d built on a lie. I was already halfway out the door. I didn't want him anymore.

The flat was like a tomb the next morning. Finally Marco staggered in, looking the worse for wear, with his shirt smudged in places that were definitely not the result of a night in bed. I didn't ask it. I was packing a suitcase.

 "What are you doing?" he asked, dropping his keys on the counter. He didn’t look surprised, just annoyed. “I’m going to visit my parents,” I said simply, folding a sweater.

His shoulders sagged with relief. He probably thought I'd run off and cry to my mom about him cheating. He never thought of me going home to get my life back. 

"Alright. Whatever. Need a lift?”

“No." I snapped the suitcase shut. Someone else is coming for me.

He didn't even care who it was. He just went to his room. Probably dreaming about how easy his life would be if I didn't ever ask him for his time. 

He muttered before he left, "I got you something. A party make-up present. It’s in the counter.”

I didn’t even look at it. He walked away and my phone vibrated. 

It was from Dante Ferraro. “The ring's here, Val. It’s waiting for you in the store. Looking forward to seeing you.”

I rushed to the jeweler. The ring was gorgeous, unique, and worth more than Marco’s entire yearly salary. The shop door chimed and I slid the ring on my finger, admiring the way the light bounced of the diamond.

Marco and Serena came in laughing. When they saw me they froze in place. Marco’s eyes dropped to my left hand and his face became a mask of pure, ugly rage.

“That’s an engagement ring, isn’t it?” he said, advancing towards me. “What are you doing? Trying to trap me into marriage? Be not a fool, Valentine. I would never marry you.You are not my equal.”

Serena giggled and moved closer to him. "Maybe she just wants to be special for once, Marco. It’s just really sad.”

I looked at them and felt a wave of real amusement. They were so small, so status-hungry and they hadn't the faintest idea who they were talking to. My family name, my legacy, was a level above anything the Santinis could ever dream of touching.

“Technically, Marco,” I said, my voice cold and steady as ice, “we’re still together. So she's the mistress. And you are the cheater here. I don't think you are in a position to talk about who is 'equal' to who."

Marco’s face was growing a dangerous red. He opened his mouth to yell, but nothing came out. He couldn't handle me not shaking. He couldn't take the fact that I didn't care. He grabbed Serena’s arm and bolted out, his ego obviously damaged beyond repair.

I looked back at the sales associate, who looked terrified to death. "Ignore them," I said softly. I pulled out my phone, took a quick shot of the ring and sent it to Dante. “It looks good on you,” he said a moment later. I watch the hours pass.

I left the shop and headed to a watch shop nearby. 

I had a present to buy for Dante, a thank you for being the only person who had actually treated me with respect while I was lost. I was at the counter, picking out a classic leather-strap watch, when a voice rang out. 

"Valentina? Is that you?”