Chapter 4

I crouched alone in the walk-in closet and packed my luggage.

As I folded the last coat, I suddenly felt something hard in its pocket. I pulled it out and found a ring made from a polished bullet casing.

Back then, Marco had gotten down on one knee to confess his love to me. Overcome with emotion, he had slipped it onto my finger. He had promised to love me for the rest of his life, to have children with me, and to never leave me.

In a daze, I remembered the day Marco had just secured his position as the Don and bought this villa.

He had looked at me with a glimmer in his eyes. "Alessia, we finally have a home."

A dull ache throbbed in my chest.

Everything we had built and secured with our hearts back then only seemed glaring and unnecessary now.

Without hesitation, I threw the ring into the trash.

After packing my luggage, I opened my phone and messaged Marco. "We need to talk."

But my message never got a response.

Marco probably thought I would just behave like my usual self. He assumed I would throw a tantrum until I was done. When I got tired, I would swallow my pride and come crawling back to him.

He had no idea that I no longer had the time or the energy to keep dragging this out.

It wasn't until the next morning that Marco finally replied. "Come to Grande Villa. We'll talk things through in person."

My fingers paused for a moment. But in the end, I went to the villa.

If he was willing to end things sooner rather than later, that would be better for everyone.

I parked outside the gate and went up to ring the doorbell. But the person who opened the door was Valeria, who was dressed in a spaghetti-strap dress.

She wasn't surprised to see me at all. Instead, she smiled smugly.

"Since you're here, come on in. Marco is having breakfast with Lucia. I'll go get him."

She acted as if she were the rightful lady of the house.

Marco and Lionello came out from inside.

The moment Marco saw me, he frowned hard and asked, "How did you find this place?"

His tone was one of annoyance, as if I were an unwelcome intruder who had shown up without being invited.

Confused by his reaction, I looked at him and said, "Marco, weren't you the one who asked me to come..."

Before I could finish, Lionello also started voicing his dissatisfaction. "Mama, you being here will disturb Valeria and Lucia. Go home."

I'd thought I would feel nothing, but a sharp pain still stabbed through my heart.

"Seriously, Alessia? How could you secretly follow them and find your way here?" Valeria asked.

Seeing the smug look in her eyes, I immediately realized what had happened.

I stepped forward and grabbed Valeria by the wrist. "You used Marco's phone to message me! It was you, wasn't it?"

Valeria's eyes reddened pitifully, and she spoke in a wounded voice. "It wasn't me, Alessia. What happened? You've misunderstood me."

"It was you! Stop pretending!" I bellowed.

Just as I was about to confront her, a little girl ran out.

It was Lucia, Marco and Valeria's daughter.

She ran straight up to Lionello and shoved him hard. He lost his balance and stumbled to the ground. As a result, patches of red appeared on his elbow from the fall.

Lucia scolded shrilly, "It's all your fault for not keeping your mama in check! You let her come here and bully my mama!"

She planted her hands on her hips before turning to glare at me arrogantly. "Get out of my house! This is no place for you!"

The anger I had been holding back instantly shattered the last of my restraint. No matter how disappointed I was, Lionello was still my own flesh and blood.

How could I let someone else hurt him?

Besides, I was the wife. Why should I be afraid of the mistress?

I looked coldly at Lucia and sneered, "What makes you think you can run your mouth in front of me, you bastard child born from a mistress? The ones who should leave are you and your mama."

Lucia immediately turned and threw herself into Valeria's arms, sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath.

Valeria hurriedly wrapped her arms around Lucia and said in an aggrieved voice, "Alessia, she's still young and doesn't know any better. If you have a problem, come at me. Why take your anger out on a child?"

I was almost laughing from sheer anger.

But before I could say another word, a searing pain suddenly spread across the right side of my face.

The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the room.

Marco retracted his hand, his expression so stormy that it was clear he was furious. "Alessia, you've crossed the line. Go home for now. I'll talk to you tonight."

He stepped sideways, shielding Valeria and Lucia behind him. He acted as if I were some kind of monster who might hurt his real family.

Lionello also got up from the floor and grumbled, "Mama, she only pushed me once. You're being way too aggressive. Apologize to her!"

I looked at the scene before me and suddenly laughed. But the more I laughed, the more my eyes stung with pain.

Seven years of love that led to marriage. Six years of raising my own flesh and blood.

But in the end, I had become the unwanted outsider.

Without hesitation, I turned and walked away.

The front door slammed shut behind me. The cold wind cut into my face. Right away, I hailed a cab to the airport.

As the plane began taxiing down the runway, I sent Marco one final message. "The lawyer will deliver the divorce papers to your office. It's over between us."