Chapter 4

Seraphina's POV

I stared at the disconnected call and smiled bleakly.

After two years, I still foolishly hoped to find a spark of warmth in that eternally frozen iceberg.

I could have sworn he smiled at me once, a real smile, but now that memory felt like an illusion.

My gaze fell on the large wedding photo on the headboard.

In the picture, I wore a white wedding gown, my smile brilliant and happy as I leaned against Lorenzo, who was dressed in a black tuxedo.

Looking at it now, I could see that while Lorenzo was smiling, the smile never reached his eyes.

If you looked closely, you could even see a subtle, almost imperceptible tension in his posture.

I picked up the frame and placed it face down on the table, burying those two years of self-deception along with it.

I walked to the hidden safe and entered the code.

My eyes swept over the priceless jewels inside, finally settling on a velvet pouch in the far corner. From it, I tipped out a single brass key.

It was an ornate key, with a small nameplate engraved with "Seraphina" hanging from it.

It was my eighteenth birthday present from Don Costello, my coming-of-age gift, engraved with the insignia of a Zurich bank.

I remembered the old Don holding my hand and saying, "Seraphina, this is my gift of security to you. No matter what happens in the future, you must remember that you will always have a safety net."

I didn't fully understand the depth of his words then. Looking back, it seemed the old Don might have foreseen this very day.

Clutching the cool, heavy key, my eyes reddened slightly, but my expression grew firm.

It was a relief to know that after leaving the Marino family, I was not without a place to go.

Two soft knocks came from the door.

"Seraphina?" It was Lily.

I quickly put the key away and opened the door.

The dignified Madre held a cup of calming tea, her face still wearing a placating smile.

"Child, I heard you called Lorenzo." She entered the room, her eyes shifting nervously.

"Don't be rash. Men have their flings, but as long as you are the Marino Donna, those other women are nothing more than toys."

"Madre, this isn't a tantrum," I interrupted her calmly, my voice surprisingly steady.

As the matriarch of the Marino family, she had always been considerate of me in public. She was likely here to gauge my emotional state.

"But there's something you should know. I just asked Lorenzo for a divorce. I'm moving out tonight." I didn't bother to conceal it from her.

The teacup in Lily's hand trembled, spilling hot tea. "Seraphina, you... what did you say?"

"A divorce?"

Although she was well aware of Lorenzo's attitude toward me over the past two years, she probably never imagined I would be so decisive.

"You know how controlling Lorenzo is. Do you really think he'll let you just walk out of this estate? He would drag you back from the ends of the earth..."

"Madre, it's really not necessary. This is my own decision. I can handle it myself."

Lily looked at my resolute eyes and sighed.

She knew she couldn't persuade me.

As a form of compensation, or perhaps to pacify the situation, she gripped my hand urgently.

"If you must have some time to cool off, go to Sicily. I have a private estate in Palermo. No one would dare disturb you there, and you would still be under the family's protection."

I pulled my hand away and shook my head gently.

"Thank you, Madre. But I don't need protection anymore."

I no longer needed to be a canary in the Marino family's cage, even if it was just a bigger one.

After seeing a worried Lily out, I began to pack.

I didn't have many things, just some everyday clothes and a few personal items. I didn't touch anything that belonged to Lorenzo.

Finally, I took out the report I had just picked up from the hospital that morning.

Six weeks. Its heartbeat was growing stronger by the day.

Looking at the black and white ultrasound image, the tiny point of light seemed almost blinding.

This was supposed to be the wonderful surprise I had planned for his father, but his "calculated scheme," had poisoned everything.

The tears I had held back finally fell, splattering onto the paper.

"Baby, Mommy's so sorry."

Since he said this was a scheme, then let this "scheme" end completely.

I slipped the Marino family wedding ring from my finger, placed it in an envelope along with the report, and sealed it carefully.

Soon, a few suitcases were packed.

Paolo, the old driver Don Costello had left for me, was already waiting at the back gate.

The black sedan slowly pulled away from the Marino estate where I had lived for so many years, driving through the lush, tree-lined avenues toward the bustling city.

I looked out the window at the familiar scenery receding into the distance and closed my eyes.

Goodbye, Lorenzo.

At two in the morning, the roar of an engine tore through the night as a black Bugatti sped onto the estate.

The door flew open, and Lorenzo stepped out, bringing with him a cold aura and the lingering smell of alcohol.

He had spent the last three days in Sicily dealing with traitors and hadn't heard a single word from Seraphina.

This was completely unheard of, and a strange sense of irritation gnawed at him.

But he told himself Seraphina's tantrums never lasted more than three days. That docile canary was probably waiting for him in bed as usual.

"Don, you've returned." The butler, Alberto, hurried out at the sound.

Lorenzo gave a curt nod, and without breaking stride, walked straight into the brightly lit main house.

Lily was having a late supper. Seeing him, she hastily stood up. "Lorenzo, you're back. Have you eaten?"

Lorenzo didn't respond, his eyes sweeping the hall as he headed straight for the second floor.

Lily sighed. "Should I have the kitchen prepare something for you?"

A few minutes later, Lorenzo came down from the study with a file, his gaze once again sweeping over the dining area.

His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he suddenly asked, "Where's Seraphina? Asleep?"

Alberto glanced at Lily, then braced himself and answered, "The Donna... she left this afternoon."

Lorenzo's steps faltered. The alcohol's haze lifted. "Left? Where?"

Alberto's head bowed even lower. "Donna didn't say where she went. She only asked me to give this to you. She said... it's a matter of family honor."

Alberto held out the wax-sealed manila envelope containing the wedding ring and the pregnancy report.