Chapter 3

"Rum-flavored chocolates, along with a premium filet mignon. He arranged the entire menu himself."

I touched my aching head and laughed without making a sound. "Fine. I understand. I'll come to the restaurant tomorrow to confirm."

Rum-flavored chocolates. Charles remembered every little detail. He must have forgotten that I was allergic to chocolate and couldn't stand the taste of rum.

That night, neither Charles nor Carl came home.

I didn't call to ask. I knew exactly where they were. With Lena.

After lying in bed for a while, I walked through every room in the mansion.

This was my home. My marriage had started here. It was only fitting that it end here too.

After packing all my things, I went to the restaurant Charles had booked.

It was a Michelin three-star restaurant, nearly impossible to get into. People booked a year in advance and still couldn't get a table.

The waiter led me into the main hall and told me that Mr. Moretti had rented out the entire restaurant for a month. No other guests would be admitted during that time.

Charles had said Lena didn't like the smell of strangers.

I smiled faintly and looked around. Red and white tablecloths, a bouquet of red roses on every table.

On the wall hung a photo of Charles and Lena together, Carl between them.

On the table sat a handwritten card from Carl. "Mommy Lena, you'll always be beautiful. I'll always love you."

It reminded me of last night, when Carl had called me an ugly witch to my face.

In his heart, I was the villain, the ugly one. And Lena was the saint, the beauty.

The menu listed twenty dishes, every last one a delicacy from around the world.

Even as the Don's daughter, there were some I'd never tasted.

Yet Lena, the girl my father had taken in, could have it all without lifting a finger.

I walked out of the restaurant and called my lawyer.

"David, I need to change the terms of the divorce agreement. I'm giving up custody of Carl. I want every piece of my pre-marital property and all jointly owned assets returned to me. Every business under my name that Charles has been handling goes back to me."

"Of course. But are you sure about giving up custody? You'd have a very strong case."

"No. As of now, he's no longer my son." I hung up, picked up the divorce papers from the firm without waiting a single minute, and headed straight to the high-end club Charles ran.

I could hear laughter and conversation through the door before I even opened it.

Lena was sitting pressed against Charles, their hands intertwined, discussing whether to put her in charge of the arms smuggling operation.

The moment Gloria saw me, she hurled her coffee cup at my head. "What are you doing here? You humiliated Lena so badly she nearly killed herself. She's been left with severe psychological trauma. If we hadn't gotten to her in time, you'd have blood on your hands!"

I didn't even glance at her. I walked straight to Charles and threw the divorce papers in front of him. "Sign."

Charles glanced at the papers and snapped the cigar in his hand in half. "Layla, don't push your luck. I didn't come after you for nearly getting Lena killed, and you have the nerve to demand a divorce? When are you going to rein in that temper of yours?"

Isabella rushed over and slapped me hard across the face. "You apologize to Lena right now! Do you want to drive her to death?"

My ears rang. I lifted my head and looked at the group of people before me in silence.

Mark and Vivian watched me warily, as if terrified I might go after Lena.

My son Carl suddenly threw himself into Lena's arms.

"Mommy Lena, does divorce mean you and Daddy can get married? Then you can be my real mommy?"