Chapter 3

I couldn't even remember how I got back to my apartment, the place where "Lorenzo" and I had lived for the past three years.

I stood at the entrance, staring at the door. Every time I pushed it open, I would always be welcomed with a warm pair of arms and a series of hot, lustful kisses. I would always see the smile on "Lorenzo's" face as he welcomed me home and told me how much he missed me.

However, I'd only just realized now that the person who hugged me and kissed me every night was never the person I thought he was.

I went inside and began packing.

I packed up the jewelry Lorenzo bought me, the clothes Vincenzo bought me, and all our couple items over the past three years before throwing them into the recycling center downstairs.

I watched as the items sank into the dark abyss of the huge recycling truck and felt a sense of hollowness in my chest.

When I got back to the apartment, the door suddenly opened.

"You're back, darling. Did you just take out the trash? What did you just throw out?"

This voice was very, very similar to Lorenzo's. I had been hearing this voice countless times over the past three years as he whispered sweet nothings and dirty talk into my ear.

But I only found out today that this voice belonged to someone else called Vincenzo.

I turned around and finally looked at him seriously for the first time.

His face was almost identical to Lorenzo's, but the flippancy and cynicism in his eyes were completely different from the cold indifference in Lorenzo's eyes.

It had been three whole years since I slept with this man, but this was the very first time I was finally taking a good look at him.

"I just threw out all the things you gave me last time. And you're saying that you don't remember what they are?"

My voice was calm and flat, and he couldn't read my emotions from my tone alone. Only I knew how I felt.

I dug my nails firmly into my palm.

Vincenzo froze for a split second. Then, he chuckled and approached me, trying to hug me as he always did."

"Alright, alright. Don't stay mad anymore. I've already settled everything related to the leaked photos and suppressed the rumors about them. I'm sure it was leaked by a rival Famiglia, trying to attack and undermine our morale.

"It also doesn't matter if your promotion falls through because of this. I'll be taking care of you anyway. You can just resign and become a full-time housewife instead. I'll still be able to support both of us."

He would take care of me?

They destroyed my career, ruined my reputation, and completely crushed the past three years of my life, and yet, Vincenzo could still casually say that he'd "take care" of me and "support" me?

Before I could speak, Vincenzo hugged me from the back, pressing me back against his warm, burning body. He then planted kisses on my neck as his breathing turned quicker.

"Don't keep thinking about these anymore, darling. I missed you so damn much…"

His familiar touch and scent would have immediately made me go putty in his arms if this were in the past, and I would have responded wholeheartedly to him.

But now, I could only feel waves of nausea surging within me.

I shoved him off with all of my might as I spoke in a cold, icy voice.

"Don't touch me."

Vincenzo froze as a flicker of surprise and a hint of hurt appeared in his eyes. However, he quickly masked them and shrugged instead, then turned and walked into the bathroom.

I lay on the bed with my back to the bathroom.

The water sounds soon stopped, and the door opened. The mattress sank behind me as he climbed into bed, releasing cool, dampish steam.

I kept my eyes shut and didn't move a muscle.

Then, I felt Vincenzo pressing his body against mine and rubbing against me relentlessly.

His touches, which used to make my heart flutter, now only felt suffocating to me.

Finally, at the moment of his release, I heard him moan in my ear in the most tender voice I'd ever heard.

"Fiore… I love you…"

My eyes shot wide open at once, tears silently flowing down the corners of my eyes and dampening the pillowcase underneath my face.

So, that was how it was.

Lorenzo wasn't the only one obsessed with Fiore. Even Vincenzo was in love with her too.

As it turned out, I couldn't even be considered a substitute at this point. I was just a tool for Lorenzo and Vincenzo to relieve their unrequited lust and desire for Fiore instead.

Vincenzo sighed heavily in content and satisfaction, turned over in bed, and quickly fell asleep.

I kept my eyes wide open and stared at the Deyork moonlight outside the window until daybreak.

Every night of the past three years had been nothing but a pathetic joke.