Chapter 2

Hearing footsteps from the doorway, I looked up and saw Antonio walking past.

He had changed into a different suit, and his tie was the dark red color Sofia liked best.

As he passed ‌my desk, he glanced briefly at me. The arm around Sofia's waist tightened, pulling her closer against him.

It had been a long time since he had shown me such intimacy.

I knew he was doing it on purpose.

A few days ago, I discovered the flirtatious messages Sofia had been sending him and confronted him about it.

He flew into a rage and threw his phone.

"Do I need your permission just to talk to a female subordinate? Isabelle, a qualified donna doesn't question her husband!"

Later, I was injured during a negotiation I handled on his behalf and suffered from a high fever that wouldn't go away, leaving my entire body aching.

Yet during that time, he gave me the cold shoulder and took Sofia on a trip.

Five years of love burned away completely during that fever I endured alone. At last, I saw things clearly.

Under the excuse of training a "qualified donna”, he was simply making me tolerate all of his infidelity, both now and in the future.

Soon, he would pay the price for that.

By the time I finished reviewing the accounts, it was completely dark outside.

I opened my phone and saw Sofia's latest post.

In the photo, Antonio was draping his suit jacket over her shoulders while holding her in his arms, his gaze full of affection.

The caption read: [Don Rossi says the night view here is worthy of the most special evening.]

The post was already filled with likes and comments.

One business associate who didn't know the situation commented, [Are Don Rossi and his consigliere getting some good news soon?]

To which Sofia replied with a shy emoji.

Antonio didn't respond, but he did leave a like.

Calmly, I liked the post as well and left a comment.

[The accounts have been reviewed and placed in the study.]

After returning to the estate, I went straight to the bedroom to rest.

I had barely gotten into bed when Antonio's phone call came through.

However, when I answered, it was Sofia's laughter that greeted me.

"Miss Isabelle, thanks for your hard work with the accounts. You're home now, right? Don't forget to hand-wash the carpets."

Antonio's deep voice sounded in the background.

"There's no need to remind her. That's her responsibility."

"Don Rossi, don't say that. Miss Isabelle is still your fiancée, after all," Sofia said in an affectionate tone.

I curled my lips slightly.

Look at that. He even allowed her to use his personal phone to call me.

In the past, he would frown if I so much as touched his phone, saying it contained family secrets.

If this had happened before, I would have felt heartbroken. Now, I only find it ridiculous.

The anger and resentment that had once made me lose control receded completely, like a retreating tide.

"Oh, and Don Rossi says we'll be back later, so you don't have to wait up. Just go to sleep."

Before I could respond, the call ended.

This so-called "later" usually meant they wouldn't be returning that night.

In the past, I would have sat in the living room until dawn, checking the security cameras repeatedly, watching their location, and imagining what they were doing.

Now, I set down my phone and took out the Termination of Engagement Agreement from the bedside drawer.

Looking at the signature already written on it, I smiled.

Before they left for Alicante, I had mixed it into a stack of documents and sent it over.

Sure enough, whenever he was with Sofia, he never looked carefully at any paperwork.

The engagement that had bound me for five years had come to an end just like that.

I called my mother.

"Mom, start preparing my welcome-back party."

As though she had expected this all along, she let out a sigh.

"My dear, never throw away your future and become the woman standing behind a man just because he says he needs you."

Quickly, however, her tone became cheerful.

"Now that the game's over, come home, sweetheart. I can hardly wait to introduce you to some good men."

My mother's words made me laugh, and my voice grew lighter.

"The agreement has already been signed. Once it takes effect in a week, I'll come home."

"Agreement? What agreement?"

I froze. I turned around and saw Antonio standing in the doorway.