Chapter 4

The port stronghold that had once belonged to me was now under someone else's control. Mirena was sitting behind the desk that I had used for five years. The Verona map on the wall remained unchanged, but the men stationed beside it had been replaced with hers.

Seeing me enter, she immediately stood up. "Donna, Don Adrian said that this place belongs to me from now on. I've sent your things back to the manor."

I walked in and took away the last personal ledger that was mine. "Got it."

She seemed surprised. "You're really not angry?"

"Why should I?"

Mirena looked at me for a few seconds and replied with a sneer, "Don Adrian is right. You learned your place the moment he neglected you for a bit. You care so much about him that you can't bear to leave."

I had no intention of arguing with her. Since she thought I could not leave, she could continue with that thought.

Just as I was about to leave, footsteps were heard outside the corridor. Adrian came over with several capos. Seeing me standing at the door, his expression immediately turned cold. "Why are you still here?"

Mirena explained, "Don Adrian, Donna came back to get something."

She paused and added, as if casually, "But she seemed a little unhappy when she saw me sitting here."

Adrian scoffed. "Here we go again."

I looked at him with an impassive expression. "I'm not."

"You're not?" He stepped right in front of me. "You're upset that she got your office. You're upset that she got the port. Lavinia, I thought you'd finally come to your senses these past few days."

I could not be bothered to explain. "I just came to get my things."

He did not believe me. "If you're so attached to this place, there's no need for you to handle headquarters matters anymore. Stay at the manor starting tomorrow."

The old steward overseeing the handover immediately panicked. "Don Adrian, but the Donna actually..."

Adrian cut him off immediately, "Enough. I don't want to hear her excuses."

The old steward opened his mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing.

I smirked secretly. He would have realized I had not come to fight over the port, but to complete the final handover if he had been willing to listen to just half a sentence more.

Seeing my silence, Adrian softened his tone. "There's a celebration party at the estate tonight. Mirena is officially taking over Verona Port, and you need to be there."

"And if I don't go?"

A look of displeasure crossed his face again. "Don't start this again."

Then, he spoke as if he were granting me one final act of mercy. "Don't cause a scene tonight, and keep acting the way you have lately. I won't touch your position as Donna."

I looked at him nonchalantly. "Sure."

At 10:00 pm that night, the manor was still brightly lit.

Just as I closed the last box, a message from my uncle, Alaric Antonelli, popped up right on cue.

[Your ride's here.]

I picked up my suitcase and had just reached the doorway when I saw Adrian coming up the stairs. He fixed his gaze on the suitcase. "Where are you going?"

"North Shore."

"For how long?"

I did not answer, but he chuckled. "A change of scenery would do you good. When you get back, I'll hand the West District winery over to you."

As he spoke, he reached out to touch my shoulder.

I sidestepped to avoid him. Adrian frowned slightly. Just as he was about to say something, someone called from downstairs. "Don Adrian! Mirena is looking for you."

He responded impatiently, glancing at me one last time before leaving. "Come back after a few days. Don't keep me waiting too long."

With that, he turned and walked downstairs without looking back.

Dragging my suitcase, I left the manor via a different staircase.

The butler, Thomas Russo, chased after me. "Donna!"

I stopped, removed the family ring from my finger, and placed it in his palm. "Don't call me that anymore."

He froze, standing rooted to the spot as he watched me get into the car.

The car door closed. The lights of the manor receded into the distance, while the party upstairs continued.

Mirena held her wine glass and said with a smile, "Don Adrian, I told you that she'll learn her place once you neglect her; she can't bear to leave you!"

Adrian leaned back against the couch, his tone equally certain. "She can't leave me."

…

The next morning, he pushed open the door to the master bedroom, only to find the wardrobe half-empty. The ledgers belonging to me were gone from the study. Nothing remained on the nightstand but a wedding ring.

Adrian realized something, and the expression on his face slowly changed. "Lavinia?"

There was no response.

Thomas hurried up to him. "Don Adrian, a lawyer just delivered this."

Adrian tore open the document envelope; the moment he saw the text inside, he froze. It was a divorce agreement. In the signature section, two names were signed—mine and his. He stared at that signature, the color draining from his face.