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Chapter 3

Author: Anna Smith
Bianca glanced over her shoulder and closed the door, leaving the twins in the hallway.

“My apologies, Mrs. Romano. The children were eager to see their father. I didn’t realize you would both be here.”

Dante was already on his feet, his expression glacial.

“Bianca, I told you never to appear in front of Elena or me again.”

“Relax. I didn’t come back to New York to chase after you.”

Bianca walked calmly into the room and set her purse on the table.

“The children’s father and I came back to New York together to take care of some family business. As for today, I’m only here to pick up the wedding bands we had custom-made.”

Five years ago, Bianca had been Dante’s personal secretary.

She had repeatedly used work as an excuse to get close to him. One night after a family event, she had even entered his bedroom uninvited.

Dante fired her the next morning.

In front of everyone, he declared that I was the only woman he would ever love and that no one would ever take my place as Mrs. Romano.

Bianca left New York soon afterward.

Everyone believed she had disappeared from our lives for good.

Now she was standing in front of me with five-year-old twins waiting outside.

Bianca turned to me and raised her left hand, displaying the large diamond engagement ring on her finger.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Romano. I’m married now.”

She slowly twisted the ring, a challenge hidden beneath her smile.

“My husband had this custom-made for two million dollars. He loves me, just as Dante loves you.”

Her gaze shifted to the catalog in front of me.

“A woman who is truly adored by her husband shouldn’t be afraid that someone else might steal him. Wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Romano?”

Before I could answer, Dante struck her across the face.

Bianca’s head snapped to the side.

Everyone in the room froze.

Dante lowered his hand, his eyes devoid of warmth.

“I warned you. No one disrespects my wife in front of me.”

Bianca pressed a hand to her cheek and stared at him in disbelief.

Dante turned to the manager.

“Revoke her privileges here. This salon will no longer serve her.”

Bianca’s expression finally cracked.

“You’re really going to humiliate me like this for her?”

“Get out.”

She clenched her jaw, shot me a furious look, and walked out of the room.

Silence settled over us after the door closed.

Dante knelt beside me and took my hand.

“Don’t let her upset you.”

He lifted my fingers to his lips and kissed them gently.

“This will never happen again. No woman in New York will ever stand above you. You are the only woman who will ever stand at the head of the Romano family.”

He sounded so certain.

If I hadn’t overheard the conversation in his study, I might have believed that slap proved his loyalty to me.

Then his phone rang.

Dante checked the screen and declined the call.

A few seconds later, it rang again.

Irritation flashed in his eyes before he finally stood.

“Something has come up with the family. Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”

“All right.”

Dante hurried out of the room.

Almost the moment the door closed behind him, a message from an unknown number appeared on my phone.

【Underground parking garage.】

A second message followed.

【What you just saw was only what he wanted you to see.】

【Come downstairs. I’ll show you how much my husband truly loves me.】

I stared at the messages for several seconds.

Then I rose and walked toward the elevator.
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