The Unacknowledged Donna

The photo didn't show his face, but I recognized Aido immediately. That hand with its prominent knuckles rested on the edge of the table, palm pressed against a half-full wine glass. On his left pinky sat an extremely thin, plain band.That was our wedding ring.Seven years ago, when we registered our marriage, he'd chosen it himself. He said wearing it on his ring finger would draw too much attention, so he kept it on his pinky instead.To anyone else, it looked like an ordinary accessory. No one would know it was a trace left behind by a marriage.How ironic. What should have symbolized our marriage had become just another piece of jewelry he could wear without a second thought while out with another woman.I liked the post with a blank expression, set my phone aside, and turned to arrange the small Christmas cake for Leo. Candlelight flickered across his face as he pressed his palms together and closed his eyes, making his wish as serious as if he were saying a prayer."I wa

Third Person's POVAido stared at the resignation letter for a long time. Viola wanted to resign?The idea was absurd, almost laughable. He had paid for everything—the salary the Derocchi family gave her, the building on the east side of the estate, Leo's schools, and doctors from birth until now.For Leo's future, Viola would never actually leave with the child.Aido tossed the document back onto his desk, his expression hardening. He concluded almost immediately that Viola was simply throwing a tantrum.He hadn't come home on Christmas Eve yesterday, and today he'd made her move out. She'd finally learned to use tactics like this to force him to back down. But she'd forgotten that the Derocchi family never fell for manipulation.He didn't go looking for her or ask any questions. He simply slipped the resignation letter into the pile of documents, treating it like an inconsequential memo.At noon, Isabella suggested replacing the curtains and carpets in the east building. She s

Viola's POVDecember in Melbir was nothing like winter in Pecily. The sunlight here was bright, the sky stretched high and wide, and the wind carried the scent of seawater and sun-warmed grass.There were no guards patrolling the streets, no guns pressing cold outlines against suit jackets, and no one suddenly received a blood-soaked phone call during dinner before standing up to handle another shady deal.For the first time, I realized life could actually be this quiet.Leo and I lived in a small apartment not far from the beach. Two pots of mint sat on the windowsill, an old wooden table filled the living room, and a shell wind chime Leo had made himself hung by the door.Every morning, sunlight streamed through the pale curtains and filled the whole place with warmth. During the day, I worked at a law firm organizing files and scheduling appointments. In the evenings, I took Leo for walks by the ocean, watching him wade barefoot into the shallow waves, laughing like a bird fi

Three days later, Aido came to see me one more time. This time, he didn't try to force me to go back, and he didn't use a commanding tone for a single word.He simply set an envelope on the table and said quietly, "I've already cleared things up with Isabella. From now on, the Derocchi and Bellucci families will discuss only business, not marriage alliances."The east building has been restored to how it was before. No one will be living there anymore."I looked at him calmly, saying nothing.Aido pushed the envelope closer. "Inside is an education trust for Leo, the compensation you've earned over the years, and authorization for long-term living expenses."He paused, his voice rough. "This isn't to make you forgive me. It's just that these things should have been yours all along."I flipped it open and glanced through the contents, then pushed back the portion meant for me."I don't want my share," I said. "I'll have my lawyer manage Leo's portion. That's what he deserves—not