Chapter 5

When Dario came to see me that night, he carried a new jewelry box.

Inside was a diamond necklace.

“You’re always so attached to old things,” he said. “Wear this tomorrow. It goes better with the dress.”

I didn’t touch it.

He placed the box on my desk. Seeing the pocket watch beside it, he frowned slightly.

“Livia gave it back. Let it go.”

“How much did you know beforehand about the docks?” I asked.

“Didn’t we agree not to bring that up again?”

“Did you know they were going to set the fire?”

He fell silent.

Looking at his face, I finally had my answer.

“I thought they only meant to frighten you,” he said. “I kept telling the captain to turn back.”

“When?”

His mouth opened, but he couldn’t give me a time.

The phone on the desk rang. Enzo. Dario saw the name and immediately declined the call.

“Elia, you can’t force everyone to choose sides every time something goes wrong. I have my own difficulties.”

Suddenly, I remembered his first visit to the estate years earlier, how carefully he had held his wineglass.

Back then, I secretly told him which cigars my father liked and which remarks Enzo hated. I thought I was helping the man I loved become part of my family.

Later, he learned faster than I did.

“Tomorrow night, don’t drink anything they give you separately,” I said.

He stared at me.

“What does that mean?”

“And don’t go to the suite Viola reserved for you.”

His expression slowly changed.

But his next question was still, “Who’s been telling you things?”

I didn’t explain further.

“You don’t have to believe me. The door’s over there.”

After he left, I left the necklace where it was and began packing.

Only my passport, a few clothes, my mother’s watch, and the work records I had personally compiled.

I didn’t touch a single piece of jewelry that wasn’t mine.

The next morning, the lawyer sent an update.

The materials concerning the old harbor fire had been submitted. The information about my mother’s accident had also been passed to the people handling the matter. Rosa had arranged a home for me outside the district controlled by the Morante family, and everything was ready for my move.

I read the message and cleared the notification preview.

Downstairs, Viola called for me to try on my shoes.

“The media will be taking a family photograph. Don’t be late.”

Livia sat on the sofa, rehearsing her speech.

She delivered “Thank you, Father, for giving me a second chance at life” with particular emotion, then looked up at me.

“What do you think?”

“It suits the occasion.”

She smiled, pleased.

That afternoon, they left for the hotel first.

Before leaving, Dario came to my door again. He looked at me, my makeup already done.

“I’m going to assume what you said last night was out of spite.”

“Whatever you like.”

“Don’t embarrass your father in public.”

I turned away without answering.

After the cars left the estate, I stood by the window for a moment, making sure the grounds had gone quiet.

Then I took off the gown, changed into trousers, and placed my engagement ring in its jewelry box.

A note lay beneath it.

No accusations. No pleas.

Only one sentence:

Our engagement is over. Direct all further communication to my lawyer.

I carried my suitcase out through the side door.

The person waiting wasn’t a family driver, but a female bodyguard Rosa had arranged. She put my suitcase in the trunk and opened the rear door.

“Your new place?”

“The lawyer’s office first.”

As we drove down the hill, my phone began vibrating.

Viola reminded me to use the hotel’s main entrance.

Livia sent photographs of the venue and asked whether I had brought a backup of the video.

I replied: “It’s already been delivered to the person in charge.”

That wasn’t a lie.

The program they had asked me to prepare had indeed arrived at the venue.

But its most important material had also been delivered in advance to people who could preserve it as evidence.

As the car passed the final intersection, Dario called.

I watched the screen and let it ring.

The traffic light ahead turned green, and the driver accelerated.

This time, I didn’t look back to see whether anyone had finally come after me.

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