Chapter 2

As soon as I got home, I contacted a lawyer and drafted up my divorce papers. Then, I booked a plane ticket to a small island far away, completely out of Luca's reach and influence, for a week later.

After I was done with that, I went into the study and opened up the box I'd kept in the dusty corner for a long time. It was filled with the love letters Luca wrote to me in the early stages of our relationship. There was also a pair of mugs in it, carved with our names, and a few laughable couple trinkets.

I threw all of them into the fireplace and watched them turn into ashes.

A loud bang was heard from the entryway whilst the fire was blazing at its peak.

Luca rushed into the house anxiously and ran over to me, pulling me into a tight hug as soon as he saw me. He sighed in relief and asked, "Where have you been? Why didn't you answer any of my calls?"

His voice was trembling as he continued, "You gave me such a fright. I thought something terrible had happened to you!"

"I went out to the supermarket for a bit, and my phone ran out of battery," I said, trying to escape his embrace, but he just hugged me even tighter.

"I just can't imagine living a life without you by my side…"

Luca's worry and anxiety were real. However, so was the fact that he'd had a son with another woman who wasn't me.

Maybe he still loved me, but I wasn't the only person in his heart now, as he also loved another.

"Aurora."

He kissed me on the forehead and said, "Don't simply go out on your own. The Famiglia has been having some conflict with our enemies now, and I'm worried that you'll get hurt."

With that, he brought out a silk box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a diamond necklace nestled in the satin. It was very delicate and intricately designed.

"Wear this," he said, unclasping the necklace and warming up the metal chain before putting it on me. "There's a location tracker in it. Press it if you run into any trouble, and I will be right there."

He seemed to have heaved a sigh of relief after that. Then, he traced my face with his fingers and said in a much calmer voice, "Listen to me, alright?"

…

Late that night, I suddenly sported a high fever.

Yet, I felt a slightly cool hand covering my forehead in my hazy state. I struggled to open my eyes and saw Luca putting on some clothes.

He said, "I'm taking you to the hospital."

He was just about to pick me up when his phone rang right at that moment. He glanced briefly at the screen, and his expression dropped as he glanced back at me.

"It's fine. Answer it. What if it's an emergency?" I said.

He answered the call and went out to the balcony instead.

"Luca! Nico is hurt, and he won't stop crying! I'm so scared…"

Angela's crying voice was immediately heard on the other end of the line. Even I could hear her voice despite Luca's attempts to cover the mic with his hand.

There was a worried look on Luca's face as he said, "I'll be right there."

He came back to me and said, "Something happened in one of the underground casinos, and I need to go and settle it," he said, touching me on my forehead. "I've already called Alexandro. He'll be coming to take you to the hospital instead."

Alexandro Ventura was his assistant. Then, Luca left without waiting for my reply.

I sat up to change out of my pajamas. However, my gaze suddenly landed on the bedside table on Luca's side, where his personal phone was lying. He'd forgotten to take it along with him in his haste.

My heart lurched in my chest. I knew the password to his phone. It was our wedding anniversary. He'd never changed it before because he never thought that he needed to guard himself against me.

I grabbed his phone and unlocked it. The home screen was very neat and almost empty.

Then, I tapped on a lesser-known chatting app and saw that he had been chatting with someone who hadn't been saved with a name.

It had to be Angela. Everything in their chats was only about Nico.

"Luca! Nico just learned to say 'Papa'! I've sent the recording to you.

"Nico's nose is running a little. I just gave him some cold meds. When are you coming to see him?"

The latest message sent had been just a while ago.

"Nico's gone to sleep. He misses you.

"I think he's having a nightmare and he's crying for you… Can you come over?"

Luca had answered each and every message from her. He sounded very patient and meticulous in his replies, and I could almost imagine the smiling expression on his face as he typed them out.

"I heard the recording. He's good.

"I'll be there after work. I'll tell the family doctor to go over first.

"Tell him that Papa is on his way."

I kept scrolling all the way up until at least three months ago, when Angela sent him a photo of Nico's scraped knees, probably from a fall.

Luca had immediately asked her three questions in rapid succession.

"Is it serious?

"What did the doctor say?

"I'm coming back immediately."

My tears refused to stay suppressed and trickled down my face uncontrollably.

I set down his phone, feeling the pain in my chest so great that it was getting harder for me to breathe.