Semua Bab My Ex Husband's Biggest Regret : Bab 171 - Bab 180

"You’re late for lunch."I looked up from my laptop, the bustling sounds of the Milanese cafe fading as Sera slid into the chair opposite me. She looked radiant, her skin glowing under the Italian sun, a contrast to the sleek, professional edge of her blazer. We had been married for exactly seven days, and we weren't on a tropical beach or a secluded island. We were in Milan. We had work to do, a foundation project to launch, and a life to build. This wasn't a getaway; it was our new ordinary. For the first time in my life, I realized that the ordinary was the entire point.We spent the morning apart, a rhythm we had established quickly. I worked from various cafes, managing the Knight empire from a distance, while she handled the European foundation project with a ferocity that made my heart ache with pride. We met at a small, family-owned trattoria for lunch, the smell of garlic and fresh pasta filling the air. We talked about logistics, about the people she’d met, and about the bu

"The numbers for the Milan project are solid, Roman."I looked up from the documents spread across the mahogany desk, meeting Savio Montague’s steady gaze. We were back in the city, the cold wind rattling the heavy glass panes of the estate’s study. I’d come here under the guise of a Montague-adjacent business, something legitimate and boring enough to satisfy the ledgers, but that wasn't the real reason I was sitting in this chair. I was here because I respected the man across from me. I was here because I wanted to be."Sera worked on them herself," I said, leaning back. "She doesn't leave room for error.""She never did," Savio replied, his voice rough but not unkind.He closed the file, the sound sharp in the quiet room. The business was handled. The contracts were ready for signature. I moved to stand, but Savio reached for the crystal decanter on the sideboard. He poured two measures of amber liquid, the scent of expensive peat and age immediately filling the air."Stay a mome

"The board meeting is set for ten, Sera."I looked up from my tablet, meeting Ada’s eyes with a small nod. "Perfect. I want the final numbers on the Milan center in front of me before we go in." My voice was steady, my mind sharp. It was just another Tuesday. Except it wasn't. I knew the date the second I opened my eyes this morning. May second. The anniversary of the day my life ended and began at the exact same time. One year since the divorce was signed. One year since I officially became the woman I was always meant to be.I didn't tell Roman. This wasn’t a date that required him, and it definitely wasn't one that needed a celebration. It was a private milestone, a quiet reckoning I carried in the back of my head while I went about my morning. I didn’t want flowers or a fancy dinner to mark this day. I wanted the work. I wanted the ordinary, busy reality of the life I’d built with my own two hands.I spent the morning in the office, tearing through emails and signing off on logi

"The light is exactly how you described it."I looked up at the sound of Roman’s voice, but he wasn't standing next to me. He was leaning against a pillar several feet away, giving me the space I had earned. I turned my gaze back to the reading room of the Milan Foundation. Two years ago, this had been nothing but a sketch on a napkin and a desperate hope in my chest. I had built this in the shadows, fighting for every brick while my own life was a storm of secrets. Now, it stood in the light.The building was beautiful. It was glass and stone, modern and warm, fitting into the Milan skyline like it had always belonged there. But it was this room that mattered. The high ceilings, the tall windows, and the way the afternoon sun hit the floor at just the right angle, it was perfect. It was exactly as I had planned when I was still just a girl trying to find her way out of the dark.I scanned the crowd of guests moving through the gallery. My family was here, a solid wall of support th

"If you overcook the garlic one more time, Roman, I’m ordering pizza."I looked over my shoulder at Sera, who was perched on the kitchen counter with a glass of red wine in her hand. She looked entirely too smug for someone who wasn't doing any of the actual labor. I turned back to the pan, nudging the minced cloves with a wooden spoon. "I have it under control. The heat is medium-low. I’m building a flavor profile.""You’re building a fire hazard," Dante said from the doorway.He moved into the kitchen with his usual silent grace, his eyes scanning the scene with deep skepticism. He didn't look like a bodyguard tonight. He looked like a man who had finally found a reason to take his jacket off. Before I could defend my culinary honor, the doorbell rang."Are we expecting someone else?" I asked, frowning at the timer.Sera hopped off the counter. "I'll get it."A moment later, Felix walked in, holding two bottles of expensive wine and wearing a grin that meant trouble. He hadn't been