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Alle Kapitel von The Thirty-Day Divorce: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 10

10 Kapitel

Chapter 1

Twenty years into our marriage, my husband Luca fell in love with the new secretary at his company.She was nearly forty, plain-looking, with neither my figure nor my family's power.But in just half a year, she'd become his everything, all through the massive emotional support she gave him.Luca looked at me, exhaustion written all over his face, and said, "I know this is my fault. So make your demands, Isabella. I'll agree to anything."I lowered my head and answered calmly, "Okay."Then I bought a calendar and circled a date.Divorce countdown: 30 days.When I handed Luca the divorce papers, only forty minutes had passed since he'd told me about the affair.I didn't take everything from him.I only asked for the penthouse in New York, two cars, and custody of Matteo.He felt it wasn't enough, and insisted on paying me three million dollars in one lump sum as compensation and child support.After that, Matteo and I would no longer be part of his life.Luca was on a conference call at

Chapter 2

By the time Luca came out of the family meeting, I'd already finished eating, cleaned up the kitchen, and was sitting in the living room watching a movie.The fire in the fireplace crackled, and everything felt as if nothing had changed.He turned to take a shower and discovered halfway through that there were no towels.I heard him call from the bathroom, "Babe, where's my towel?"Without turning my head, I said, "All packed in the boxes. Use mine for now. I'll wash it later."The silence that followed was unmistakable.The water stopped, started again, stopped again.Luca finally came out, his hair still dripping, wearing a bathrobe.He noticed the three suitcases by the door and paused mid-step, then sat down across from me and slid the divorce papers toward me with his fingertip."I can pay a million and a half in child support first, and the rest monthly—"I cut him off. "No need. One lump sum. I doubt she wants anything left tying us together either."Luca dried his hair and walk

Chapter 3

I was torn about whether to tell my parents about the divorce right away.It wasn't just our business.The De Lucas and the Vitales had coexisted in this city for decades.Marriage was the tie between them, and the face they showed the world.Divorce meant that tie would break, and a lot of people would have to pick sides.What made me hesitate even more was my father.His health had been declining for years, his heart was bad, and the doctor had said he couldn't take any more shocks.At first I thought I'd wait a little longer.A few days later, though, Luca suddenly called.He usually texted me, because he knew I'd reply quickly and he found it convenient.Last night, I'd deleted him from my contacts.I picked up, and Luca's voice was the same as ever."Isabella, your mom just called. She said she made a lot of food and invited us over for dinner tonight. I know your dad isn't in good health. Maybe we should wait until he's a bit better before telling them about the divorce. What tim

Chapter 4

When I went to pick Matteo up from school, he told me Grandma Judith had called him, said she missed him, and asked if he could come stay for a week.He wanted me to drive him over.I hesitated for a moment, then took Matteo home to pack a small suitcase.He was thrilled, chattering away about how Grandpa had promised to fly his remote-control helicopter with him.I drove Matteo to Grandma Judith's estate.It sat on the outskirts of the city, iron gates, stone walls, an old house covered in ivy.The old Vitale estate.Grandma Judith was waiting for us on the porch.When she saw me get out of the car, the smile vanished from her face."Sweet suffering Jesus," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me under the porch light. "Isabella, what happened to your face?"I walked to the mirror in the entry hall and was startled by what I saw.Sunken eyes, cracked lips, hair a mess like weeds.These past few days I'd been so busy counting days, signing papers, and replacing furniture that I hadn'

Chapter 5

Luca opened his mouth, about to say something.I didn't give him the chance."Whatever it is," I said, "it's not happening. The divorce goes on."He looked at me, his lips moving, then closing again.He seemed to finally realize he'd underestimated my resolve.I turned and walked away.Back home, I'd just tossed my keys into the tray by the door when my phone rang.Bianca Falcone.She was the military consultant at Luca's company, from the Falcone family, whose business had always been arms dealing.Bianca was the most restless girl of her generation, blunt, no filter, but I'd always liked her."Hey, you busy?"I said no, and she immediately launched into it, asking if the divorce from Luca was true.I didn't hide it."Is it because of Celeste Moretti?" she pressed.I wasn't sure why she brought up Celeste, but I guessed Luca might have gone public.Hearing my silence, Bianca let out an exaggerated sigh."Oh, Isabella, I knew it was because of that woman! No wonder you haven't brought

Chapter 6

Putting together the scattered bits Bianca had told me, I roughly figured out why Celeste was in such a hurry to have Luca bring her to the family headquarters, and why her attitude had suddenly changed.I was divorcing Luca, and she thought she could slide right into my seat.But once the news spread, other women started circling too.Ambitious ones, powerful ones, plenty of them prettier and smarter than her.When people panic, they have to publicly stake their "claim" and scare off anyone interested in Luca.It wasn't the first time she'd caused a scene, and tonight she was dead set on dragging Luca away from me.She probably realized she'd gone too far.So she used those photos as bait, hoping to push me into confronting Luca, to see how I'd react under pressure and then pull the situation back to her side.Before she sent that disgusting stuff, I couldn't have been bothered.But since she insisted on being a nuisance, I decided to play along.I didn't block her, didn't respond neg

Chapter 7

When the three million dollars hit my account, I was getting ready for my new coffee shop's soft opening.I'd adjusted the store's decor and rolled out some coupons.So far, the response seemed good.Bianca came by for a coffee on her break.She mentioned that Luca had lost the South American mining deal and was scrambling to make connections through intermediaries, but everyone knew a Don who'd betrayed his Donna wasn't worth doing business with.Once the De Lucas pulled back, half the Vitale family's credibility collapsed.Meanwhile, Celeste was showing off a designer bag, pretending to be calm.Obviously Luca's way of placating her.But Celeste's patience was a strategy, a way to get more out of him.This was a seed Luca had planted years ago, and soon he'd have to face the harvest.Take that night at the bar.While Luca and I were drinking, I noticed Celeste hovering outside the window.That night, she sent more provocative photos, even shamelessly showing half her face.I had ever

Chapter 8

Luca's call came fast.He was furious.He asked why I had to take things this far.Even if Celeste was in the wrong, I should have just told her to leave, not laid hands on her.Now it was a mess.If Celeste refused to settle privately and the police got involved, where would the Vitale family's face go?I laughed."Let her call the police. She broke into my house. If she's got skeletons in her closet, that's her problem. Does a mistress really think she can stir up trouble and walk away without paying the price? She said those things in front of Matteo, implying you don't have time for him. Luca, Matteo matters to me. He should matter to you too."Before he could reply, I hung up.Then I sent him a text, declining his invitation to accompany him to the old estate for his father's birthday banquet.After I sent that message, my whole body relaxed.Not long after, Veronica's office called.Celeste had come clean to her husband, Tony, saying she wanted a divorce with a settlement.The tw

Chapter 9

On the day we processed the divorce, I waited outside the courthouse for half an hour before Luca rushed over.He wore a dark suit, his tie slightly crooked, as if he'd tied it himself.We exchanged a few brief pleasantries.The process was simple. Sign, get the certificate.Luca seemed a little dazed holding the divorce certificate, his thumb rubbing back and forth over the paper twice, but he quickly pulled himself together.He suggested lunch together."I have other plans," I answered coolly.With that, I walked off without looking back.The moment I stepped outside, I forwarded every photo Celeste had sent me to her husband.Then I went straight to the airport.The ticket was booked in advance. Destination: Sicily.I rented a small house with a terrace in Taormina, slept in every day, strolled by the sea in the afternoons, and ate seafood at little restaurants by the piazza in the evenings.No one called me Donna.No one waited for me to handle family business.No one looked at me

Chapter 10

Six months later, I saw a photo of Luca holding his marriage certificate on an e-invitation circulating in family circles.I quietly hit like, feeling only curiosity at the turn of events.After that small gesture, Vitale Holdings headquarters started ordering coffee from us regularly, saying the new Donna liked our flavors.I was still thrilled about such a big client when Luca's life took a sharp nosedive.Rumor had it Celeste looked pretty agitated when she stormed into Luca's office.At first she asked about his lunch plans, seeming calm enough.But then, in front of several family representatives and outside investors, she pulled a knife from her bag and demanded to know when he was going to marry her.In the frenzy, she slashed at the desks and chairs, the blade tip leaving a white gash across the conference table.Several investors' faces changed on the spot. Someone stood up and walked out.Bianca described the scene as total chaos.Luca was furious, practically beside himself.

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