The love I thought we had was a joke.

It made sense then why he hoarded all the money and power as soon as our family business picked up, never letting me get close. He was guarding against me all along.

Lost in the past, Sebastian stood and clapped me on the shoulder, "Anything coming back to you?"

I shook my head, playing dumb, "Nope, maybe you knocked something loose when you took that dive. Got your wires crossed."

Sebastian's grin froze, awkward as hell. Despite his brown-nosing, I was not biting, and his face clouded over.

He grabbed Rosa's hand, stroking it, "Yeah, I must be mixed up. Rosa's my wife.

"After we wrap up this divorce, I'm putting a ring on it."

He walked her down the church aisle, and to any Joe Blow, it looked like they were the ones tying the knot.

I had no interest in playing their games, so I just walked right in.

Sebastian wrapped his arms around Rosa, pulling her onto his lap and teasing her with a piece of chocolate he fished out of his pocket.

I could not have cared less.

Sebastian, annoyed by my lack of reaction, doubled down on making a scene with Rosa.

When I finally left the church, the once-dull sunlight seemed to sparkle. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight that was crushing my chest start to lift.

I was trying to catch a cab home to gather my things when Rosa, overhearing that I was headed to our old place, went on the attack: "Where do you think you're going? You're divorced, that's not your home anymore.

"Pack your stuff and then get out, pronto."

Sebastian just watched, his face a mask of indifference.

He wrapped his arm around Rosa, pulling her close and cooing, "Yeah, throw the stranger out. You're my wife, and you're the only one who gets to stay."

I said flatly, "I'm moving out now."

I booked a hotel online as soon as I left the church. Back at the house, I started throwing my things into my suitcase.

I was done with his pretend amnesia act; my heart was no longer in Sebastian's grip.

In a rare moment of gentleness, he looked at our wedding photo and feigned a flicker of memory. "Elena, is that us in the picture? When did we take that?"

I kept my eyes on my task, packing my clothes without a glance his way, and said without a hint of warmth, "It's fake, an AI creation."

That was it. I pushed him over the edge.

Sebastian's face twisted in rage as he bellowed, "Out! Get out now!"

The door slammed shut behind me.

I let out a wry chuckle, picked up a stray garment from the floor, and tucked it into my suitcase.

In the dimly lit room of the grand villa, Rosa's voice trembled with a mix of urgency and regret. "Don, this is all my fault. I've put you in such a tough spot. Maybe I should just hand the title of Mrs. back to Ms. DeLuca?"

Her eyes welled up with tears as she confessed, "I'm filled with regret seeing that she's really gone through with the divorce."

Sebastian watched Rosa's struggle to hold back her tears, took a deep breath to steady himself, and offered her a comforting embrace. "This isn't on you. Elena's just too damn jealous, not even listening to her own Don."

He pulled back, looking into her eyes with resolve. "Forget about her. How do you want to spend these next ten days? Let's make them count, live it up, and we'll deal with the fallout later.

"Elena's got nowhere to turn. A few sweet nothings from me, and she'll come crawling back."

However, as I hoisted my small suitcase into the taxi that would take me to the hotel, I knew he was wrong. I was really leaving this time, no looking back.

Those past few days, free from Sebastian and the family's shadow, I have felt a joy like never before.

If only I could shake off the last threads tying me to the capos of our so-called 'family company.'

"Just come back to the family company, will you? The deal with Romano is coming up," they would say.

I was about to decline when a heated argument erupted on the other end of the line. When the commotion settled, Rosa's haughty voice sneered through the receiver, "Elena, you've been ousted from the family business, so keep your nose out of it."

The capos, hearing her brazen words, were livid. They retorted, "Cut the crap, Rosa. Don't you get it? This arms deal is do or die for all of us."

Rosa scoffed, her face twisted with scorn. "What's the big deal? It's just an arms trade. We don't need her. I can handle it just fine on my own."

The capos' voices were tinged with panic once more: "This is madness. The Romano have always done business with people, not their last names. You're just fooling yourself.

"Where's Don? Hurry, we need to find Don!"

Then Rosa's voice, laced with anxiety, echoed again. "Don's got a headache and is resting. You're ignoring his illness, burdening him with family troubles. I swear, I'll throw you all out of the family if you don't stop."

The line went dead with a buzz.

I knew how this would end. If I, the Don's wife who weathered storms of violence, could be ousted by Don and his mistress, what chance would they have?

They were powerless, forced to bite their tongues.

I could not help but laugh, a deep joy bubbling up, bringing with it a lightness I had never felt before. I was done with the family business.

So, I found myself on a plane to the Malvara Isles.

Days spent swimming in the ocean, soaking up the sun, I let go of all my weariness, relishing in the peace.

Nine days after I left it all behind, I slipped into the bridesmaid dress my best friend sent over for her wedding. As I made my way to the chapel, I texted her: [Left the bouquet in the car, but I've got it now and I'm heading in to hand it over.]

I just pocketed my phone when a voice, both familiar and pretentious, rang out: "Welcome, everyone, to the wedding of Sebastian and me."

I turned to see Sebastian, sharp in a tailored suit, standing by Rosa in her bridal gown, playing the perfect hosts.

They stood before a rainbow archway, their oversized wedding portraits smiling down.

Catching sight of me, Rosa rose on her toes and planted a kiss on Sebastian. The crowd erupted in whistles and cheers, and Sebastian, a bit sheepish, dabbed at his mouth.

He glanced up without thinking, and our eyes locked in an unexpected standoff.

Sebastian, caught off guard, shoved Rosa aside, his awkwardness bordering on comical.

Rosa's eyes brimmed with tears at the sight. She looked at Sebastian, her eyes filled with hurt, silently accusing him of still having feelings for me.

She thought I was there to wreak havoc. In front of all the guests, she rushed to me, tears streaming down her face, and grasped my hand, her voice breaking.

"Ms. DeLuca, Sebastian, and I are truly in love. Please, let us be. I'm begging you, don't take our love away, okay?"

Sebastian, with a slight smirk, was about to come to her defense when he noticed the bridal bouquet in my hands. Suddenly, he looked as if he was struck by lightning, his expression darkening.

"Elena, are you secretly marrying someone else?

"How could you do this?" He bellowed, his voice filled with accusation.

I knew he had it all wrong, but I was done explaining.

With a blank face, I replied, "Sebastian, we're divorced. I don't owe you any explanations."

Sebastian staggered, his gaze on me one of sheer bewilderment, his earlier pretense gone. In an almost over-the-top display, he acted as if he just snapped back to reality.

He tenderly took my hands, his voice dripping with affection, "Elena, you're still so stunning in a wedding dress. Are you trying to give us another shot?"

As he tried to draw me closer, I pulled away, my voice laced with sarcasm, "Cut the act. I know all about you and Rosa's little amnesia plot. I heard every word."

His face fell as he looked into my icy eye. His energy deflated, no longer feigning innocence, he confessed with a look of utter defeat. "I had my reasons for doing this.

"Rosa is talented, but you never gave her a chance, always putting her down. I had no other choice, that's why I made this desperate move.

"You probably didn't see this coming, but while you were gone, Rosa's been running the family business like a champ. Everyone's totally on board with her."

I could not help but let my sarcastic grin widen. "Running it well, or just good at keeping secrets?

Did you catch wind of today's arms deal with Amestia's leading mafia family, the Romanos?"

Sebastian paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he turned to Rosa.

With a shrug, Rosa said, "Relax, it's no biggie. I've got it all under control. Just sit tight for the good news."

Then, without missing a beat, she threw down the gauntlet. "Ms. DeLuca, you've been booted from the company, so why don't you save yourself the headache?

"You're out of the loop on a lot of things. I've got our point person all lined up, just waiting for the victory lap.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but it looks like I've let you down with my awesomeness once again."

Just as Sebastian's mood brightened and he was about to chime in, a cell phone ring sliced through the tension.

He could not hide his smugness as he glanced at the caller ID and gloated, "That's gotta be the Romano family giving Rosa the thumbs up. Maybe it's time you rethink your stance and throw her an apology."

With a confident tap, he answered the call and switched on the speakerphone.

A voice, barely containing its fury, blasted from the phone.