The moment those words left his mouth, the last shred of warmth in Bianca's heart vanished without a trace.

She never imagined Dante would go this far for Viviana.

A sharp sting flooded her eyes. Her throat locked tight, and she forced herself to stay standing. The conference room had gone quiet in the way rooms only went quiet when blood was in the water. Even the bodyguard posted by the far door had stopped shifting his weight.

Dante glanced at Bianca, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.

"I apologize for my wife's conduct. I'll personally bear all losses suffered by the Marino crew. Please... forgive her."

Before he even finished, Vittorio Marino hurled the stack of documents straight at Bianca. The papers hit her chest and scattered across the floor, and not one person in the room moved to pick them up.

"Personally bear it? With what?"

"Forget the case involving two hundred million in claims. Marino Holdings' stock price tanked today alone. How exactly do you plan to cover that?" He cracked the knuckle of his right index finger, the sound sharp as a pistol slide in the silence.

"Bellandi, and you had the nerve to call yourself some undefeated attorney. What a joke. You'll be hearing from my lawyers."

Tears pooled at the rims of her eyes. Her throat was raw and parched. She clenched her jaw so hard her teeth ached, every breath a trembling sliver of pain. Bianca's voice shook as she spoke.

"Mr. Marino, I'm begging you, trust me just this once. I swear on my career, I had nothing to do with this."

"Give me two days. I will find the truth."

Vittorio cut her off, his patience spent.

"Bianca Bellandi, you really have no shame."

"Your own husband already admitted it, and you're still trying to weasel your way out? Instead of groveling here, you'd better start thinking about how you're going to handle the investigation."

He shoved her aside and stormed out. The bodyguard at the door stepped back to let the capo pass, then resumed his post as if nothing had happened.

Vincent Rinaldi fixed Bianca with a vicious glare.

"Bianca, do you have any idea how much trouble you've brought down on this firm?"

"Well? How do you propose we fix this?"

Bianca turned and looked around. Every single colleague was pointing, whispering, their voices carrying just enough to reach her.

"So Bianca's been sleeping with clients to land her cases. Guess that explains a lot."

"She always looked so prim and proper. Turns out she's been playing all kinds of games behind closed doors. Poor Mr. Vitale, marrying someone like that."

"I always said there was no way someone that young could be that good. Dirty tricks, obviously. Disgusting. Can't believe I've been working alongside her."

Bianca stood trapped between Vincent and Viviana, forced to absorb every whisper and sneer. The fluorescent hum of the conference room lights seemed to grow louder, filling the space their respect had vacated.

Viviana's lips curled upward, her eyes bright with undisguised mockery.

Bianca looked at Vincent. She had always been composed, but now her voice was nothing but tremors.

"Vincent, we've worked together for years. You don't trust me either?"

Vincent looked at her, then at Viviana, and spoke in a low, measured tone. He removed his glasses and polished the lenses with his pocket square, taking his time.

"Bianca, the evidence is right in front of us. I'd be a fool not to believe it."

"This isn't just about Marino's people needing answers. The firm needs answers too."

Viviana smiled faintly.

"If you ask me, Vincent, the simplest solution is to let Counselor Bellandi leave the firm."

"It's the only way to keep her from dragging the rest of us down."

The words hit Bianca like a physical blow. She couldn't believe Viviana intended to destroy her completely. She opened her mouth to speak, but Dante cut in first.

"That works. I'll compensate Marino and the firm for their losses on her behalf. But I have one condition."

"After she's gone, Viviana takes her position."

His signet ring was perfectly still against his thumb. No rolling, no fidgeting. Just a man who had already decided and saw no reason to pretend otherwise.

Vincent considered this for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine. Bianca, for the sake of our years together, I'll let you resign on your own terms."

Bitterness surged through her chest.

Just like that, in a handful of sentences, they had decided her fate. A sit-down she hadn't been invited to, conducted right in front of her face.

Not the husband she had devoted herself to. Not the colleague she had trusted with her life. Not a single one of them had spared a thought for how she felt.

All they wanted was to push her out the door fast enough to make room for Viviana.

Something seized Bianca's heart and squeezed. The bitterness spread through her veins like poison. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Her face was white. She bit down hard on the tip of her tongue, the sharp pain forcing her mind back into focus.

"On what grounds are you convicting me without hearing my side?"

"You all know perfectly well who's really behind this. Don't even think about pinning it on me."

"Marino wants to investigate? Fine. I'll cooperate fully. But until that investigation is complete, I am not leaving this firm."

She reached for her phone.

Viviana hadn't expected that. A flash of panic crossed her eyes, and she looked at Dante with a silent plea. Her fingertips went to her pearl earring, adjusting it in one quick, reflexive motion.

In the next second, Dante snatched the phone from Bianca's hand and smashed it against the floor. The crack of glass against marble echoed through the room like a gunshot, and every person in it flinched except Dante.

"Bianca, enough! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough already?"

"Stop making a scene. Come home with me quietly, or things are going to get worse for everyone."

He was threatening her. The Acting Don of the Vitale Family, the man who wore her ring and shared her bed, was threatening her in front of people who answered to him.

Vincent stared at Bianca, his voice flat and detached.

"Bianca, whether you stay at this firm is no longer your decision. If you won't resign, I'll have no choice but to terminate you."

"And when that happens, your reputation in this city will be finished."

A chill settled deep inside her.

She looked at Vincent, the man who had once fought beside her, who had been both mentor and friend. He wore a different face now.

When she first joined, this firm had been a failing practice on the verge of shutting its doors. She had worked around the clock, hunting down cases, building connections with made men and legitimate clients alike, pulling it back from the brink and growing it into what it was today. Rinaldi & Associates survived because she had made powerful people believe it was worth protecting.

Back then, Vincent had taken her hand and told her the firm was as much hers as his. That they would watch it thrive together.

But somewhere along the way, he had changed. And now he was siding with outsiders to force her out.

For the first time in her life, Bianca felt completely lost.

Without her realizing when it happened, Viviana had turned every person around her. Bianca was truly, utterly alone.

Bianca's throat felt stuffed with cotton, dry and raw.

Her fingers curled slowly into her palms, and her chest seized as though something had clamped down around her heart, squeezing until the air refused to come.

After a long silence, she looked at Dante and Vincent, her voice low and steady:

"Fine. I'll resign from the firm."

She wanted to see exactly how far Rinaldi & Associates would get without her.

Dante visibly relaxed when she agreed.

He reached for her hand:

"Bianca, don't worry. Even if you're not practicing law anymore, I can take care of you."

Bianca's expression didn't change. She sidestepped his hand, swallowing the pain, her tone flat:

"I don't need you to take care of me."

He'd already made his choice. There was no point pretending to care now.

Dante's throat bobbed. He stared at Bianca, dazed. The love that once filled her eyes had been replaced by something vast and empty, and it stung like looking into the sun.

His chest tightened with a dull, suffocating ache.

Why? He'd always loved Viviana, hadn't he? He'd only married Bianca on impulse, out of spite.

Now Viviana had achieved her dream. She'd gotten what she wanted, taken Bianca's place. He should be happy.

So why did the look of disappointment in Bianca's eyes cut so deep?

It was probably just responsibility.

That was how Dante consoled himself.

Right. Responsibility. He had married her, after all. Helping Viviana scheme against her like this was, admittedly, unfair.

But it didn't matter. They were still husband and wife. He'd make it up to her later.

The thought loosened the knot in his chest for a moment. He was about to say something when Viviana cut in:

"Dante, come shopping with me."

"I'm about to get promoted, so I should pick up some gifts for the team."

Dante glanced at Bianca:

"Bianca, Viviana's still new in Astoria. I need to look after her."

Bianca's voice was even, the sorrow in her eyes fading into something blank:

"It's fine. Go."

Dante blinked. Normally, whenever he mentioned spending time with Viviana, Bianca would argue with him.

No matter how many times he insisted they were just friends, she never believed him.

Why was she so agreeable today?

He looked into her calm, unreadable eyes, and an inexplicable unease crept through him.

He started to explain without thinking:

"Don't worry, I'll come straight home after we're done. I won't be long—"

Before he could finish, Viviana turned to him with a wounded expression:

"Dante, I know you're worried Bianca will get the wrong idea. It's okay, I can go by myself."

She managed a tight, brave smile:

"I'm used to being alone."

She turned and walked out, leaving behind a lonely silhouette.

Dante's face crumpled with sympathy, and he hurried after her.

In his mind, Bianca was the wife who would always forgive him. Whenever they fought, she'd find her own way to let it go without him having to lift a finger.

Viviana was different. She was high-maintenance. One wrong move and she'd sulk for days, exhausting everyone around her.

So he'd rather disappoint Bianca than risk upsetting Viviana.

Bianca stood rooted to the spot, motionless. Her entire body had gone rigid and cold. Sweat beaded along her spine. She bit down hard on her lip, but it did nothing to stop the chill spreading through her.

She watched the two of them leave and let out a bitter, quiet laugh.

She must have been blind all these years, believing Dante actually loved her.

How had she forgotten? Every single time she and Viviana clashed, Dante had taken Viviana's side. Every single time.

She cast a cool glance at Vincent and said quietly:

"You've wanted me out of this firm for a long time, haven't you?"

Guilt flickered across Vincent's face. Before he could respond, Bianca cut him off:

"You got what you wanted."

"I hope you won't regret today's decision."

Without waiting for an answer, she walked alone to handle her resignation paperwork. The staff at Rinaldi & Associates were stunned when they learned she was leaving. They'd watched Bianca pour years of her life into the firm, building its reputation case by case until half the made men in Astoria trusted no other counsel. No one expected her to leave so suddenly.

But given the whispers circulating the past two days, the shock faded quickly, replaced by quiet sympathy as they looked at her.

Bianca clenched her fists, forcing herself to ignore the pitying glances. Once the paperwork was done, she walked out of the firm for the last time.

Back at the compound, she called Elena Bellandi first:

"Mom, I've decided. I'm coming with you and Dad. Offshore, wherever the family keeps safe ground."

Elena paused for a beat, then her voice brightened:

"Really? You've finally come to your senses. Your father and I were so afraid you'd be stubborn and insist on staying in Astoria."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. You can still practice law from there. You don't have to chain yourself to one firm, one family."

"What about Dante? Is he coming with you, or staying behind for now?"

Bianca's voice dropped:

"Mom, I think I need to get a divorce first."

"Could you and Dad help me with the paperwork to get settled?"

"And the Vitale Family... have the Bellandis pull their support. The money, the shipping access, the political cover. Once the divorce is final, I won't have anything to do with the Vitale syndicate."

Dante had always believed he'd built the Vitale operation on talent alone. Fine. She'd let him prove it. Without Bellandi money and protection behind him, she'd see how long his empire lasted.

Elena was surprised, but she'd always respected her daughter's decisions. She didn't press for details, only offered careful reminders:

"Your marriage is your own business. Your father and I won't interfere. We'll have our people handle the withdrawal."

"If anything comes up that you can't handle, tell us."

Her mother's words thawed something in Bianca's frozen chest, just slightly.

She nodded:

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll take care of it."

She'd barely hung up when a message came through from a colleague at the firm:

"Bianca, we want to thank you for everything you've done for us over the years, so we'd like to throw you a farewell party."

"We've booked a villa on the south side of Astoria for tonight. We're planning a get-together, maybe stay the night. Are you free?"

Bianca had planned to slip away quietly, but these colleagues had always been good to her. After tonight, she might never see them again. She couldn't bring herself to refuse.

After a long moment of thought, she agreed.

She packed up a few things and headed to the villa.

What she hadn't expected was Viviana.

Viviana stood in the center of the crowd, her fingers laced through Dante's, her gaze landing on Bianca with a glint of smug provocation:

"Bianca, I never thought you'd actually show up to my promotion party."

"I knew Dante wouldn't lie to me."

Bianca instinctively looked toward the colleague who had sent her the message, only to find the woman staring at Dante with guilt written all over her face.

That told her everything she needed to know.

Dante had actually gone this far for Viviana. The man who had always been too proud for deception had learned to lie.

The grief in her chest was a steel needle, piercing her heart one slow millimeter at a time.

Dante walked up to Bianca, his voice low and flat. The ambient noise of the private dining room fell a half-step quieter as he moved, the way it always did, soldiers and associates adjusting without thinking.

"Tonight is Viviana's welcome dinner. She's still new, and some of the people at the firm might not respect her authority. You're here to lend her credibility."

Bianca swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat, gave him one look, and turned to leave. But Dante seized her arm.

"Bianca, what do you think you're doing? If you walk out now, where does that leave Viviana?"

"You're her sister-in-law, for God's sake. Would it kill you to show a little generosity?"

Sister-in-law?

That was the exact excuse Dante had used to force her into bringing Viviana into the counsel's office in the first place.

Whenever Bianca clashed with Viviana, he dragged out the same line, insisting she was the elder, the one who should yield.

Even now, he still hadn't exhausted that card.

Bianca couldn't take it anymore. She wrenched her arm free.

"I'm no sister-in-law of hers!"

"Have you forgotten? Not once, from the very beginning, has she ever called me that."

She turned to leave without waiting for his reaction, but something caught her eye: the bracelet on Viviana's wrist.

Bianca's heart slammed against her ribs.

That bracelet was part of her mother's gift when the marriage alliance was sealed, the only keepsake her late grandmother had left behind.

Bianca closed the distance to Viviana in three strides and grabbed her arm.

"Where did you get this bracelet?"

Viviana let out a shriek, struggling wildly.

"Counselor Bellandi, what are you doing? Let go of me!"

Bianca's voice was ice, her entire body radiating cold fury.

"I asked you a question. Why is this bracelet on your wrist?"

Before the words had fully left her mouth, a hard shove hit her between the shoulder blades, and a sharp pain tore through her arm.

She lost her grip on Viviana and went tumbling down the steps.

Dante had Viviana in his arms, his frigid gaze fixed on Bianca where she lay.

"Bianca, don't push it. I gave that bracelet to Viviana."

Bianca's leg had struck the edge of a step. The pain was blinding, as if the bone had cracked.

Hearing those words, she forced herself upright, both hands pressed hard against her chest, and every humiliation she had swallowed over the years finally erupted.

"That was my mother's gift to me! What right do you have to give it away? Give it back!"

Irritation creased Dante's brow. His signet ring sat motionless against his thumb.

"It's just a bracelet. Viviana liked it, so I let her have it. What's the big deal, Bianca? You're being incredibly petty."

Viviana put on a wounded expression, her fingertips drifting to her pearl earring for the briefest adjustment.

"Dante, since Counselor Bellandi doesn't want me to have it, I'll just give it back. Please don't fight over me."

Dante stroked Viviana's hair, his voice soft with affection.

"Don't worry about it. I gave it to you, so it's yours. She's always been stingy. Just ignore her."

Bianca's eyes were bloodshot.

"Stingy? Do you honestly think I don't know how much you've given her over the years?"

"I let everything else slide, but not this bracelet. If you won't return it, I'll call the police. It was given to me when our families joined. You had no right to dispose of it."

Dante hadn't expected a reaction this fierce. For a moment, he just stood there.

Viviana had taken a liking to Bianca's jewelry before, and every time he had simply let her have it.

Bianca had never once made a scene. Why was this time different?

Seeing the dark resolve on her face, he finally relented.

"Fine. Stay and see Viviana through the rest of her welcome dinner, and I'll give the bracelet back."

Bianca looked into his unyielding eyes and accepted, because she had no other choice.

She knew Dante. Once he set a condition, he never went back on it.

The fact that he was willing to return the bracelet at all was already a concession.

When Viviana realized Dante truly intended to give the bracelet back, a flash of venom crossed her eyes as she looked at Bianca.

So Dante still had some feelings for Bianca after all. She would have to find a way to make him despise her completely.

The dinner began. Bianca sat and watched as Dante attended to Viviana's every need at the long table, the low murmur of associates and their wives filling the private room of the restaurant the Family kept on retainer.

Picking out the best dishes for her. Peeling shrimp for her.

Refilling her wine. Pouring her water.

A bitter ache spread through Bianca's chest.

He had never done any of those things for her. Not once.

She had always assumed it was simply his nature, that he was too proud to bother with small gestures like these.

Now she understood. She simply wasn't worth the effort.

It didn't matter anymore. She had made her peace with it.

All she had to do was endure until the dinner ended, take back her grandmother's bracelet, and walk away, leaving Dante to Viviana for good.

She would never insert herself between them again.

After a few rounds of drinks, the air inside felt suffocating. Bianca slipped out alone to clear her head. The terrace overlooked the lit pool below, and the November air carried the faint smell of chlorine and distant cigarette smoke from the soldiers posted by the cars.

She had barely reached the pool when a hand closed around her arm.

Viviana stood there with a half-smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"What's Counselor Bellandi doing out here instead of inside? Couldn't stand watching me and Dante together? Thinking of running?"

"I suppose it makes sense. You only got him because I went abroad. Now that you see how devoted he is to me, it must be unbearable."

"You really are shameless, you know that? He obviously doesn't love you, yet you cling to him like a barnacle. If I were you, I'd have been gone a long time ago."

Bianca glanced at her, expression blank.

"I am leaving. Just not yet."

"I'm still waiting for you to return my bracelet."

Viviana ran her fingers along the jade on her wrist, a glint of malice in her eyes.

"And what if I said I have no intention of giving it back?"