Chloe’s champagne flute toppled, splashing across her lap.

A flight attendant rushed over.

Chloe shrieked, hand to her face. “Are you insane!”

“You deserve worse!”

The attendant physically stepped between us, her smile strained. She guided a furious Chloe to a seat far from mine, speaking in low, placating tones.

Finally, Chloe simmered down. She dabbed at her dress with a towel, shooting me a look of pure contempt.

“I hate women like you. So self-righteous. Calling me a whore. You’re just jealous because you’re old and no one wants you.”

I surged forward.

The attendant held me back.

I forced myself to sit. My hands were fists.

Chloe’s gaze swept over me, dismissive. “Let’s be real. You’re not young. Your husband definitely has someone on the side. Go home and check his phone. A woman like you… no wonder men don’t come home.”

SPLASH

The fresh orange juice the attendant had just handed me was now dripping from Chloe’s hair and face.

Her scream was ear-piercing.

More crew swarmed us, forming a human barrier. The head flight attendant, her smile now brittle, leaned close to me.

“Ms. Lopez, please. She is a… valued guest of Don Matteo Cefalù. It is in your best interest to let this go. He is very protective of her.”

Don Matteo Cefalù.

The title hit me like a bullet.

We landed for a brief layover. Neither of us disembarked. Phones could be turned on.

I texted Matteo.

Where are you

A photo came back. A cluttered ledger desk, stacks of shipment records and betting slips. Working hard for my wife

For me? Or for someone else

No reply.

I sent a question mark.

A second later, I heard his voice. From Chloe’s seat.

“Someone threw a drink on you? Who dared touch you, mi amore?”

“Some old hag! It’s your fault! If you were here she wouldn’t dare!”

“Shh, it’s my fault. I’m sorry.”

A mechanical female voice chimed from her phone. Alipay payment received. Five hundred thousand yuan

Matteo’s voice was warm, indulgent. “Buy yourself something pretty. Forget about her.”

My nails dug into my palms.

Chloe’s pout was audible. “Not enough! You said you missed me! You wanted to see me for New Year’s! If not for that, I wouldn’t be on this plane with that psychopath!”

“What about the new villa I just bought for you?”

She went quiet for a beat.

“I see you smiling, cuore mio.”

“I am not!” Her voice was lighter. “But… fine. You get one chance. Only because I love you.”

“Good. I will make it up to you tonight. All night.”

“Three hours. Minimum!”

“However long you want.”

A tremor ran through me. When he was sent to oversee the Family’s New York territory, our visits were brief. Just hugs. Chaste kisses. When I hinted at more, he’d sigh.

“I’ve been under a lot of pressure, amore. The business… it’s exhausting. Let me rest, okay?”

He was always too tired. And then he’d be gone again.

The plane prepared for takeoff. Chloe made a kissing sound into her phone and hung up.

Matteo’s text arrived.

Why don’t you trust me, Sara? Are you sad I’m working over the holiday? When I come home, I’ll take you for that rotisserie you love

As the engines roared, an attendant approached Chloe with a black, gold-embossed box.

“From a gentleman, Ms. Apple gate.”

“My Prada necklace! He remembered!”

The attendant handed her a card. “The gentleman also asked us to convey a message: ‘Do not let the noise of others drown out your own voice. Move forward. I am behind you. Always.’”

I looked at Matteo’s text on my screen. I closed my eyes.

The head attendant appeared beside me. She pressed a small, cool stone into my hand. A diamond.

“For you, Ms. Lopez.”

“For me?”

“Don Cefalù is aware of your… disagreement with Ms. Apple gate. Her doctor says she must avoid stress. So. You will go and apologize to her. Sincerely.”

I stared at the diamond. A bitter laugh escaped. “An apology? This seems excessive.”

“The Don earns several of these in a day. It is nothing.”

Several of these in a day.

A five-figure diamond.

I rolled the stone between my fingers.

And laughed.

A stranger got more from him than I ever did.

I nodded. “Fine. An apology.”

The attendant announced me. “Ms. Lopez is here to apologize, Ms. Apple gate!”

I gave a slight bow. “My behavior was unacceptable. Please accept my apology.”

Chloe stood up. “Okay. Let me slap you twice. Then I’ll accept it.”

The head attendant laughed nervously. “Ms. Apple gate, please. She is older. Show some mercy.”

“Older means nothing.” Chloe smirked. “That face is already ruined. Slapped or not, no man will want it. I’m doing her a favor. She gets a diamond, I get satisfaction.”

Another attendant whispered to me. “Just let her, ma’am. Two slaps and it’s over. She’s the Don’s girl.”

“The diamond is six figures, Ms. Lopez. It’s a good deal.”

Six figures.

A decade of my life.

This stone could buy my last ten years.

I held it up. Let it catch the light.

Then I flicked my wrist.

The diamond arced through the air, clattered onto Chloe’s tray table, and bounced to the floor.

“I don’t want it.”

CRACK

Her palm exploded against my cheek.

The force snapped my head to the side. I stumbled, the taste of copper in my mouth. An attendant caught my arm.

“Ms. Lopez, please, just let it go.”

“We’ll find the diamond for you.”

Chloe sneered. “You dare refuse a gift?”

CRACK

My own hand flashed out.

The sound was louder, harder.

Chloe reeled back, crashing into her seat, a sharp cry ripped from her throat.

“You bitch! You hit me!”

“I’ll do more than hit you!”

I lunged.

Hands grabbed me, pulled me back. The rest of the flight passed under the watchful eyes of the crew, a tense ceasefire holding us apart.

The moment the plane touched down, Chloe, one cheek flaming red, bolted from her seat.

I watched her stride through the arrival gate.

And throw herself into a man’s arms.

Matteo.

His hands went to her waist. Then he saw the mark on her face.

His voice, usually so controlled, was sharp. “Who did this?”

“She did! The one you gave the diamond to! It just made her worse! No one has ever hit me!”

Chloe’s tears were instant, convincing.

His expression darkened, a storm gathering. The placid Don was gone, replaced by something dangerous.

“Where is she?”

Chloe pointed behind her, weeping into his jacket.

“Right here.”

I stepped through the gate.

Matteo’s body went rigid.