In order to protect me, Don Salvatore deliberately announces that my fiance, Simone Pozzi, is his long-lost son.

Simone shakes with excitement when he sees the man in a bespoke suit stepping out of the Rolls-Royce that is parked outside my house.

Just as I'm about to tell him it's all a lie, he shoves me aside. He even brushes his sleeves in disgust, as if he has touched something filthy.

Simone says, "Stay away from me. Don't let your poverty rub off on me! Since I'm the Don's son, we'll call off our engagement. An illegitimate bastard like you isn't even fit to wipe my shoes!"

When I try to explain, he cuts me off by writing out a check and flinging it hard into my face. The sharp edge of the paper slices across my cheek.

"Take this one million dollars as our breakup fee and don't bother me again. We're no longer from the same world," Simone says.

I watch the check flutter down into the mud and quietly turn off my phone screen.

On the screen is a message Papa—Don Salvatore—has just sent me, "Just bear with it a little longer, Principessa. Papa will bring you home soon to take over the famiglia."

Simone is so determined to cut himself off completely. He might have the luck to claim a fortune that big, but not the life to enjoy it.

Papa was stunned to hear my words.

He then chuckled and said, "You're finally willing to let go of that precious CEO of yours now, Zoe? I've told you that someone his status is only good for you to fool around with before marriage. He's far from good enough to marry you.

"So, when are you planning to come back?"

I glanced at a nearby couple. They were wrapped in a tight embrace amidst a cheering crowd. I whispered, "In three days. I'll come back after I settle everything."

Perhaps sensing the weight in my voice, Papa replied seriously, "Don't worry. The Sortino heir is absolutely exceptional in both looks and ability. You won't be disappointed."

After ending the call, I stood stiffly in the bustling airport. I only turned and walked away after I saw the man I've loved for five years personally put a ring on another woman's finger.

This was the moment I'd dreamed of, but now I was no more than a bystander.

Someone bumped into me while I was distracted, and I fell to the ground. Passersby glanced at me with curiosity, but not Simone Pozzi.

He was still lost in the joy of the proposal, completely unaware of my presence.

Simone only gave me a call long after I left the airport. "Sorry, something came up earlier. Are you still at the restaurant? I'm on my way."

I glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's already 1:00 am, Simone. The restaurant's long since closed."

Simone hesitated briefly and then softened his tone. "Don't be mad, tesoro. Go to sleep. I'll take you to another restaurant tomorrow."

That night, he didn't come home. Instead, he was partying in the largest banquet hall in Jorena.

Friends of my famiglia sent me live videos. Champagne and fine wine overflowed, while Simone and Jasmina Leone hugged and kissed amidst the crowd.

They were basking in everyone's well-wishes, including Simone's closest friends.

"You two still ended up together after all these years, Simone."

"You've got to thank me for the reminder. Otherwise, Simone would've gone to Zoe for a pro—"

The sentence was cut off abruptly as Simone shot them a warning glance.

Confused, Jasmina turned to him. "Who's Zoe?"

Simone replied in an indifferent manner, "She's just a subordinate."

Subordinate? I chuckled bitterly. Would any subordinate let you sleep with her for five years?

Those close friends of his used to affectionately call me "Mrs. Pozzi" and would tease me about how Simone had fallen hard for me. They even said that I was the love of his life.

It turned out they all knew that he still harbored feelings for his first love.

I recalled how excited I was when I discovered the drone purchase order and then watched him walk toward me with flowers in his arms.

…

That night, I didn't sleep a wink. I leaned against the window, quietly staring at the empty room.

The balcony was filled with my favorite blue roses. Our photos from our first to fifth anniversary hung on the opposite wall. We looked beyond happy in each of them.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Mr. Bianchi, Simone's assistant, walked in holding a gift box.

He said, "Mr. Pozzi sent me to bring this to you. He said he didn't want you going to bed angry. It's a sapphire necklace, handcrafted by a master jeweler. There's only one like it in the world. Mr. Pozzi really cares for you, Signora."

I tossed the gift box aside without a second thought.

So what if it was the only one in the world? I wasn't his only one. If he truly cared for me, he wouldn't have proposed to another woman.

I closed my eyes, exhausted. It was already noon the next time I opened them again.

Simone was sitting at my bedside, the gift box in his hands.

Simone said, "It's not easy being my assistant. He got woken up by me in the middle of the night to deliver a gift, only to be kicked out by my tesoro."

Chuckling softly, he ruffled my hair. "You're getting more temperamental, Zoe. Looks like I'll have to come and persuade you myself."

Simone then brushed my hair aside, reaching to fasten the necklace around my neck.

He was close enough for me to clearly notice the red marks on his neck. I could also catch a whiff of the sweet, unfamiliar perfume lingering on him.

My stomach twisted in an instant. I slapped Simone's hand away, my tone icy when I said, "Stop pretending, Simone. I saw you proposing to her at the airport yesterday."

His hand froze, as a flicker of restraint crossed his eyes. However, he quickly masked it with calm. "You've misunderstood, Zoe. Jasmina was forced into an arranged marriage by her family, so she asked me to help put on an act.

"She's been my friend for years. I can't let her marry someone she doesn't love. You're a woman too. You should understand her predicament."

I scoffed. Of course, I'd understand. After all, I'd be marrying a man I didn't love three days from now.

Seeing how I was silent, Simone assumed I was understanding enough. He continued to fasten the necklace around me. "To make it look more convincing, I'll have her move in in a few days.

"You should stay at the villa in the suburbs for now. I'll bring you back once her parents give up completely."

I let out a cold laugh and turned to him. "Does that mean I'll never come back if her parents never give up?"

Simone hesitated for a moment, then brushed past the topic. "Alright, the restaurant's reservation is almost up. Let's go."

I brushed his hand away, refusing to go.

Simone's expression darkened at my continuous rejection. He slammed the door shut.

As soon as the door closed, I yanked the necklace off my neck and tossed it straight into the trash.

I remembered the day when Papa sent his men to drag me back for an arranged marriage. I was willing to go against him for Simone, even giving up my title as the mafia's Principessa.

Back then, I confidently told Papa that Simone would make me happy.

But now, I looked at myself in the mirror. My chest was rising and falling violently, my eyes were bloodshot, and a deep red mark wrapped around my neck.

I was nowhere close to happiness. Instead, I looked like a complete wreck.

However, it was still not too late to turn back.

I let out a deep breath, straightened my posture, and gathered my thoughts. Then, I began packing.

As the mafia's Principessa, I would not be easily confined by one man alone.

My belongings weren't too many after tossing out everything Simone gave me. As such, packing went by quickly.

Five long years, reduced to a single 24-inch suitcase.

I gave myself a self-deprecating smile before heading to the office. Then, I placed my resignation letter on Simone's desk.

Just as I stepped out, Mr. Bianchi came rushing after me with my letter. "Why are you quitting suddenly, Zoe? Mr. Pozzi will never agree to this!"

"Joining required his approval, but leaving does not," I replied.

Mr. Bianchi was surprised by my indifference. He was about to reply, but was interrupted by Simone's call.

He said, "Help me book the wedding venue and make sure it's in a fairytale theme. But remember, no roses—Jasmina is allergic. No need to worry about the wedding dress. I'll personally take her to the fitting.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

Mr. Bianchi shot me a nervous glance and replied with a trembling voice, "Alright, Mr. Pozzi."

He tried to explain after ending the call, but I cut him off. "Put the resignation letter back on his desk, Mr. Bianchi. Do your job, and don't meddle."

After that, I returned to the office to sort through handover documents, only to hear surprised gasps from my colleagues.

"Oh my! Why is the company suddenly transferring us money?"

"I got it too! The note says it's a wedding bonus. Is Mr. Pozzi getting married soon?"

Everyone exchanged glances, eyes wide in shock.

"How could you not tell us about something so big, Zoe?"

"That's right! You're so close to Mr. Pozzi, I bet your gift is the biggest!"

Excited, they crowded around me, only to find a completely blank transaction record.

Someone exclaimed, "You didn't receive anything, Zoe? But Mr. Pozzi always treats you the best!"

It was hard to describe how I'd felt at that moment. I felt like laughing more than getting upset. I wanted to laugh at how foolish I was for the past three years.

Back then, tired from all the infighting of my mafia famiglia, I chose to run away.

I wasn't expecting to meet Simone at the company I worked at.

At that time, he wasn't a CEO yet, but only an ordinary coworker of mine. He had no subordinates at his beck and call and no ability to throw millions around on a whim.

We brainstormed proposals, had lunch together, and stole kisses in the office corridors.

After we got together, Simone said he wanted to start a business. I transferred the money to him without hesitation.

He built this company with my support, pulling me into his arms excitedly when it finally succeeded.

Simone told me that he'd used up all his luck in meeting me. He'd promised me a beautiful future and a happy family.

So, I waited for the day he would invite me to build that future with him, yet he refused to acknowledge our relationship in front of our colleagues.

Simone said it was because he didn't want office romances to set a precedent. He was also worried about being accused of favoritism.

No matter how intimate we were at night, I still had to knock on his door and address him as "Mr. Pozzi" the next morning.

Even while I was feeling wronged, Simone only comforted me by telling me it was just part of the fun.

On the day he walked toward me with a flower bouquet, I thought I had finally reached the ending I'd been waiting for.

It turned out it was all wishful thinking on my part.

I smiled bitterly as I placed the last file into my box. But as I turned around, I saw Simone walking in with Jasmina. Their fingers were tightly intertwined, completely unbothered by everyone else.

Even when our eyes met, he did not let go of her hand.

Simone was showing Jasmina around the company, pride written all over his face like a child eagerly showing off his perfect scores.

"Who's this lady, Mr. Pozzi?" Everyone was watching him, curious.

"Can't you see the ring on her finger? Of course, she's the CEO's wife!"

Everyone's gaze shifted to the matching rings on their ring fingers, and one colleague gasped. "I've seen that ring in a magazine, it's one of a kind worldwide! You truly went all out, Mr. Pozzi!"

"Oh my, Mr. Pozzi seems cold most of the time. Who would've thought he's actually a devoted husband?"

The office buzzed with excitement. I was the only one looking out of place in the corner.

Simone noticed something was off with me. His eyes landed on the cardboard box on my desk and asked, "What's that box for, Zoe?"

I was about to speak when Jasmina cut in. She waved her hand and announced that she wanted to treat everyone to a meal.

"Is that okay?" she asked Simone cautiously.

He smiled gently, replying, "Of course. After handing out all those bonuses, this is nothing."

I scoffed. "Go ahead. I have something going on, so I'll take my leave now."

Simone immediately grabbed my arm. "Do you realize that embarrassing my wife means you're going against me, Zoe?"

At that, I turned back and retorted coldly, "Then tell me, did you send wedding bonuses to everyone but me on purpose?"

Simone frowned. "You know that's not what I meant—"

I couldn't be bothered to waste time on them. I wrenched my arm free. "I already said I'm not going!"

Simone's expression darkened instantly. No one in the office dared to speak. They were surprised at how I had dared to put him in a difficult spot, especially in front of Jasmina.

"If that's the case, don't bother coming in tomorrow," he gritted. "You're fired, Zoe."

Looking back…

Only when I stepped outside the building did the tears I'd been holding back start to fall.

All those years of giving everything to him and the company, but they were easily undone by a single sentence from Jasmina.

I laughed bitterly at the thought of how I'd wasted all those years.

I was the one who submitted my resignation first. Even if Simone had said that, I still got what I wanted in the end.

So, why was I crying so pathetically now?

As I wiped my tears away roughly, I decided that it didn't matter.

After all, I was about to start my new life soon.