Nico swaggered off, utterly convinced he had won me back.

I dropped the hose and rolled my eyes. No wonder his brother died young. With a sibling like Nico, even a saint would lose patience.

"Luca," I said, turning to the estate's head of security. "Log all the gifts Nico sent, then have them delivered to the Moretti family's charitable foundation."

I paused, my voice turning cold. "If he dares to come back, remind him what happens when you harass the Donna of the Moretti family."

Then I put him out of my mind.

I genuinely thought we would never cross paths again. I was so wrong.

That evening, at an exclusive club where marble floors gleamed under gold chandeliers and soft jazz drifted through the air, I had a meeting. I was there to negotiate a partnership with an artist.

The moment I stepped into the lobby, a familiar, mocking voice called out from the second-floor landing. "I knew you'd come."

Nico leaned against the railing like a spoiled prince, a smirk plastered on his face. "Honestly, you don't have to follow me everywhere. I'm a man of my word. I said I'd have you back in three days, and I will."

I ignored him and headed for the private room I’d booked.

He rushed down the stairs to block my path. "Stop with the childish tantrums, Isabella. I know your father's art gallery is on the verge of bankruptcy and you're selling off family heirlooms to get by."

"A glass of juice here costs more than your monthly allowance. You don't have to embarrass yourself trying to impress me."

I took a deep breath. This man was beyond exhausting.

My father's gallery was struggling, but as Colter's wife, I could buy this entire club ten times over. He had slipped an unlimited black card into my purse before I left to visit my parents.

I took another deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "Are you unemployed? Or do you just enjoy barking like a stray dog all over the city?"

He was momentarily speechless before sneering, "Stop pretending. You came here for me, didn't you? Now that you've got my attention, why the high-and-mighty act?"

"Come on. I've got a private room."

"Daisy's there, too. You two should learn to get along. We'll all be family soon enough."

As he spoke, Daisy glided over and linked her arm through his.

"Honey, is this Isabella?"

She looked me up and down, her eyes flickering with jealousy and resentment before she plastered on a sweet smile. "Now I see why Nico can't get you out of his head. You're gorgeous."

"But beauty alone isn't enough to hold a man's interest."

Daisy lifted her chin, her tone dripping with condescension. "We'll be family soon. I can teach you a thing or two about how to keep a man. You really should learn to control that temper; men don't like difficult women."

I narrowed my eyes, sizing her up. Her skin was glowing, her eyes bright, her posture perfect. She looked nothing like a grieving widow.

"You want to teach me?" I asked softly.

Daisy beamed, pleased with herself. "What, worried I'm better at it? I'm not some spoiled princess. I know how to love a man."

With that, she shot Nico a doe-eyed, adoring glance.

Her shamelessness was almost comical.

"It's clear no one ever taught you when to shut your mouth."

I glanced at the woman standing behind me—Eva, one of Colter's personal bodyguards, assigned to me for my trip. She was a trained fighter, known for taking down a knife-wielding attacker with nothing but a bottle opener.

"Eva, teach her a lesson," I said, my voice cold. Eva stepped forward without hesitation.

"Don't you dare touch her, Isabella!" Nico yelled, immediately shielding Daisy. He stared at me in disbelief. "She's the mother of the Falcone heir! To touch her is to make an enemy of my entire family!"

I met his furious gaze without flinching. "And why wouldn't I dare? I have nothing to fear from you."

Nico was stunned. A storm of emotions crossed his face. "You've always been a troublemaker, Isabella. Breaking off our engagement was to protect you from the family power struggles. I was the one who stepped up and shielded you from all of it."

"But we're adults now. I can't keep cleaning up your messes. You lay a finger on Daisy today, you'll be offending someone even more powerful tomorrow. You cause a scandal like that, and your father's little business will be ground to dust!"

I couldn't believe his gall, standing there with that self-satisfied look, as if he expected my gratitude. The thought was laughable.

It was only after marrying Colter that I learned the power struggles back then had nothing to do with me.

It was Nico who had insisted on throwing himself into that mess, desperate to play the tragic hero.

And because of him, I missed my chance to meet Colter two years sooner.

At that thought, my last shred of patience evaporated.

"I'll say it one last time, Nico. I'm here on business, not for you. And stop talking about a wedding. It's never going to happen."

His expression hardened. He narrowed his eyes, trying to see through my facade. "I'm in no mood for your games, Isabella."

Just then, Daisy smiled sweetly. "Calm down, Nico. Isabella's just throwing a tantrum. It's my fault. I forgot to prepare a gift for our first meeting," she cooed, rubbing his arm.

With that, she removed her ruby earrings and held them out to me. They were an exquisite, signature Falcone design. "Nico gave these to me. They're a bit too flashy for my taste, but they'd suit you perfectly."

"Take them! Don't be shy. I have plenty of jewelry. Once you're back with the Falcone family, you can come to my room and pick out whatever you like!"

I watched her pathetic little performance with a blank face.

Nico frowned and ordered, "Just take them. It's a kind gesture. And your family could use something to keep up appearances. And you should get rid of that cheap piece of junk around your neck. It’s embarrassing."

Cheap junk? I instinctively touched the pendant.

This was no cheap junk. It was a platinum pendant personally designed by Colter, engraved with the initials of our son and the Moretti family's griffin crest.

To hear this fool call Colter’s gift ‘cheap junk’… I’d completely lost interest in dealing with the artist. I turned to leave.

"Stop!" Nico roared, enraged at being ignored. In a flash, he reached out and ripped the pendant from my throat.

A sharp pain shot through my neck as the chain snapped.

"Get rid of that trash!" he demanded.

"Daisy, put yours on her!"

"Give it back!" I yelled, lunging for the platinum pendant in his hand. If Colter found out I'd lost the gift he gave me, he would "punish" me in his own way.

My desperation only fueled Nico's rage. He threw the pendant onto the marble floor and crushed it under the heel of his expensive, custom-made leather shoe.