The smell of disinfectant and the monotone ticking of machines woke me. I opened my eyes to find my neck wrapped in thick gauze.

The nurse told me that a passerby had saved me. The blade had barely missed my carotid artery by only a fraction of an inch, and I had been unconscious for two days from blood loss.

There was no one else in my room. Clinging to the last shred of hope, I asked softly, "Has Vittore Ferri been here?"

The nurse's gaze softened with sympathy. "The Ferri family's butler took care of your medical bills. As for Mr. Ferri… he hasn't been by."

I should have expected it. With Chiara constantly causing drama, there was no way Vittore would come.

Vittore… Whatever his reasons, I would no longer forgive him. I reached for my phone and noticed a message from my friend.

"Your flight's booked! It's tomorrow at 3:00 pm, a direct flight from Kegrun Airport to Gavelle Airport. The flight number is AF009. You can pack light since Gavelle has everything! I'll be waiting for you in Gavelle!"

At 3:00 pm tomorrow afternoon… The timing was just right for me.

I replied, "Got it. I'll be there."

…

From 9:00 am the next morning, Vittore kept calling non-stop. I only answered him once I was on the plane.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?" Vittore's voice sounded both anxious and angry.

I could faintly hear sobbing in the background, along with, "Ms. Delle was already gone when I did my rounds. I wasn't even on duty last night…"

I said calmly, "Don't trouble the nurse. She's got nothing to do with my actions."

"Then who does? Chiara? I already told you—"

I cut him off with a scoff. "Oh? So you knew? I thought you didn't."

Vittore faltered. "Francesca, she won't be staying at our house for long. I told you, she'll be gone once my father is finished with—"

"And then what? So a woman who's just temporarily staying at my house can sleep in the master bedroom, openly hold your arm at a gathering, sip wine with you while I'm being taken against my will, and also keep you from coming to see me while I'm unconscious?

"Vittore, she has only lived with us for a few days, and our relationship is already in tatters. I almost died… Have you not even considered why this is happening?"

"I can't believe you're being so petty, Francesca. You weren't like this before—"

"And you weren't like this either!"

I felt like I was about to break down. Perhaps realizing I was genuinely angry, Vittore fell silent for a moment.

Then, in a gentler tone, he said, "You never mentioned any of the things that had been bothering you before. I thought you didn't mind. I know you're upset now. I apologize. Where are you right now? I'll come get you."

"There's no need for that," I said coldly. "I'm never going back."

"Are you joking?" Vittore finally lost his temper. "You're my wife! Where can you go if not home?"

"Wife?"

I burst into laughter, loud enough for the other passengers to stare, but it didn't bother me.

Wiping the tears from laughing too hard, I looked out the plane window at the ground staff below and smiled. "Vittore, I would've totally forgotten if you hadn't reminded me."

"What?"

"Ten days ago, I found two almost identical documents in your safe. One had our names. The other had your name and Chiara's."

"Francesca…"

"There's something I should have said to you a long time ago, Vittore," I said, smiling. "Congratulations to you and Chiara on your marriage."

Then I hung up, letting the plane carry me away from this city.