Antonio Rivera finally finds out that I haven't asked him for money in a week.

For once, he sends me a text message to compliment me. "Darling, you've finally learned how to become a good Donna. I've had my men deliver this week's worth of miracle drugs to your mother's ward. As long as you remain docile and don't be greedy, I'll give you anything you want."

What he doesn't know is that I'm printing out a divorce agreement when I receive his message while wearing an old dress from three years ago.

No one will believe that I, the Donna of the Rivera family, have to ask Antonio's Consigliere, Elena Gallo, for money even when I need to buy myself some tampons.

Hell, I have to apply for a leave request three days in advance if I wish to leave my home.

Antonio keeps telling me that he's doing this to protect me.

"It's too dangerous outside, sweetheart. All you have to do is stay at home like a good girl you are."

But one week ago, Mom's illness took a turn for the worse. I begged Elena to skip the request and let me out of the villa.

Elena, however, dragged out my request for seven long days. Only when Mom died did she finally permit me to leave.

Miracle drugs? My mom is already dead. I'm no longer tolerating anyone or anything anymore.

"Go ahead with the divorce, Antonio. I've already signed the agreement."

I dropped the divorce papers onto Antonio Rivera's desk.

"Stop joking," he said without even looking up. He continued scanning his reports.

"I have a dinner appointment tonight. I don't have time for this nonsense."

"I'm not joking," I said, my words firm.

"I want a divorce."

Finally, he glanced up, clearly irritated.

"You know I don't like jokes like that."

His subordinates wisely excused themselves, shooting me pitying looks.

"I'm not joking," I said again with my fists clenched, forcing myself to look him in the eyes.

Antonio Rivera stood up, towering over me. The scent of his cologne mixed with cigar smoke made my throat tighten.

"Sweetheart."

He pulled me close, his voice low as it brushed against my ear.

"Your mother's medication costs a thousand dollars per pill, and she needs six pills a day. If you divorce me, she'll die."

I gritted my teeth, hatred flooding my chest.

I had once been mesmerized by his dominance, but now it made me sick.

"I don't need your medicine anymore!"

I shoved him away, shouting, "My mother is dead, and I just need you to sign!"

His gaze darkened.

"How dare you use that to trick me? Elena showed me a video of your mother taking a walk this morning."

I widened my eyes, about to deny it, but then his Consigliere, Elena Gallo, walked into the room.

"Don, we should leave."

He stood up immediately and gave me an order. "Stop making a fuss. We'll talk when I get back."

I knew the talk wouldn't happen.

To him, this was just me having another one of my "random tantrums".

In less than four hours, I'd be apologizing to him.

The old me would have done that.

Back then, I was terrified that if I upset him, he'd cut off Mom's medication. I'd agree to anything, just to keep the peace.

Even when people mocked me and called me "spineless", I would act like I didn't hear it.

But this time, it was different.

If only he had finished listening to my phone call to him a week ago, maybe I could have convinced myself that all of it was done out of love.

But when I started to talk, Elena had interrupted our call.

"Mrs. Rivera, are you going out to buy the latest jewelry collection again? It's not safe these days, and you can't even shoot a gun properly. You shouldn't cause trouble for Don Antonio right now."

I tried to explain urgently, "No! It's about my mom..."

"Your mom's fine," she interrupted sweetly.

"I visited her today, and she's eating well. You shouldn't lie about her health condition just to get permission to go out."

But the photos sneakily taken by the caregiver clearly showed that Mom was dying, and her life was hanging by a thread.

I was about to explain, but Antonio cut me off impatiently.

"Enough, Isabella. I'm busy. I don't have time for your lies. You're always lying to go out and have fun. Last time it was a toothache, now you're using your mother? Just listen to Elena. She knows how to take care of you well."

That was his response to every request I made.

Even though I was his Donna, I had to ask Elena for permission to even buy tampons, let alone go out.

She'd always find some excuse to shut me down.

"Your reason for going out isn't valid. If it's an ache from a wisdom tooth, just take some painkillers."

"You saved a kitten that ate poison? That's not my problem."

"Tampons? Just borrow some from the household staff."

That wisdom tooth ended up growing crooked because I never saw a dentist.

The kitten died in my arms.

The household staff looked at me with pity.

Antonio would send the latest dresses and jewelry from every season to the villa without delays.

But everything was locked up, and I wasn't even allowed to touch them.

It was laughable. While Mom lay dying, I was writing out a long letter just to request permission to leave the house.

Elena glanced at it for a second and rejected it.

"You need to apply three working days in advance to go out. You'll have to wait three days."

Desperate, I wept as I begged her, "Please, just let me go out for two hours. My mom really doesn't have much time left."

She smiled and said, "Is that so? But if it's her time, no matter if you go see her or not, she'll still die. I have to fulfill my duty to look after you. You can't go out without a proper reason."

Calls to Antonio were rejected, too.

Three days turned into five days, and then into seven days.

Mom's caregiver soon sent me a photo of Mom's dead body.

Even if I could still convince myself that Antonio had done all that out of "protection" or "love" before, now that my mother was gone, what reason did I have left to stay in this cage?

I wiped away my tears as I wrapped up my thoughts and started packing my things.

Suddenly, my phone lit up. It was a notification from Antonio. He had shared a social media post of Elena.

In the photo, she was standing next to Antonio, raising a glass to celebrate their collaboration.

The caption read, "A day in my life with Don Antonio."

Before I could say anything, Antonio sent a message.

"Did you see Elena's post? Don't overthink things. I'm telling you again, we're just coworkers. My family is cleaning up our reputation, and I don't want anyone thinking there's any conflict between my Consigliere and my Donna."

Whenever she was involved, he always stepped in immediately.

I didn't want to respond, but my anger was boiling.

Since I had nothing left, why should I be afraid?

Chuckling to myself, I typed out a response underneath the post.

"All families should hire Elena as their Consigliere. After all, she boldly controls the Donna's personal freedom and expertly exerts her authority by making the most of her power of approval. Please, once you've gotten my position, try to maintain that same 'fairness' for yourself."

After sending it, a little of the weight in my chest lifted.

I shoved the last simple dress into my suitcase.

The ill-fitting, expensive gowns, the house full of surveillance cameras, and Antonio's controlling love…

They wouldn't hold me back anymore.

My phone vibrated suddenly. It was a call from Antonio. I rejected the call immediately, just like how he'd ignored all of mine before Mom passed away.

Less than ten minutes later, I heard Antonio's hurried footsteps downstairs.

This was truly rare. When I ran a high fever before, he only had Elena bring me fever-reducing medicine.

It seemed like Elena was the key to his haste in handling this.

He hadn't even taken off his suit when he stormed into the bedroom, advancing with a menacing look in his eyes. "You dared to hang up on my call?"

I was folding clothes. I kept my head down and answered softly, "I didn't want to pick up."

He grabbed my wrist with force, making me look him in the eye.

"Just because I told you to shut up? Elena just secured a partnership, and as the Don, I'm celebrating with core members. What's the problem with that?"

His voice grew louder and was filled with anger.

"Do you have any idea how many people saw your comment? Some even guessed she's my mistress! Elena cares about her reputation, and because you mocked her, she cried so much that she fainted!"

"Oh."

I tilted my head, not quite understanding what he was so angry about.

"What does that have to do with me? Am I her mother?"

He snorted angrily.

I slowly continued, "Clearly, everyone thinks that your so-called Consigliere has crossed the line, and that's why they're talking about her."

"Enough!"

He suddenly raised his voice, causing the bodyguards in the hallway to step back.

"Elena is our family's Consigliere. The funds that pass through her every day are more than you've ever seen in your entire life. Here you are, living under my protection with all your luxuries, and you still dare to slander my most trusted subordinate?"

His eyes were filled with disappointment and accusation.

"You live in a villa with hundreds of servants taking care of you, and you have no idea how hard it is working out there. I've spoiled you, and now, out of jealousy, you're defaming Elena, who has always looked after you well. If this happens again, I'll stop your mother's medication."

I looked at his towering figure and suddenly let out a sharp laugh.

"My life is a luxurious one?"

He furrowed his eyebrows and stared at me like I was crazy.

I grabbed his wrist and dragged him into the walk-in closet.

It was full of fine clothing.

But they were all locked in display cabinets.

"Look at these!"

I pointed at the locks on the display cabinets, my voice shaking with anger.

"I'm not allowed to wear anything from here, not even a sock, let alone dresses. Don Antonio, can you tell me which lady out there has to ask permission just to wear her underwear?"

Antonio furrowed his brow. "That's because you always choose clothes that aren't suitable for the occasion."

"Ha! Not suitable?"

I scoffed. "Every 'unsuitable' dress ends up on Elena the next day! Even the most desperate homewrecker in the world wouldn't want my pathetic life!"

I thought I had made myself clear.

But Antonio only appeared confused and impatient.

"So, you made her look bad in public just because of these dresses? Can't you be more considerate?"

The immense feeling of helplessness made my head spin.

I turned away and spoke in an emotionless tone.

"Think whatever you want, but we're still getting a divorce."

Those words enraged him.

Antonio quickly caught up to me and trapped me in his embrace.

"Watch your words, Mrs. Rivera. Don't forget who was the one who arranged the best medical team for your mother."

I bit my lip hard to stop the tears from falling.

How ridiculous. He had arranged the best medical team for my mother, but he didn't even know she had passed away.

"Let me go," I said, my voice trembling.

"I want to leave."

Antonio suddenly laughed. "Divorce? Then what? Will you let your gambler of a father sell you to the next mafia boss?"

His words were like knives stabbing deep into my heart.

Three years ago, it was indeed because my father had fallen into a debt trap and abandoned my sick mother that I was forced into this marriage.

To be precise, I was sold as a debt repayment and sent directly to his bed.

Antonio knew this was my greatest wound, yet he mercilessly exposed it now.

"At least the next person won't be you."

I struggled. "I've already signed the divorce papers."

He leaned down and whispered in my ear, his warm breath sending a chill down my spine.

"You think the divorce is up to you?"

"Remember, darling, there's only one way the wife of a priest leaves her marriage."

I knew exactly what he meant.

Death.

"I'll give you access to the clothes, and as for money, I'll transfer 50 thousand dollars to you every month from my private account. There's no need for any application."

It sounded all too familiar.

He would hurt me first, followed by sweet promises to try to get me to continue being his obedient woman.

If this were before, I would've gratefully accepted.

But now, I was clear-headed.

Money, clothes… Were they really the root of the problem?

He had neglected the one person who truly deserved punishment. Elena.

"I don't need your money." I coldly rejected him.

Antonio narrowed his eyes. "You'd rather risk your mother's medication and watch her die without it?"

That same threat again.

My heart twisted painfully, but I remained calm on the outside. "She'll understand."

He clearly didn't expect that answer. For a moment, I saw panic in his eyes.

It was like he didn't understand why his usual threats didn't work this time.

But his pride wouldn't allow him to beg for reconciliation repeatedly.

He watched as I walked toward the door without a second glance.

Antonio raised his hand. His signal changed from "make her stay" to "let her go".

I remembered a time when I was at headquarters and overheard Elena saying to him, "Don, Mrs. Rivera has been watching romantic dramas lately. Do you think one day she might start arguing with you like a female lead in a romance drama and ask for a divorce?"

She then added, "If it ever gets to that point, just ignore her. Once she realizes how cruel the outside world is, she'll come back to you crying and apologizing."

He probably thought the same thing now.

…

It wasn't until I completely disappeared from his sight that Antonio snapped out of it.

He irritably reached for his cigarette, but instead, he found a small paper packet.

Inside were a few pieces of hard mint candy.

He smoked so heavily that his throat often felt irritated.

I had tried hundreds of different recipes to make him some candy, all just to make him feel a little more comfortable.

He unwrapped a piece and popped it into his mouth. The cool sweetness made him relax, and his furrowed brow smoothed out.

"I'll let her stay out there and have fun for a couple of days," he thought to himself.

I had worked so hard to make him candy. Surely I must love him.

Dragging my small suitcase behind me, I went to see Professor Margarita Accardi. She was a close friend of Mom's.

When I gave up pursuing my master's degree in archaeology to marry Antonio, she was the only one who was completely against it.

She didn't attend the wedding ceremony, but she sent me a text that day.

"You're losing more than you're gaining. When you've grown tired of being a canary in a cage, remember there's a difficult but free path you can take."

Her words were almost prophetic.

In the early days of our marriage, Antonio's controlling behavior wasn't as obvious. He'd take me to various events with him. But then, someone stared at me a bit too long. His eyes darkened, and from that day on, I was never allowed to go to another event.

Things got worse when Elena suggested she could "take care" of me. That was when I truly lost all my freedom.

The door opened.

When Margarita saw me show up in a shabby outfit, her expression shifted to one of understanding.

"Come in, dear," she said, stepping aside. "I just made some coffee."

Tears instantly welled up in my eyes.

Margarita waited for me to calm down before speaking slowly.

"We just discovered a new tomb in Stonemoor, and I need an assistant for my team."

I looked up, my eyes wide. "Are you offering me a chance?"

"Yes, as long as you haven't forgotten your expertise. I don't want to bring a high-society socialite to an archaeological site."

"I can do it!" I declared at once. "I'm sure of it!"

Margarita finally smiled. "Good. Get ready. We leave tomorrow."

The scorching sun at Stonemoor felt like it would melt me alive. I kneeled in the excavation pit, carefully brushing dirt off the ancient tiles. Sweat trickled down my forehead, mixing with the dust and sticking to my skin.

Suddenly, I heard a shrill voice coming from behind. "Oh, my God! Isabella? Is that really you?"

I froze.

Turning around, I saw Elena, dressed in an expensive Chanel suit and holding a scarf to her nose while looking at my dirty appearance in disgust.

"I didn't know you had the guts to run away. Looks like you've degraded yourself to the point of mingling with these losers who dig up skeletons."

The expressions on my teammates' faces changed.

I stood up, stepping in front of my teammates.

"Elena, are you a dog? Why do you always come sniffing around?"

Her face turned red with anger. She was about to snap back at me when a tall figure stepped out from behind her.

It was Antonio. He was wearing a casual suit, looking like he was on vacation. When he saw my dirt-stained face, his expression shifted to one of surprise.

"What's going on?" he asked Elena, but his gaze never left me.

Elena immediately faked a tearful expression, her eyes turning red. "Don Antonio, I didn't expect Bella to find out that we're here and stalk us all the way here. I just wanted to talk to her about it, but she cursed at me..."

Antonio frowned at my dirty face. "Is this what you've been reduced to since leaving me? If you're stalking us to beg me for reconciliation, you'd better start by apologizing to Elena."

"Apologize?"

I pointed at Elena and scoffed. "I will never apologize to that witch who tortured me and dreams of being your mistress."

Antonio was clearly outraged. "Are you out of your mind? You came all the way here, and now you're pretending not to care? You've been gone for days. Don't you care about your mother's life?"

The hot wind blew across my face, but I felt cold inside.

I heard myself speak, my voice eerily calm. "Stop it. She died last week."

He immediately retorted, "The medical records from last week showed that she's fine. How long are you going to use that as an excuse to lie to me?"

When I didn't bother responding to him, he gritted his teeth and snarled, "Well, it seems like you haven't been properly punished in a long time."

Without hesitation, he made a call and barked, "Luca, put a stop to all of Isabella's mother's treatments!"

He'd done it so quickly that he didn't notice Elena's face turning pale. "Don Antonio, please don't—"

Antonio snapped, "She needs to be taught a lesson!"

On the other end of the line, Luca Santoro's confused voice rang out. "Don Antonio, Mrs. Rivera's mother passed away last week."

Antonio froze in place.

"What did you say?"