Casually, I asked him, “Any special plans today?”

“Not really. I should be back early tonight to spend time with you,” he replied simply without looking up.

Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang. He picked it up immediately.

From the other end came a soft, coquettish voice, “Leo, darling, can we spend New Year’s Eve on an island? I love the midnight fireworks there.”

“Alright, I’ll make arrangements.”

The indulgence in his voice was something I had never heard before.

After hanging up, he calmly finished putting on his shoes, with no sign of unease. Just as he opened the door to leave, he seemed to remember something suddenly.

“Honey, there’s an arms auction in Trinacria today. I have to go this afternoon and probably won’t be back till late.”

Forcing a smile and carefully managing my emotions, I said, “Sure, the family comes first. Be safe.”

He looked at me, slightly surprised at my gentle reminder, as though he had expected me to complain, as I had always done whenever he said he’d be home late.

Right after, he turned and strode off with a trace of smugness on his face. I curled my lips and snorted. He must be in quite a hurry to see his mistress.

I walked over to the sofa, sat down, and dialed my personal lawyer’s number.

“Gather every piece of evidence of Leonardo’s infidelity. Draft the divorce agreement. I want him to come with nothing and leave with nothing.”

“As you command, Principessa.

“I’ve waited for this day. I’ll give it my all. Please wait for good news.”

After shutting down my computer, I decided to go for a spa session.

For the past two years, Leonardo had constantly harped on, “The family business has only just secured its footing, and our foundations are still shallow. Expenses are mounting. Don’t spend lavishly.

“Rein in your old extravagant habits for now. When the family’s interests are more stable, you can spend as you wish.”

Under his repeated admonitions, I hadn’t lived for myself in two years. Even my spa visits had become infrequent. Today, though, I intended to unwind completely.

Afterward, I went straight to the Demarcos’ headquarters.

I wanted to see for myself what kind of woman had managed to captivate Leonardo.

As the Donna, though I rarely visited the family, everyone inside recognized me.

Amid greetings from the family members, I walked in calmly.

Near the Don’s office, I saw Sienna picking up the phone with slightly trembling hands.

She whispered into it, “Don Demarco, your wife is here.”

She looked remarkably young, almost like a high school student, with two large, dark eyes set in a face as small as a palm.

In person, she seemed even more lively than in her photos.

With such an innocent, naive face, it was hard to associate her with someone who schemed to climb into power as a mistress.

I approached her. “Is the Don inside?”

She looked flustered as she stammered, “M-Madam, hello.

“W-Why are you here?”

I smiled. “Oh? Am I not allowed here?”

“No, no… That’s not what I meant.”

From her nervous reaction, it was obvious she recognized me. Even though I rarely visited, Sienna definitely recognized me. She knew I was the Don’s legally wedded wife, their Donna!

I chuckled softly. “Do you have a cat at home?”

Her face flushed visibly, her hands and feet awkward.

Then I kindly pointed to the cat fur clinging to her strapless top. “Next time, remember to brush it off before you leave the house.”

Ignoring her awkwardness, I turned and walked into the Don’s office.

Leonardo stood motionless before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, a cigar clamped between his fingers. Lost in thought, he hadn’t stirred for some time.

Hearing the door open but no immediate voice, he turned with surprise etched on his face.

“Giada? What brings you here?”

“I was out and happened to pass by the headquarters. Thought I’d drop in to see.

“Whether you’re free?

“For lunch together?”

I smiled playfully, perfectly concealing the fire burning in my chest.

After a brief flicker of surprise, Leonardo glanced at his wristwatch. “Alright, I’ll head to Trinacria in two hours.

“We only have an hour for lunch. Let’s grab a quick bite in the restaurant upstairs.”

“Sure. I’ll use the restroom first.”

As I stepped out of the office, I heard the girls outside chatting.

“Sienna, your cat is gorgeous!”

“When did you get it? You never mentioned having one.”

Sienna stood chatting with two female colleagues, huddled around her phone.

“Look, everyone! This is a rare Ceylon cat.”

“Exactly! It’s priceless.”

Under the increasingly sycophantic praise, Sienna shot me a nervous yet smug glance.

I paid no attention to this awkward performance and headed to the restroom.

When I came out, Leonardo had already left his office. His eyes, slightly tense, were fixed in the direction of Sienna’s desk.

Pretending not to notice, I walked up to Leonard and slipped my arm through his with a smile.

“Let’s go.”

Inside the elevator, I spoke casually, “That young lady earlier looked so young. How old is she? She seemed like a high schooler.”

“No idea. New hire, I guess. Never really paid attention.”

His eager attempt to distance himself amused me. If I hadn’t known better, I might have been fooled by his feigned ignorance.

At lunch, I kept placing food on his plate while chatting lightly, showing constant concern for his health and the family’s affairs.

He swallowed his food contentedly and raised his sparkling wine.

“Good thing I have a wife who cares deeply about me. With you by my side, danger and hardship are nothing.”

I sneered inwardly but casually shifted the topic.

“Leo, now that our home and the family are quite stable, how about tomorrow you accompany me to buy that Ceylon cat I’ve always wanted?

“The name Juno can finally belong to our home.”

Leonardo froze for a moment, the clatter of his wine glass against the tableware echoing loudly.

He looked up at me, eyes flickering.

“Buy a cat? Why the sudden idea?

“Our place is small now, and you take care of everything at home yourself. If we bring a cat back, how would you manage?

“Let’s wait until we move into a bigger house. Once it’s more spacious, I can hire a nanny to help, then we’ll get one.”

I lowered my head, hiding the faint mockery in my eyes as I picked up more food.

“Hmm, alright.”

So I couldn’t buy a cat because the house was small? Because I handled everything alone?

It seemed he had already arranged even a nanny for Sienna.

Yet in our two years of marriage, he had insisted stubbornly that we not hire one.

“Giada, our house isn’t big, and the family business has just started. Every penny counts. Can you manage for now? We’ll hire domestic help once things are stable.”

Blinded by my hopes for marriage and the future, I had readily agreed to that seemingly reasonable yet utterly disrespectful request.

That “for now” had lasted two whole years.

Seeing the clear relief on his face now, I suddenly let out a soft “Hmm?”

He paused mid-wipe and looked up at me.

“Honey, how about we go buy a car tomorrow?”

Leonardo’s expression shifted, and his breathing grew slightly uneven.

“Why do you suddenly want to buy a car again?

“Don’t you already have one?”

“Honey, that old clunker of mine was given to me by Papa back in college. It’s way past its prime and should’ve been replaced long ago. When I pulled into the parking lot today to see you, the guard wouldn’t even let me in when he saw my battered car.

“I had to roll down the window, and only after he recognized me did he let me through.

“A car is part of one’s image. You wouldn’t want me to lose face when I go out, would you?”

Leonardo looked at me, clearly troubled.

“We can put buying a car on the agenda, but it’s not urgent. We should take our time to choose one you truly like.

“Besides, the family is currently having several major transactions going through. The capital involved is no small sum, and the financial pressure is immense. Your car will have to wait.”

So buying me a car meant tight cash flow and financial pressure?

Yet when it came to buying Sienna a house, it was no big deal. Why wasn’t there any pressure then?

“Alright, fine. We’ll wait.”

After lunch, I deliberately returned to the headquarters after he left.

As I stepped out of the elevator, I slowed my steps and heard Sienna chatting with several colleagues nearby.

“Sienna, are wedding bells coming soon?”

“Your boyfriend treats you incredibly well. Luxury car, luxury house, and he even found you a rare cat breed. His devotion to you is truly out of this world.”

“Sienna, when will you introduce us to the handsome, wealthy boyfriend of yours? We’d love to meet him.”

“Soon. He said once he gets through this busy period, he’ll hold the grandest wedding with me.”

She responded to their teasing with a mix of pride and shyness. “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely let you all know when we get married. You must all come.”

Marriage?

I hadn’t even divorced? The legitimate wife is still around?

And he was already thinking about marrying someone else?

I’d be damned if I didn’t see how these two plan to pull this off.

Just then, Sienna spotted me and her face instantly drained of color.

“Donna,” she said as she stood in panic.

I nodded at her and walked over with a smile.

“I heard wedding bells mentioned?

“Who’s getting married? Is the date set?

“It’s been ages since our family had a celebration. What day is it?

“I must go with your Don to share the joy.”

Her face turned ghostly pale as she stammered, “N-No date yet…”

“Oh, not set yet? Well then, you must observe carefully. When choosing a husband, you must find someone of good character, someone who truly treats you well.

“How about I arrange for someone to test his character for you?

“You wouldn’t want to end up with a jerk, would you? That would mean entrusting your whole life to the wrong person.”

I spoke earnestly, meeting her eyes.

“T-That’s not necessary.

“Thank you, Donna.”

Sienna stammered.

I gave her a meaningful look and turned to step into the elevator.

As the doors closed, I caught a glimpse of something dark and unreadable flickering in her large eyes.

If that was how it was, then I wouldn’t mind letting them experience my methods.

Leonardo returned after midnight. The sharp scent of perfume hit me like a punch, nearly making me gag.

Noticing my gaze, he offered a vague excuse, “A few Dons insisted I drink with them.”

Watching him head into the bathroom, I grabbed his phone and saw numerous messages.

They were messages between him and Sienna.

[Darling, thank you for spending New Year’s Eve with me. Love you.

[Darling, our little Juno was so happy, too. It kept meowing, like it was calling for Papa and searching everything for you.]

Every sentence had a “darling.”

[Darling, I love you so much.]

Leonardo replied, [I’m happy, too. Tell our little Juno that tomorrow I’ll take you to buy a castle. Our kitty son deserves the most luxurious one to call home.

[Sweetheart, I’ll give you the best things in the world.

[I love you both!

[Rest early. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Give me a kiss. ]

Reading their shamelessly saccharine messages, my nausea rose again.

It seemed, in their world, I had already been naturally blocked out.