When dawn finally broke, the first thing that greeted my eyes wasn’t the soft light streaming through the blinds—it was Serafina and Marcello moving around the kitchen like they owned the place, like they were a perfectly orchestrated power couple running a private empire within our own walls.
As if the sight of them last night hadn’t already set my nerves ablaze with fury, Serafina had the audacity to return to the household this morning. She stood by the stove, flipping eggs with an ease that suggested she had always belonged there, like this house was hers by right of some invisible inheritance. Marcello leaned casually against the counter beside her, shoulders brushing occasionally, exchanging smiles and laughter that radiated familiarity—a warmth I hadn’t seen from him in years.
The moment Serafina spotted me, she nudged Marcello with the slightest sway of her hip, a movement both playful and possessive, before turning to face me with a smile so sweet it could have been weaponized.
“Oh, Isabelle, you’re already awake?” she chirped, voice light and dripping with innocence, as though she had merely popped in for a friendly visit. “I forgot my bag last night in my rush to leave. Came back to grab it, and Marcello mentioned he was hungry, so I cooked him some sunny-side up eggs. Would you like some too?”
Her tone was deceptively kind, a mask of civility over the power she always tried to wield over me. But I knew her far too well. Serafina had never respected boundaries, not back when we were both still navigating our territory in college. Every time Marcello would pick me up after classes, she would find a way to slip into the passenger seat, leaving me in the back, a silent outsider in my own narrative.
There was always some reason, some favor she needed, some excuse to assert dominance over him—and I had kept my mouth shut. Foolishly, I had told myself I wouldn’t become the jealous, possessive woman, swallowing every pang of resentment, letting every violation slide. Looking back, perhaps that silence had been my biggest mistake. Perhaps it had encouraged her to believe that nothing, not even me, could stop her from crossing lines that were mine by right.
Marcello finally noticed me, his face brightening as if nothing untoward had ever happened. He approached and took my hand, the warmth of his familiar touch a cruel reminder of what I had once trusted him to be.
“You should try some,” he said casually, voice smooth, the same practiced charm I had once fallen for. “Serafina makes her eggs like a professional chef—truly, she’s something else.”
I let him lead me to the table, my body moving automatically while my mind screamed in protest, a storm of fury and heartbreak brewing beneath my calm exterior.
Soon, the three of us sat down for breakfast. Marcello claimed the center seat, deliberately placing himself between us, a human barricade. Serafina and I faced each other across the table, her every movement, every word, a reminder of my marginal position.
As expected, Serafina filled the air with her bubbly chatter, recounting memories of Monaco and moments shared with Marcello that I had never been part of. Listening to them felt like standing outside a fortress, barred from the inner circle of trust and affection. From time to time, she would direct a casual comment toward me—acknowledgment just enough to avoid being rude—yet every word underscored how little I belonged here. I wasn’t part of their world; I was the shadow at the table, the one who was not chosen.
When their laughter dragged on, I finally broke in, my voice soft but deliberate. “Since Serafina was kind enough to cook, I’ll take care of the dishes.”
I rose immediately, gathering my plate and moving toward the sink before either of them could protest. Marcello followed, ever the attentive partner in appearance, collecting the remaining plates and setting them beside me.
Serafina stretched lazily, yawning as she announced, “I’ll just freshen up in the bathroom,” her words casual, as if she owned every corner of this home.
The moment she disappeared down the hall, I seized the opportunity. Keeping my tone steady, I leaned close to Marcello. “Can you take me to the U.S. embassy later? My passport is expiring soon.”
He nodded instantly, unaware of the quiet challenge in my request. “Sure. We can go after we finish here.”
Then he stepped behind me, arms wrapping around my waist, pulling me into an embrace that should have felt safe but only highlighted the betrayal that had been etched into every fiber of our shared history. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to feel the pull of comfort, the echoes of what I had once believed to be loyalty, until reality snapped back.
Before we could continue, a sharp scream echoed from the bathroom, shattering the fragile calm. Marcello’s reaction was instantaneous—he released me and rushed toward the sound, leaving me standing in the empty kitchen, my skin still tingling from his warmth, already replaced in his priorities.
Minutes later, he returned, carrying Serafina in his arms. She looked frail, vulnerable—but as soon as his attention shifted even briefly, I caught the faint, triumphant smirk she sent my way.
“She sprained her foot—it’s swelling badly,” Marcello said hurriedly, snatching his car keys from the counter. “I’ll take you to the embassy after I make sure she’s alright.”
Without waiting for my response, he was gone, leaving the house silent, hollow, and empty.
I lingered, staring at the spot he had vacated, unshocked. This was nothing new. From the very beginning of our relationship, Serafina had always come first. I had believed that moving in together, witnessing him climb the family hierarchy, and sharing a life within the family business would change things—that he would finally choose us. But hope is a luxury the foolish cannot afford.
Whenever I tried to voice my unhappiness, he dismissed my emotions as though they were mere inconveniences. Then, as if to soothe his own guilt, he would deposit money into my account.
“Use this to cheer yourself up,” he would say, the same cold, practiced tone. “Go shopping. Go out with friends.”
I had never wanted money. I had never wanted gifts. I had wanted presence. Recognition. A partner who chose me as fiercely as he claimed to. And he had never done that.
I drew a slow, steadying breath and left the house alone, heading to the U.S. embassy under my own power. In the sterile waiting area, I mechanically filled out the forms to renew my identification. But when I reached the line for my name, my hand stilled.
A thought crystallized, sharp and undeniable. In twenty-nine days, I would leave this territory, this life, this man, to begin anew in Melbourne.
Why cling to the remnants of a past that had only chained me?
My fingers tightened around the pen. With quiet, unyielding resolve, I filled out a second form—requesting the cancellation of my old identity and registering a new one. A new name. A new beginning. A life entirely of my own making.
