When the wolves attacked the Montefioralle Village, my sister and I hid in a tree. My husband, Fabio Marino, didn’t hesitate. He rode in on his horse, lifted my sister down from the tree and galloped away.
Meanwhile, I was left alone. I could only cling to a branch no thicker than my arm, while wolves bared their sharp teeth below.
The next day, I submitted a divorce request to the City Hall. In response, Fabio frowned and said, “Serena was weak, so I saved her first. Are you jealous about that?”
I looked straight into his eyes and answered calmly, “Whatever you say.”
——
The City Hall tried to persuade me several times, but I refused to change my mind. In the end, they approved our divorce. When I received the divorce certificate, I finally felt free. Fabio put his ID back into his pocket.
As he reached the door, he turned around and said coldly, “I’ll take you there.”
I shook my head, responding, “No thanks, Mr. Marino.”
Fabio looked annoyed by the way I addressed him.
“Sofia, don’t be so distant. We were married for three years. Even if we’re divorced, we can still help each other,” he told me.
I was surprised that Fabio said that. I thought with Serena back, he’d be glad I was leaving and giving them space.
“Mr. Marino, being divorced means we’re no longer family, or even friends. So, I hope we won’t contact each other again.”
“You-”
“Besides, we don’t have children, so there’s really no reason to stay in touch.”
Fabio’s face darkened. He let out a cold snort and left. I watched him go and sighed softly.
But when I thought about the money and food coupons in my bag, my sadness quickly faded. In times like these, survival was all that mattered. And I, with no family to rely on, had to fight for my own future. I was the real daughter of the Altomare Family, but I never received any help from them.
On the contrary, the divorce gave me a decent amount of money.
The Altomare Family wouldn’t give me an equal share of their wealth, so I only asked for a small amount. Fortunately for me, Fabio was generous. He gave me all the cash in the house and a property in the eastern part of the city. It might be his way of compensating me.
I thought it would be enough for me to live for half a lifetime. My hand brushed over the money wrapped in a handkerchief inside my bag and I couldn’t help but smile. Finally, I could start living for myself.
I took my few belongings and hurried to the house in the east. I spent the day changing the locks and setting up my bed. Even when I lay down that night, I kept touching the property deed and the money.
The house was now in my name. It really gave me a feeling of safety I had never known before. I thought leaving Fabio would hurt and make me miserable. After all, I had loved him during our three years of marriage.
But to my surprise, I slept soundly that night.
Our marriage had been arranged by our families. Fabio’s father and my grandfather were both police officers who had fought side by side against the mafia. Because of that bond, our families decided on the marriage.
But the marriage was meant for Serena, not me. She had been the precious ‘daughter’ of the Altomare Family for eighteen years. Instead, I was the real daughter of the Altomare Family. I had been mistakenly switched at birth by a careless midwife.
If that hadn’t happened, Fabio and I would never have met. When I was sixteen, the Altomare Family finally found me. I cried as I explained that I was their real daughter and that the midwife’s mistake had caused everything.
My adoptive parents had died young, so I grew up in an orphanage. When I saw the Altomare Family arrive in their car, I thought my days of worrying about school fees were finally over.
