He sat down across from me, straightening his posture, slipping back into that familiar, polished version of himself. The candlelight caught the edge of his signet ring as he folded his hands on the table. His voice softened as he spoke again. "Bianca, there's really no need to be jealous of Serafina. We were together when we were young, but that was years ago. I've already moved on."
Moved on?
The words echoed faintly in my mind, pulling up an old memory I could never quite erase. Back when we had just started seeing each other, I once brought him lunch as a surprise at the social club on Mulberry. Standing outside the back room, I overheard him talking to his capos. When they asked why he chose me, he had replied casually, "Anyone is fine, as long as it's not Serafina."
At the time, I had been too young, too proud, and too naive. I believed that sincerity could change everything, that love could fill any gap. Looking back now, I finally understood how foolish I had been. I had made the same mistake over and over again, and now it was time to stop before I lost myself completely.
I looked at him and replied coldly, "No need. You can go. I'll handle it myself."
Dominic froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard by my tone. But after years of me giving in, of swallowing my pride and forgiving him, he quickly relaxed. He assumed this was just another one of those times, that I would eventually compromise again.
With a small smile, he lit the candles and pushed the cake slightly closer to me. "Go on, make a wish," he said lightly, as if everything was normal.
In the past, every birthday wish I made was about him. I wished for us to be happy, to stay together, to grow old side by side. But this time, as I closed my eyes, my wish was simple and clear.
I want to be happy. I want to be free from Dominic, forever.
When I opened my eyes, ready to blow out the candles, I realized that he was already gone. The room felt strangely empty. The faint smell of his cologne still hung in the air, mixing with the candle smoke.
The cake I had spent six or seven hours making lay on the floor, smashed beyond recognition. He had left in such a hurry that he knocked it over, not even bothering to stop or pick it up. The door was left half open, as if even that small detail didn't matter to him.
After silently cleaning up the mess, I picked up my phone.
Serafina had just posted a new update: I'm such a clumsy girl. I bumped into the cabinet while walking. Luckily, my Prince Charming is always there to protect me.
In the comments, Dominic, the same man who had ignored me even when I was in a car accident, replied almost instantly: Whenever you need me, I'll always be there.
I stared at the screen for a moment, then calmly pressed the like button.
Not long after, a new message from him popped up. Serafina hurt her foot. I'm taking her to the private clinic. Go over and clean up her place.
Another message followed immediately. And make some bone broth to bring over. Don't put cilantro in it.
At that moment, everything suddenly made sense. Dominic never had any dietary restrictions. Yet every time I added cilantro to a dish, he would explode in anger, calling me useless and incapable.
It wasn't that he hated cilantro. It was Serafina who did.
I stared at the message for a long time, thinking about ignoring it completely. My thumb drifted to the pale mark on my ring finger where the alliance ring used to sit. But after a brief hesitation, I still walked downstairs.
Dominic was holding Serafina in his arms, speaking to her in a soft, gentle voice. One of his soldiers stood near the car with the rear door already open, eyes averted, as though tenderness from the Don was something no one was supposed to witness. The moment Dominic saw me, his expression turned cold again. "Why are you so late?" he snapped. "If Serafina's treatment gets delayed—"
Before he could finish, Serafina gently tugged on his sleeve, her voice soft and considerate. "Dominic, I'm fine. Don't be mad at Bianca because of me. I know she's never liked me."
Her words were gentle, but they cut deeper than any accusation.
Dominic immediately frowned and turned his anger toward me. "Enough, Bianca. Clean this place properly. I'm not going to marry a jealous woman who can't even handle simple things."
With that, he carried Serafina away without another glance. The soldier followed, and the door of the black sedan closed with a quiet, final sound.
