Alessia adjusted the silk tablecloth on the long dining table, her hands moving automatically as her mind drifted. The mafia banquet was days away, and the pressure of planning the event had been weighing on her shoulders. As Nicholas’ wife, these responsibilities had always fallen to her. It was another role she had taken on without complaint, another way to prove herself to a man who barely noticed her efforts.
The decision to leave had already been made, but Alessia wanted to finish this last task. She would fulfill her duties one final time, ensuring the event went smoothly before disappearing from Nicholas’ world.
When she arrived at the venue that afternoon, Alessia’s heart stopped. Standing in the middle of the grand ballroom was Ava, clipboard in hand, barking out instructions to the staff.
Alessia froze, watching as Ava pointed to the floral arrangements Alessia had chosen. “These won’t do. We need white roses, not lilies,” Ava said firmly, her tone carrying the authority of someone who belonged there.
Alessia forced herself to step forward, clearing her throat. Ava turned, her face lighting up with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Alessia! Nicholas told me you’d be here. Isn’t this venue stunning? He asked me to take care of everything for the banquet,” Ava said sweetly, her words slicing through Alessia like a blade.
Nicholas asked her? Alessia’s mind raced. She tried to maintain her composure, swallowing the sharp sting of humiliation.
“I see,” Alessia said quietly. She glanced around the room, noticing how seamlessly Ava had taken over. The staff, who had once looked to Alessia for direction, now stood attentive to Ava’s commands.
Ava leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Nicholas thought it would be less stressful for you if I handled it. You’ve been so busy lately, and he just wants to make sure you’re not overwhelmed.”
The words felt like a punch to the gut. Alessia nodded stiffly, refusing to let Ava see how deeply this cut her. “Of course,” she said, her voice steady despite the tremble in her chest. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you to it.”
Without waiting for a response, Alessia turned on her heel and walked out of the venue, her head held high even as her vision blurred with unshed tears. By the time she reached her car, her hands were trembling. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, letting out a shaky breath.
The message was clear: she no longer had a place in Nicholas’ life, not even in the small, hollow space she had carved out for herself.
When Alessia arrived home later that evening, her resolve to leave was stronger than ever. She was ready to let go of this life—of Nicholas, of the mafia, of everything that had tethered her to a man who couldn’t even see her.
As she stepped inside, the sight of suitcases by the door made her pause. Nicholas appeared from the living room, his phone in hand.
“Good, you’re back,” he said casually, as if the suitcases weren’t a shocking sight. “Ava’s moving in temporarily. Her house needs renovations, and it’s safer for her to stay here with the recent tensions.”
Alessia’s breath hitched. Her heart pounded in her chest. “She’s moving in?” she asked, her voice eerily calm.
Nicholas frowned at her reaction, his tone growing defensive. “It’s not a big deal, Alessia. She’ll only be here for a few weeks.”
For a moment, Alessia considered shouting, demanding answers, or making him choose between them. But what was the point? Nicholas had already made his choice.
Instead, she turned away, heading for the staircase. “Do whatever you want,” she said flatly.
Her indifference seemed to set Nicholas off. “What’s your problem?” he snapped, following her. “You’ve been acting strange for weeks. If something’s wrong, just say it.”
Alessia stopped halfway up the stairs and looked at him over her shoulder. Her eyes were tired, but her voice remained calm. “I’m just tired, Nicholas. That’s all.”
Before he could press further, a soft voice interrupted. “Maybe I should go,” Ava said, stepping into the hallway with an innocent expression that Alessia knew was anything but. “I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
Alessia’s lips curled into a small, bitter smile. “No, it’s fine,” she said, her voice laced with feigned warmth. “Stay as long as you want, Ava. You’re obviously welcome here.”
Ava hesitated, her wide-eyed gaze darting between Alessia and Nicholas. “Are you sure? I don’t want to overstep.”
Alessia nodded. “You’re already here. Make yourself comfortable.”
With that, Alessia turned and ascended the stairs, leaving Nicholas and Ava behind. As she reached her bedroom, she shut the door and leaned against it, her heart pounding in her chest.
