CHAPTER 3

I stood at the ATM, my fingers trembling slightly as I inserted my card. The machine whirred, the screen flashing before delivering a message that felt like a punch to my gut:

Transaction Declined.

I tried again, but the same message popped up. My heart sank, frustration and panic rising in my chest. Of course, Luca had frozen my account. He wouldn’t make it easy for me to leave. He’d make sure I had nothing.

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to scream in the middle of the bank. Fine, I thought. I didn’t need his money.

I hurried outside, grabbing my suitcase and walking toward the nearest hotel. I had stashed some cash inside the lining of my suitcase—a lesson I’d learned long ago in case of emergencies. Luca didn’t know about it, and it would be enough to cover me for a few days.

The hotel lobby was quiet, and I wasted no time booking a room. The receptionist didn’t ask too many questions, and soon enough, I was alone, sitting on the edge of the bed, my suitcase open in front of me.

I exhaled, letting the events of the day settle in. The confrontation, signing the divorce papers, Luca’s threats… It all swirled in my mind, but I wouldn’t let fear paralyze me. Not anymore.

I wasn’t going back. I was free now. And I would find a way to survive—without Luca, without his money, and without his control.

But it wasn’t just about survival; it was about revenge. I would make Luca Moretti regret the day he was conceived.

I had no plan, but I knew I could be resourceful.

My phone beeped, and I checked it. It was an alarm for an event I had organized for Luca’s work accomplishment.

It would happen in a few hours. Screw it.

I was mentally and physically exhausted, so I fell asleep. I woke up to calls from none other than my lovely husband. I ignored them. Then, I received a message instead.

“I knew you’d be too much of a coward to come to the party. I’ll see you at home. You know where the key is.”

My anger flared at the audacity of his message. He thought so little of me that he truly believed I would come back. His overconfidence was astounding.

I glanced at my luggage and made a decision. He wouldn’t meet me at home; he would meet me at the party I fucking organized.

I picked out the most scandalous dress I owned. A black, silky number with a plunging neckline that Clarissa had forbidden me from wearing.

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I stepped in, lights flashing in my face. I smiled so hard it hurt. There were hushed conversations and whispers as I made my way through the crowd. Everyone was watching, including Luca, who had a woman on his arm. It was none other than Evelyn Rogers. I wondered how long their affair had lasted before I was killed.

I swallowed the agony that threatened to engulf me and made my way to the bar. Luca’s eyes followed my every move, but I ignored him.

“Give me a shot,” I told the bartender.

He blinked at me, surprised at the sudden change, but I paid him no mind. He got my order. I downed it as soon as it arrived. I felt fuzzy, and I finally let my gaze fall on Luca, who had his arms around Evelyn. His mouth was on her neck as everyone watched.

But his eyes remained on me. The bastard was trying to make me jealous, but all I felt was disgust.

“Give me another shot,” I said, needing to feel numb. Seven years of marriage were down the drain. Sacrifices I had made were utterly worthless, and whether I liked to admit it or not, my heart was broken.

“Right away, ma’am,” the bartender said.

I downed it again. My vision began to blur, but I watched them. If Luca was looking for a reaction, he wouldn’t get one. Never.

I watched them as if I were watching a boring documentary—detached and utterly uninterested.

I took two more shots, but before the fifth one, a voice cut through my drunken haze. “You might want to slow down.”

The voice was rich and husky. It belonged to the man who had now sat on the stool beside me. His cologne filled my senses, sensual and woody with a hint of wild spice. My vision was too blurry to make out his face, but even through the haze, I could tell he was a man who turned heads.

“Why slow down?” I mumbled. “Why don’t you join me?”

He chuckled, velvet over gravel. “I am honored by the invitation.”

I smiled despite myself, my eyes falling on Luca and Evelyn again. Luca was kissing her passionately. A spear went straight through my heart, and Luca smirked.

In my alcohol-induced daze, I turned to the man beside me and grabbed his tie. Without warning, I slammed my lips against his.

The moment my lips touched his, everything around me disappeared. His mouth was soft yet commanding. My fingers curled tighter around his tie, pulling him closer as my head spun from the alcohol and the reckless thrill of it all.

For a split second, I enjoyed it—more than I should have. The scent of him, that intoxicating mix of wood and spice, surrounded me, and his hand slid to the small of my back, holding me firmly against him.

But then reality hit me, sharp and brutal. What the hell am I doing?

I jerked away, breathless, my heart hammering in my chest. My eyes blinked into focus, and I froze as the face of the man I had just kissed came into view.

Blue eyes. Wavy brown hair. Strong jawline.

Dante Moretti.

Luca’s uncle.

My stomach flipped. Oh, God. I just kissed Dante. Luca’s uncle.

I stumbled off the barstool, my mind racing with panic, and muttered, “I—I didn’t mean—”

I turned, bolting toward the exit. But before I could make it to the door, I felt a strong hand wrap around my wrist, pulling me to a stop.

I spun around, eyes wide, only to come face-to-face with Dante again.

“Wait,” he said, his voice low and firm.

“I—I’m sorry,” I stammered, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “That was a mistake. I wasn’t—”

He cut me off by pulling me closer, his breath warm against my skin. “You don’t need to apologize, Vivian.”

“I—” My words caught in my throat as he leaned in, and before I could react, he kissed me. This time, it was different. He wasn’t waiting for my permission. His lips were sure, demanding.

I gasped, instinctively pushing against his chest, but he only deepened the kiss, his hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck. And I let him.

When he finally pulled back, his blue eyes glinted with hunger. He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip, his voice a low rasp. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that.”