Part 2I Took the Fall, He Took Her Side

Luca opened the bathroom door and walked in with his head lowered, looking at his phone.

The door was left slightly ajar, so I could hear his voice clearly, but his tone had changed. He sounded like a completely different person from the man who'd been speaking to me just now.

"Don't feel guilty about what happened today. It's not a big deal. You're just starting out, so you're allowed to make mistakes. Stupid? Who dared call you that?"

He chuckled softly and continued in a gentle voice, "You're only a dummy if you cry so much that your eyes turn puffy. Go get some sleep already. See you tomorrow."

I turned and left, not wanting to listen in on them any longer.

…

Luca and I had made arrangements to sign a core asset joint ownership agreement the next day. It was a representation of the status and trust he'd promised me.

Just as we were leaving the house, his phone rang.

"You've been locked in your car? Don't be afraid. Your car locks might be faulty. I'll come over and handle it," he said into the phone.

He grabbed his keys and made to leave, looking flustered.

"Go meet with the lawyer first. I'll be there soon," he said to me.

I stopped him and asked, "What urgent business could be more important than us signing the agreement? Can't someone else handle it for you?"

Luca brushed my hand away in annoyance, his gaze stern. "Rita's a young lady trapped inside her own car. So what if we sign the agreement a little later?"

He swiftly drove away.

I went to meet the lawyer—the family's lead attorney, Carlo Marchetti—alone. He read the terms of the agreement to me in detail, every clause dictating the immense wealth and power Luca was providing me with.

Most importantly, Luca would make public my status as his Donna.

For the past seven years, I'd wanted nothing more than to stand openly by his side.

I leaned back against the leather couch, gazing motionlessly at my phone. My fingertips were ice cold.

An hour passed, then two.

My phone screen remained blank, and Luca didn't show up either.

I stared at the agreement's title page, on which was printed the Alfonso family's oldest pledge—"a contract is a lover's lifelong promise".

How ironic. How could I expect any lifelong dedication from someone who couldn't even show up to sign an agreement?

My phone screen suddenly lit up with a message from Luca.

"Sign it first."

It was simple and concise without a single unnecessary word. He wasn't even trying to brush me off.

"There's no need to wait any longer," I told Carlo.

I fed the agreement into a paper shredder, then walked out the door under Carlo's stunned gaze.

…

Luca came home very late that night. Seemingly drunk, he asked me groggily, "Have you signed the agreement? Let me know if there are any terms you're not happy with."

Instead of replying to his question, I asked gently, "Luca, are you happy that you're about to marry me?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Of course. Aren't you? You're about to become my Donna, which means sharing in my wealth and authority."

My heart sank. It turned out that, in his eyes, those were my goals.

It felt like I was the only one giving out love in this relationship.

I stood up to leave, but Luca suddenly lifted his hand from where it was hanging over the couch to grab my wrist.

"Don't go. Stay with me for a while."

When I didn't move, Luca tugged forcefully on my arm, pulling me a step forward. He was mumbling something unintelligible.

I leaned in close to listen.

"Rita, don't be afraid. I'm here."

My last glimmer of hope vanished completely. I pried his hand off of my wrist and turned to leave.