Chapter 2
Mrs. Valentini could barely contain her excitement on the other end of the line.
“You’ve finally come to your senses? Good. A housekeeper’s daughter could never be worthy of the Valentini heir. Where are you? Come quickly, we’ll sign the contract.”
Looking at the address she eagerly sent, Aria smiled bitterly and hailed a taxi.
At the café, Mrs. Valentini questioned her thoroughly. Satisfied with Aria’s answers, she pushed a contract across the table.
“It’s all in black and white once signed, there’s no going back. Half the money will be transferred immediately, the other half when you leave. You must promise never to appear before Alessandro again, understood?”
Aria’s lashes trembled as she looked at the astronomical sum. She wouldn’t appear before him again anyway. In this life or the next, she never wanted to see Alessandro Valentini again.
Without hesitation, she signed her name decisively.
Finally relieved, Mrs. Valentini gathered the contract and stood, leaving one last instruction: “You have two weeks. Change your identity, leave the country – whatever you choose. Just make sure Alessandro never finds you.”
“I understand, Mrs. Valentini.”
After she left, Aria returned home. Making sure Alessandro never saw her again would be simple. The Valentini family’s military and political background meant they couldn’t leave Italy for three generations. She just needed to émigrate.
After researching late into the night, she decided on Australia.
Just as she checked the time, she noticed a new social media notification. It was Sofia Rossi’s post- a grid of nine photos: three selfies with roses, three marriage certificates in the middle, and three photos of intertwined hands.
Aria knew Alessandro wouldn’t want their marriage publicized, yet Sofia had posted it anyway, making it visible
only to Aria to gloat.
Aria dutifully liked the post.
Moments later, she received a message from Alessandro: “Aria, I’m going on a business trip. Won’t be back for a few days.”
She replied with a simple “okay” before getting ready for bed.
The next morning, Aria woke up early to start her emigration paperwork. Pressed for time, she specifically requested expedited processing. Only when the staff promised completion within two weeks did she feel relieved.
Back in her car, she saw another post from Sofia. This time, Alessandro was partially visible in the photo. They were
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Chapter 2
house hunting together, finally settling on a villa in Marina Bay.
Like yesterday, she tapped the like button.
On the third day, Aria submitted her resignation at work. After returning home with her belongings, she saw Sofia in her social media feed again, now wearing a wedding dress with a sparkling diamond ring on her finger.
As always, she hit the like button before burying herself in her blankets.
On the fourth day, she woke to new updates. This time, the camera focused on wedding photos hanging in their new
home.
Aria stared at them for a long while before snapping back to reality. She liked the post as usual, then applied her makeup and went out to bid farewell to her close friends over dinner.
That evening, she returned with several boxes and began disposing of everything related to Alessandro. Years of accumulated memories – his gifts, matching toothbrushes and cups, their photos together… Nothing was spared, all thrown into the garbage.
It was late when she finished. Just as she was about to turn off the lights, Alessandro returned unexpectedly.
He froze at the sight of the empty room, his brows furrowing. “Why is so much missing from the apartment?”
“Just got rid of things I didn’t like anymore. We can buy new ones later,” she replied.
Alessandro nodded, tossing his coat on the sofa, but his attention was caught by the boxes nearby. “You quit your
job?”
Then he noticed something on the coffee table. “Why is your household registration book out?”
“I was too tired and needed a break, so I resigned. And I need the registration for some paperwork,” Aria explained
while putting things in her bag.
Seeing her calm demeanor, Alessandro didn’t think much of it. He pulled her into his arms, speaking softly: “I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t had time for you. Your birthday’s coming up – shall we go to the auction house tomorrow to pick out some gifts?”
Aria didn’t refuse.
The next day, just as they were seated in the auction hall, Sofia appeared. She brazenly walked over and sat next to
Alessandro.
Throughout the evening, Alessandro kept his head turned toward Aria, never once looking at Sofia.
After the auction ended, he left immediately with Aria. Before heading home, she went to the restroom.
When she came out, she saw Sofia cornered in the stairwell by a group of people, taunting her mercilessly.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Rossi! You betrayed Alessandro Valentini when he needed you most – looks like karma’s caught up with you, hasn’t it?”
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Chapter 2
“We heard your father’s trying to marry you off to some ancient millionaire. With your looks, why not come with us instead? We’ll treat you…”
Before they could finish, they were interrupted. Alessandro came down from upstairs, his face dark with anger, and kicked one of the rowdy young men.
“Vaffanculo!” (F*ck off!) Alessandro snarled in Italian, his voice ice cold. “Touch her again, and I’ll make sure you never show your faces in Milan’s social circles again.”
The group scrambled away, leaving Sofia trembling. She looked up at Alessandro with tears in her eyes. “Grazie, Alessandro…” (Thank you, Alessandro…)
Watching from the shadows, Aria saw how Alessandro’s expression softened as he helped Sofia up. “I’ll have Marcus take you home. It’s not safe for you to be alone.”
As he made the call, Aria slipped away quietly, taking a taxi home alone.
That night, Alessandro returned late. He found Aria curled up on the couch, pretending to read.
“Mi dispiace, amore…” (I’m sorry, love…) He sat beside her, pulling her into his arms. “The auction ran longer than
expected.”
Aria didn’t respond to his lie. Instead, she asked softly, “Do you still love her?”
Alessandro stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
“Sofia. Do you still love her?”
He was silent for a long moment before answering, “She’s just an old friend who needs help. Nothing more.”
Aria smiled sadly. Tomorrow was her birthday, and in one week, her Australian visa would be approved. She had already booked her flight.
“Alessandro,” she whispered, using his full name for the first time, “can you hold me tonight? Just hold me?”
He pulled her closer, kissing her forehead. But even in his embrace, Aria felt cold. The warmth they once shared seemed to have disappeared along with the items she’d thrown away.
As she drifted off to sleep, her last thought was of the first time she saw him at the piano. How young they’d been then, how full of hope.
In her dreams, she was still that girl, watching him play from afar, before everything changed, before the lies, before the pain.
But when morning came, she would wake up and walk away. She would leave behind the man she loved, the life she’d built, and the dreams they’d shared.
Because sometimes, love isn’t enough. Sometimes, you have to save yourself.
