He Never Knew His Wife

The next day, I arrived at the family's charity press conference on time.

The camera flashes were a blinding assault, like a thousand tiny daggers.

I wore a long, bright red dress, a direct defiance of the white Dante had demanded.

Taking the microphone, I spoke calmly.

"The reason I was wrongfully arrested is because my husband, Mr. Dante Falcone, told the Sicilian police to their faces that he did not know me."

The room erupted in a storm of whispers.

I paused, looking at a specific camera as if I were looking right through it at Dante.

"I imagine a man who can't recognize his wife of three years must be suffering terribly in this marriage."

"So, I've decided to grant him his wish."

"And so, I, Isabella, am announcing my formal separation from the Falcone family."

It wasn't until I was in the car that I realized my hands had been shaking the whole time.

Perhaps it was fear, but it was overshadowed by the relief of casting off my shackles.

Before I could even turn on my phone, a black Bentley cut my car off.

Dante stormed out of the car, his face a thunderous mask.

"Isabella, are you insane?!"

He yanked me out of the car, his grip so tight it felt as if he would shatter my wrist.

"Who gave you the nerve to spout that nonsense at a press conference!"

I stared coldly at his face, twisted in rage.

"Which part of what I said wasn't the truth?"

My question struck him dumb for a moment before his anger flared even hotter.

"Do you have any idea what kind of trouble this will cause? How many people you'll hurt?"

"What if they dig into Sicily? What if Camila gets dragged into this? She just secured a performance at the La Scala opera house in Milan!"

So, he *could* tell people apart. When it was Camila, he was never confused. Not once.

The ache in my chest blossomed into a searing pain, threatening to tear me apart.

"Dante, you can recognize her."

Dante's face was a mask of unconcealed irritation. "So what? She's different. But I still married you."

"You are my wife."

"And don't you forget, you're the one who begged for all of this."

He was right. It was my obsession.

How could I have been so foolish? To think a man who couldn't remember my face might remember a promise from twenty years ago.

What a pathetic fool.

I wiped the tears from my face. "Dante, I'm done forcing it. Let's just let each other go. Let's get a divorce."

Seeing me say this, Dante's face showed none of the relief I had expected.

After a long pause, as if he had made a momentous decision, he spoke, his voice a bit hoarse.

"Stop making a scene. Go back to how you were, always in white, and I won't mistake you again."

"I'm not divorcing you."

"Is that so?" I tilted my head up, a smile playing on my lips.

He had clearly forgotten the stack of documents I'd handed him that very morning.

I had only put on a hat and a different suit, and he had automatically assumed I was a new employee.

He hadn't even looked before signing the divorce agreement I had tucked inside.