No Second Chances

I pushed the door open and found Elara sitting right on Vittorio's lap. She shot me a smug glance.

"Oh, Isabella is here."

Vittorio jolted back immediately, keeping a clear distance from her. He looked up at me in a panic.

I spoke in a flat, emotionless tone and passed the folder right in front of him.

"Vittorio, there's a document requiring your signature."

Seeing that I wasn't tearing into him for his inappropriate intimacy with Elara, he let out a subtle sigh of relief.

"Alright. Give it to me!"

Elara made a gesture to show she was heading out. As Vittorio opened the folder, I was about to state the excuse I had prepared. Suddenly, Elara twisted her ankle and let out a sharp cry. "Ah! It hurts!"

"Elara!"

Vittorio was on his feet in a flash, ready to rush over. But, I stepped in his way.

"Sign it first. It won't take more than a few seconds."

He frowned, his patience wearing thin.

"Isabella, since when did you become so cold-blooded? Does this paper really matter?"

"Vittorio…"

Elara was crouched on the floor, weeping softly as she clutched her ankle. Vittorio’s entire world seemed to shrink down to her. Unwilling to argue with me any further, he didn't even bother glancing at what the document was. He merely scrawled his signature where I had pointed, entirely dismissive. It was exactly what I had hoped for. All I wanted was to finalize my resignation smoothly and leave Vittorio for good.

Before I could leave the headquarters, Vittorio caught up with me.

"Isabella, don't misunderstand. There's nothing between me and Elara. I'm just looking out for her because we grew up together."

He seized my arm firmly. I paused, gesturing for him to let go of my arm.

"Let me go."

"Why aren’t you mad? In the past, if I did something like this, you would have been furious…"

"But you still did it anyway, didn't you?"

I looked up and saw the sheer, unmasked panic in his eyes.

"Take it easy. I was just joking. Come home for dinner tonight?"

"I…"

He swallowed his guilt and took my hand.

"I have a business dinner tonight, but I'll definitely be home."

I forced a bitter smile. It seemed that his coming home was nothing more than a charity he was doing for me. When I got back to our penthouse, I started packing my things.

All of a sudden, I received a text from Elara.

[Look at these pink roses! All these years, Vittorio still remembers my favorite. He's even more thoughtful now than he was back then. Thank you for shaping such a perfect man for me.]

Elara even attached a photo. It was the Porsche I had picked out for him that was filled to the brim with flowers and decorated with fairy lights.

At night, Vittorio had broken his promise. He never came home. For several days, he still didn't show his face once. It wasn't until I was on the phone with Serena that she casually mentioned Vittorio had gone on another business trip. And once again, Elara was with him.

With only two days left before my departure, I was packing my luggage when Serena called again.

"Isabella, could it be that you've got the wrong address for delivery?"

"What do you mean?" I had no clue what was going on at all.

"Your wedding dress, it was delivered to the office, and the recipient is listed as you. Vittorio is truly willing to go all out with your wedding ceremony. Lumière Veil’s custom gown must have cost at least nine figures. Are you two not planning to move in together after the wedding?"

Hanging up, I rushed to the headquarters. When I opened the box, I was completely stunned. It was my size, but…Vittorio had never intended to marry me. Just as I was puzzled by the dress, my mother's call came through.

"Did you receive the dress? The Moretti is taking your marriage to Dante Moretti so seriously. I told them you wouldn't be back for a few more days, but they've already started preparing for your wedding. They insisted on sending the wedding dress over to you first, so you can test the fit and style ahead of time. Just feel free to let them know any requests you might have. This is what Dante’s mother told me.”

I pressed my lips together, "I don't have any demands. Just handle it however you see fit."

"Wedding?"

Vittorio's voice suddenly echoed from behind me.

"What wedding?"