Thirteen Days Until Freedom

I turned slowly, and there he was. Dominic. His face had gone pale, like someone had pulled the ground out from under him.

"What visa?" he asked, his voice low but trembling.

My heart skipped, but I forced a small smile. "Not mine. A friend of mine's planning to move abroad. She just called to ask me about it."

For a second, he just stared at me, like he didn't quite believe it. Then suddenly, he pulled me into his arms, holding me so tight I could barely breathe. His body was actually shaking.

"Seraphina," he whispered into my hair, his voice raw, "don't ever leave me. I thought for a moment you were going to disappear. I can't… I can't live without you."

I rested my hand lightly on his back, pretending to soothe him. On the outside, I smiled faintly, calm and steady. Inside, though, my heart was already somewhere else. I knew the truth. I was leaving soon.

That afternoon, while he was tied up in sit-downs with his capos, I slipped away. I went straight to the immigration office and signed the last of my papers. My hands were trembling, but my mind had never been clearer.

That night was the Ferrante Family's gala at the estate. Everyone was there. Silent partners, allied families, associates who owed tribute. The grand hall glittered with lights and champagne glasses.

I wore something simple. Quiet. I wanted no attention. Giselle, on the other hand, walked in wearing a blood-red dress that clung to every curve. All eyes followed her.

I caught Dominic choking a little on his drink when he saw men crowding around her. He smiled like a perfect host, but his jaw ticked. His rage was simmering under the surface.

Guests kept whispering about me, how lucky I was. How Dominic was "so obsessed" with me. Allied family heads toasted to his devotion, calling me the envy of every woman in the room.

When a man offered Giselle a drink, Dominic stepped in, took the glass, and downed it himself. His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Can't risk my friend's sister being taken advantage of," he said smoothly.

Giselle chuckled, tilting her head. "Careful, Dominic. If you keep acting like this, Seraphina might get jealous."

I smiled, my voice soft but firm. "No, I won't. I know Dominic loves me. He can't live without me."

He glanced at me then, like he didn't know whether to be flattered or afraid.

Then I noticed Giselle's wrist. She was wearing a bracelet identical to mine.

Giselle noticed my stare. For a moment, her smile faltered. Her thumb drifted to the inside of her wrist, tracing the pulse point just beneath the clasp. Then she quickly excused herself and slipped out of the grand hall.

I watched Dominic grow restless, pulling out his phone under the table. Moments later, he stood, putting on that fake polite smile. "Excuse me, urgent call," he muttered, before leaving too.

I knew exactly where he was going.

When I tried to follow, one of the Ferrante Family's allied bosses, married but notorious for keeping women at every safehouse he owned, blocked my way. He kept me in pointless conversation, smirking, stalling.

I forced a polite smile. "I'm not feeling well. I think I'll head home early. Don't trouble yourself with giving me a ride. I'll grab a car."

I slipped past, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor. That's when I heard it. A door left slightly ajar. Voices, gasps, the unmistakable rhythm of bodies colliding.

I froze, then leaned just enough to peek inside.

Giselle was straddling Dominic, riding him like she owned him. His hands gripped her thighs, his head thrown back, moaning.

Her eyes slid to mine. She saw me. And she smiled.

"Tell me, Dominic," she purred, loud enough for me to hear. "Do you really love me? If not, I'll go fuck your allied boss right now."

Dominic groaned, desperate, breathless. "I fucking love you, Giselle."

Giselle's smirk deepened, her gaze locked on me like she knew I was there. "Then get me pregnant. Do it inside me."

His voice broke into a growl. "Yes, sweetheart," he groaned, slamming harder into her.

My vision blurred with tears. I held my phone at my side, the camera already recording. Every word, every filthy confession, every betrayal, I caught it all.

Before they noticed me, I turned and walked away, silent as a shadow.

Back at the compound, I pulled out my suitcase. My hands shook as I unzipped it, but my heart was steady. My thumb brushed the bare skin of my left ring finger, slow and deliberate, feeling the groove where my wedding band had pressed into my flesh for years.

This time, I wasn't just thinking about leaving. This time, I really was.

I sat in the airport lounge, my passport and boarding pass tight in my hand, suitcase by my side. My phone buzzed. Of course, it was him. I took a breath and answered.

"Where are you, baby? Luca said you weren't—"

"I wasn't feeling well," I said softly. "Bad headache. I went home to rest."

"I'll send Luca over with some medicine."

"No need," I cut in, keeping my voice steady. "I'm done taking those. I just want to sleep." I let a small pause hang before adding, "But before you get home, there's a little present waiting for you in our room. Please open it."

I could picture it in my head. On the bedside table: the annulment papers, our wedding rings, and the USB with him and Giselle.

He let out a low chuckle. I heard a muffled sound on his end, a moan, and my blood ran cold.

"I will, sweetheart," he said, voice laced with something I already knew. "But I can't go home tonight. Got… important business."

And then I heard it. Giselle's laugh, right there, behind him.

"I'll be home tomorrow," he added like nothing was wrong.

I smiled faintly, my voice calm. "Yeah, sure."

"I love you, sweetheart."

"Mm. Sleep well," I whispered, then ended the call before he could say another word. My hand trembled, but my chest felt lighter than it had in years.

When the boarding gate opened, I stood, clutching my passport like it was the only thing keeping me alive. My phone lit up again with his name. I didn't hesitate. I powered it off.

Stepping onto the plane, I finally felt free. I whispered under my breath, "Goodbye, Dominic. I'm not yours anymore."