When the Don Took a Mistress

This was the first time I had given Antonio a gift since our wedding.

"Antonio, I have a gift for you too."

He laughed cheerfully on the other end of the line. "Baby, what kind of gift are you giving me?"

"I can't tell you right now." I was rarely this stubborn.

"Alright, alright. I know. This is your surprise for me."

"In three days, go to the church where we had our wedding. Find Father Michael. You remember him, don't you? He'll give you the package."

Antonio laughed when he heard this. "How could I forget? He was the priest at our wedding. We signed our marriage certificate under his witness."

I smiled too. "Right. So, don't forget to pick it up in three days."

"I won't, baby. I'm already looking forward to it."

I printed the divorce papers and all the screenshots of the messages, sealed them in an envelope, and personally delivered them to the church.

I destroyed that 60-carat diamond wedding ring with my own hands and threw it away. Reduced to ash alongside it were the countless love letters he had once written to me.

The last morning, I accompanied Antonio through breakfast as usual. As usual, I sent him off to his rendezvous with his mistress.

Antonio looked a little apologetic. "I planned to take you to the vineyard today, but I'm breaking my promise again."

"It's fine. Work is more important."

I shook my head and looked at him with a very light smile. "Go on. Don't delay important business."

Antonio looked at me with tenderness and guilt. "Baby, you're always so understanding, so good. All these years, I've been so busy with family matters that I've spent too little time with you."

I watched him quietly, but my thoughts drifted far away to the boy who warmed my freezing hands in his palms on a winter beach, and the man who knelt before his father for an entire day just to marry me.

Ten years together, and he was still young and handsome. His love for me had been real, so had his betrayal. His guilt and pity were real, but so was his restlessness and his indulgence in thrilling passion.

I was aware of all of it.

I could play deaf and mute and remain the Madre of the Rizzo family for the rest of my life, and remain his wife. If I did not divorce him, no one could take this position from me. However, I did not want to be his Signora Rizzo anymore.

I wanted to be Elena Santoro again.

Antonio suddenly stepped forward and pulled me into his arms. "Baby, I love you so much. Wait for me to come back. Let's have dinner together tonight."

Before I could say anything, his phone began ringing like a death knell.

I pushed him away. "Go on. Don't keep them waiting."

He turned reluctantly, but his steps soon quickened. I smiled a little and turned to go upstairs.

As usual, I changed my clothes and went to the garden to tend to the roses he had given me.

At noon, I ate a simple meal.

After afternoon tea, I changed into clothes for going out and casually picked up a bag.

Inside, I placed all my documents and important belongings.

When I came downstairs, Maria Russo smiled and asked, "Signora, are you going shopping?"

I nodded with a light smile. "Yes. No need to prepare dinner tonight."

He would not be coming home for dinner tonight. And I would never come back again.