Chapter 3

Sloane's POV

I stood at the front door, my hands trembling as I reached for the brass knocker. This is my home, the Rossini family estate.

I hadn't called ahead. I couldn't. How do you call your parents and tell them your perfect marriage is a lie?

The door swung open, revealing Maria, our longtime housekeeper, whose face immediately lit up with surprise.

"Miss Sloane! What a wonderful surprise." Her smile faltered as she took in my appearance. "Are you feeling alright, dear?"

Before I could answer, my mother's voice echoed from the sitting room. "Maria, who's at the door?"

"It's your daughter, Mrs. Rossini."

Within seconds, both my parents appeared in the marble foyer. My father, Riccardo Rossini, still imposing at sixty-five with his silver hair perfectly styled, and my mother, Elena, elegant as always even in her morning robe.

"Sloane?" Mom rushed forward, her arms immediately wrapping around me. "What are you doing here so early? Where's Matteo?"

That single question shattered the fragile composure I'd been holding onto. The dam burst, and I collapsed into my mother's embrace, sobbing like I hadn't since I was a child.

"Oh, sweetheart." Mom's voice was soft, alarmed. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Dad stepped closer, his expression darkening with protective fury. "Someone hurt you."

Someone. If only it were that simple. If only it were a stranger I could walk away from.

"It's... it's Matteo," I managed between sobs.

The silence that followed was deafening. I felt both my parents stiffen.

"What about Matteo?" Dad's voice was dangerously quiet.

I pulled back from Mom's embrace, wiping my face with the back of my hand.

"Matteo has been having an affair. With Calista."

Mom's face went completely white. "What? That's impossible. Calista is like his sister—"

"No." My voice cracked. "I found a video on his camera. Them together. In our bed." I closed my eyes, trying to block out the memory. "Maybe it's been going on for years, Mom. While we were dating, during our engagement, throughout our entire marriage. Maybe he's been sleeping with her this whole time."

"Jesus Christ," Dad breathed, his hands clenching into fists.

"Remember when Calista was suddenly sent to London when we were eighteen?" The bitter laugh that escaped me. "Matteo... he's been flying to London constantly. Ten business trips, eight of them to see her."

Mom sank into the nearest chair, her hand pressed to her chest. "Oh, sweetheart. How long have you known?"

"Two days." I said. "I found the video two days ago, and yesterday I saw them together in his office. He tells her he loves her, Mom. The way he used to tell me."

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of my father's rage building like a storm.

"That son of a bitch." Dad's voice was pure ice. He turned and strode toward his study. "I'm going to kill him."

"Riccardo, no!" Mom called after him.

I knew exactly where he was going. Dad kept his guns in the study safe. I ran after him, my heart pounding.

"Dad, stop!"

He was already pulling open the safe when I caught up with him. "That bastard disrespected my daughter, disrespected our family—"

"Dad, please!" I grabbed his arm. "He's the Santangelo heir. If you do this, it'll start a war between our families. I won't let you get hurt because of him."

My father's hand froze on the gun handle. His dark eyes met mine, and I saw the moment reason battled with rage.

"He doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as you," he said quietly.

"No," I agreed. "He doesn't. But killing him won't fix anything. It'll only destroy more lives."

Dad's shoulders sagged slightly, and he closed the safe with a heavy sigh. "Then what do you want to do?"

"I want to divorce him." The words came out steadier than I felt. "And I want to do it on my terms."

Back in the sitting room, I laid out everything.

"Five days," I said. "Our first anniversary is in five days. I'm going to use that day to end this marriage."

"How?" Mom asked.

A plan had been forming in my mind since yesterday. "I'm going to let everyone see exactly who Matteo really is. All our family friends, the business partners, everyone who thinks we're the perfect couple."

Dad leaned forward, interest replacing some of the anger in his eyes. "Go on."

"I've already planned the entire anniversary party. Every detail is set. The venue, the guest list, everything." I took a shaky breath. "Instead of celebrating our marriage, I'm going to expose it."

"And after?" Mom's voice was gentle but concerned.

"I'm leaving. My physics professor has been trying to convince me to join a research team in Germany. It's a one to two-year commitment. I was going to turn it down because I didn't want to leave Matteo." I laughed bitterly. "Now it seems like the perfect escape."

"We'll help you with whatever you need," Dad said immediately. "Evidence, lawyers, anything."

"Actually," I said, "there is something. I need you both to help me disappear after the anniversary party. I don't want Matteo to be able to find me or harass me during the divorce proceedings."

"Consider it done," Mom said firmly. "This is still your home, sweetheart. We'll protect you."

For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe properly.

I spent the rest of the morning in my childhood bedroom, surrounded by memories of a more innocent time. The pink walls and stuffed animals felt surreal after everything I'd discovered.

My phone rang, startling me out of my brooding. Professor Weber's name flashed on the screen.

"Sloane," his accented voice was warm but concerned. "I wanted to call one more time before I accepted that you've decided not to join our research team."

"Actually, Professor," I said, "I've changed my mind. I'd like to accept your offer."

Silence on the other end. Then: "Really? But what about your husband? Your family plans?"

"My husband will be... understanding," I said, the lie sliding easily off my tongue. "And sometimes the best thing for a family is pursuing your own dreams."

"Sloane, this is wonderful news!" His excitement was infectious. "Are you certain? This is a significant commitment."

"I'm certain. When do we leave?"

"Five days from now. There's a flight to Berlin that evening."

Perfect. "I'll be ready."

After hanging up with the professor, I dialed our family lawyer.

"Mr. Castellano? It's Sloane. I need to discuss something urgent with you... Yes, it's about a divorce."

Then I called my best friend, Mary Grant. She picked up on the second ring.

"Sloane! I was just thinking about you. Did you finally give Professor Weber an answer about the Germany thing?"

"Actually, yes. I'm going."

"What?" Mary's voice shot up an octave. "But what about your hubby? I thought you couldn't bear to be away from your precious Matteo for so long."

"He'll be my ex-husband by then."

The line went dead silent. I could practically hear Mary's brain trying to process what I'd just said.

"I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

"You heard me correctly."

"Sloane, you're scaring me. What the hell is going on? You're obsessed with that man. You two are like... disgustingly perfect together. Everyone knows he loves you."

"Apparently he loves other too."

It took another moment for that to sink in. "Oh my God. He cheated?"

"With his adopted sister."

"That sick bastard!" Mary's voice exploded through the phone. "Sloane, I'm so sorry. I can't believe... God, you must be devastated."

Surprisingly, I felt calmer than I had all day. "I am. But I'm also angry. And anger is more useful than devastation."

"Good," Mary said fiercely. "Channel that anger. You deserve so much better than him."

"I know I do. And in five days, I'm going to make sure everyone else knows it too."

"Five days? What happens in five days?"

"You'll see," I said with a smile that felt foreign on my face. "Trust me, it'll be memorable."

I went back to my room and stood before the calendar hanging on my wall. Five small squares separated me from my new life. I picked up a red pen and drew a circle around the date.

That is our wedding anniversary, and also the day I'm leaving him.