Chapter 3

Sorenna's POV

Aurea raised her left hand. A diamond ring sparkled on her ring finger under the lights.

"He put this on me himself."

I recognized the ring. I saw it in his desk drawer three months ago. I thought it was for me. He said he was helping Rocco pick a gift for Rocco's fiancée.

"The engagement is next Saturday," she said. "It's not that he didn't want to marry me all these years. The timing just wasn't right."

"He always said he was against marriage," I said.

"That's what he tells strangers." She smiled. "Not me. We're talking about the next fifty years, Sorenna. I’ve been waiting since the year his father shook my father's hand—eight whole years. I won’t just watch you take it away."

She took a half step closer, lowering her voice.

"Do you think I took the CFO job on my own?" she said. "My father asked for it. He wanted to ensure Silvan’s environment was 'clean.' If you want to keep any dignity, walk away yourself. Don't make me do it."

I smiled.

"You misunderstand," I said. "Mr. Voss and I are strictly boss and subordinate. Nothing more."

I turned and walked away, not looking back at her reaction. For the final two hours of the banquet, I sat alone in an empty gazebo behind the estate, until someone announced the guests were leaving.

No one spoke in the car on the way back. Silvan drove as the streetlights blurred past. When we got to the house, he killed the engine, but neither of us moved.

"Where were you for the second half of the party?" he finally asked.

I didn't answer.

"You haven't said a word all the way back. What's wrong?"

"I had a chat with Aurea," I said. "If you're against marriage, why is she wearing an engagement ring?"

He was silent for a few seconds before speaking.

"Since you already know," he said. "I just never knew how to tell you."

"If I hadn't found out today, when were you going to tell me?" I asked. "On the day of the engagement?"

He ignored the question.

"I love you, Sorenna. The marriage is just a contract, arranged by our families. The Morettis control the Italian ports and logistics network. It's our group's only way into the European market."

"Six years, Silvan," I said. "Six years for this."

"I have never mistreated you in these six years," he said. "Cars, houses—I’ve given you whatever you wanted without making you wait."

"Those aren't what I wanted."

He didn't respond, acting as if he didn't understand.

"Do you know what hurts the most?" I said. "Not Aurea. It's that you genuinely don't see the problem with this."

He opened his mouth but said nothing.

"I bought you a villa in Lira City. You can stay there with your parents. Aurea will stay in Valen City. You two will never cross paths. I'll set up a branch in Lira City, and I’ll make time to come see you." He reached out to touch my face. "You won't have to deal with Aurea, or the office gossip. You are still the person I care about the most."

I turned my head away, dodging his hand.

"So what? From a hidden lover to a mistress hidden in another city? I don't want your so-called privileges. I refuse!"

"Don't cause a scene right now," his voice darkened. "This marriage secures the family's business for the next decade. The engagement is next Saturday. Don't ruin it. If you really care about me, you’ll help me handle this smoothly."

When I didn't speak, he pulled a small box from his jacket and opened it. It was a ring.

"Be good," he said.

I didn't say another word.

For six years, he never saw me as someone to stand beside him. Just something to keep in a drawer and bring out to pacify when needed. That's why I lived in this house for six years but was never allowed into the master bedroom.

The next day, Delia took my resignation approval to him for his signature. He was chatting and laughing with Aurea. Aurea glanced at the file and said casually, "Just an employee's resignation."

He signed it without checking the contents and waved Delia away. When Delia handed me the signed paper, she gave me a long look, asked nothing, and just said, "Take care," as if she knew everything that had happened over the last six years.

The moment I got that certificate, the breath I had been holding finally released.

Over the next few days, I quietly handed over my work without drawing attention. I packed a small bag—ID, cash, a few clothes. I touched none of the jewelry on the vanity. The ring he gave me, I took off, put it in its box, and left it on the desk. That was the answer to my six years.

On the day of his engagement, the banquet hall downstairs was already decorated. I dragged my suitcase out the back door, unseen.

Before boarding, I blocked Silvan's number and email, changed my SIM card, deleted my socials, and turned off the phone.

The intercom called for my flight to Lira City.

For the first time in six years, I didn't have to wait for his text.