After sending the text, I found a quiet little pawn shop outside the city, walked in without a word, and sold the ring.

I still got tens of thousands for it, but I didn't feel the joy I used to when money hit my account.

This wasn't a war. This was my life. And in this life, there were no winners.

Then I booked a small hotel right along the route to the Moretti estate.

I didn't have a real plan… just a hope.

Maybe I could still get one last chance to see Dora.

Maybe I could intercept them, talk to her without Maria around, just once.

That night, I couldn't sleep.

I sat by the window, watching SUVs pass by on the highway.

Every time one went by, I wondered, was that them?

Had they already gotten there?

Were they wondering where I was?

Probably not.

I don't even remember how many hours I sat like that.

At some point, my body gave up, and I fell asleep right there, still sitting by the window with my eyes half open.

...

The next night, around the time I figured the reunion party would be in full swing, I couldn't help myself.

I turned my phone back on.

The second it lit up, it started vibrating like crazy nonstop.

Dozens of missed calls.

Luca. Maria. A bunch of numbers I didn't even recognize.

I thought I'd feel calm.

I thought I was done with this.

But seeing all those missed calls? I felt something crack in my chest.

I thought I was ready to walk away. I wasn't.

And then Luca's name lit up again.

A voicemail came through.

His voice, low and pissed:

"Catrina, you've disappointed me. You want a divorce? It's not gonna be that easy."

I stared at my screen in a daze. Same old Luca. Still acting like I was some naive little thing who'd obey just because he snapped his fingers.

Seven years ago, he said something almost exactly like that.

Back then, he left me a message after I'd tried to distance myself from him, once I found out he was Mafia. He said:

"We're meant to be together. You think you can avoid me? It's not that easy."

Back then, I was touched by how sure he was. I gave in. I said yes.

And then I entered his world, the Moretti family.

That was the first time I saw Maria.

I remember staring at her in confusion.

She was wearing an elegant cream dress and diamond earrings, standing in the foyer like she owned it.

I leaned close to Luca and asked, "You never told me you had a sister."

He gave Maria this warm smile, then looked at me and said, "She's not my sister. She's our maid… or, more like, the maid's daughter. Maria."

That made no sense to me.

She looked like royalty. How the heck was that the maid?

From the first second I saw her, I envied her.

She was at ease in the house, knew every room, every person.

The family liked her. Trusted her.

Even Fiona, Luca's mom, used to whisper her phone passcode to Maria in front of me, like it was nothing.

But the way she treated me?

Cold. Suspicious.

Always asking too many questions about my background, my parents, my education.

Every word had a layer of judgment underneath.

Even after I married Luca, Fiona never stopped comparing me to Maria.

Maria this, Maria that.

And Luca, he was the only one who 'never' brought Maria up.

Until now.

Because now? He was choosing her too.

The one person who once picked me was already gone.

The phone rang again.

Luca.

I let it ring twice… then answered.

Silence.

I guess he wasn't expecting me to pick up.

Then, finally, he spoke, quieter than before.

"Let's talk. Face to face. Will you, Catrina?"

I didn't say anything, but tears rolled down my cheeks.

He must've heard it in my breath, because his voice softened.

"Don't make any rash decisions. Please. Just come down to the garage. I know where you are. I'm already here."

He wasn't at the party?

That caught me off guard.

I hesitated for a moment… then grabbed my coat and went down.

The garage was quiet, dimly lit. His SUV was there.

I climbed into the passenger seat.

I wanted to yell, to accuse him, to ask every question that had been eating me alive.

But when I saw his face, messy hair, stubble, eyes full of something raw, I broke.

I cried.

He reached out and pulled me into a tight hug.

"I can't stand the thought of divorcing you," he said into my shoulder. "Even thinking about it hurts like hell."

I stayed there for a moment.

Then I caught it, Maria's perfume.

It was faint but unmistakable.

On the seat. On the fabric. On him.

I pulled away. My voice came out low and steady.

"Do you even know why I want a divorce, Luca?"

He didn't answer.

I looked him straight in the eyes.

"It's Maria. You keep saying I'm the problem. But I've hated her from the start. She's taken everything from me, my place in this family, my daughter, even you. And now you defend her like she's untouchable."

I choked, the tears coming faster. "I gave up everything for you. And I ended up with nothing."

Luca's face changed. He reached for my hand.

"I'm sorry, Catrina. I'm really sorry. I never meant to say those things to you..."

He looked like he wanted to say more, but then his phone rang.

Not the default ringtone—no, this one was special. Sweet. Personal.

I guessed. Or rather, I knew. There was only one possible answer: Maria was calling.

Luca immediately held up a hand, signaling to pause the conversation.

"Sorry, I have to take this. It's important. Can I step out for a moment? Let's talk more in a bit."

What could I say?

I just nodded, keeping my voice steady. "Sure. Go ahead."

Before I'd come down, I was planning to ask why he took Maria to the beach, why he let her feed him in a public restaurant, why Dora now worships her like a second mother.

But now? I didn't need the answers anymore. Because I already had them.

We'd both changed.

And I didn't know if there was anything left to save.

I really thought I could get away from him.

But I underestimated just how deep the Moretti name ran.

Every time I tried to find a lawyer to help me file for divorce, they'd go quiet the second I said Luca's name.

Some got jittery.

Others just straight up told me they "weren't taking new clients."

But we both knew what it was. No one wanted to go against the Morettis.

And just when I was running out of ideas, Luca called me.

"Tomorrow's Dora's birthday," he said, like he was talking about the weather. "She wants to see her mom."

My chest tightened. "Dora wants to see me?" I tried to stay cool, but my voice cracked a little. "Are you serious?"

"You think I'd lie about that?" Then I heard Dora's voice in the background.

"I want to see my mom."

That tiny voice hit me like a punch to the gut.

I blinked fast, trying not to cry. I smiled for the first time in weeks.

"I'll see you tomorrow, sweetheart," I said quickly, before she could change her mind.

I asked Luca, "Where we meeting?"

"The Villa Rosetta. Via Bellagio 1925."

Villa Rosetta. Of course. One of the Moretti estates. Where his parents stayed most of the time. That part made me nervous.

"Wait," I asked, "is it gonna be just the three of us? You, me, Dora?"

But the line was already dead.

I had a bad feeling.

***

Still, I showed up the next day. I wore my nicest dress.

I told myself this might be the last time I ever saw Luca, or any of them, because once I had Dora with me, I was gone.

I'd saved for years, stashed cash no one knew about.

Maybe I couldn't legally divorce him, but I could start a new life.

A quiet one. Just me and my daughter.

When I arrived, the smell of homemade food hit me right away.

Fiona was actually cooking in the kitchen, and the maid, Maria's mother, was hanging up streamers and flowers.

The place looked… warm.

Luca was in the foyer, and when he saw me, he just stared like he hadn't seen me in years.

Even his father showed up, flanked by two of his assistants in dark suits.

I kept my cool, smiled, nodded. "Father. Mother. Hope you're both doing well."

Fiona smiled back, genuinely, weirdly enough.

And Luca's father gave me his usual nod, that half-second acknowledgment he gave the waitstaff too.

I turned to Luca. "Where's Dora?"

"She's getting dressed," he said, avoiding my eyes.

"She's alone? I'll go help..."

"No, she's got help," he cut in fast.

My stomach sank. Help? From who?

I didn't have to ask.

A few minutes later, Maria walked in, holding Dora's hand.

Just like that, every hope I had for the day crumbled.

Dora looked at me, just a second, and then looked away like she didn't want to deal with me. Same as always. Cold. Distant. Like I was a stranger.

Fiona rushed over with a big grin.

She handed Dora a tiny velvet box.

A diamond bracelet that probably cost more than my apartment.

Then she turned to Maria, clasped a matching necklace around her neck like she was her own daughter.

"Happy birthday, my two little goddesses!" she beamed.

I froze.

My eyes shot to the wall.

There it was, big shiny letters: "Happy Birthday, Dora & Maria."

Their birthdays were on the same damn day.

I felt dizzy.

I slipped the small gift I'd brought for Dora back into my purse.

No way I was giving it to her now.

Not when she barely looked at me.

Everyone smiled like this was the happiest day of the year.

I stood in the corner, clutching my purse like it could keep me grounded.

Luca kept glancing at me like he was sorry.

But that didn't help.

When it was time for dinner, he came over and took my hand.

"Come on," he said, gently. "Sit with us."

Maria's eyes followed us to the table.

She didn't say a word, but her frown spoke volumes.

At dinner, she leaned toward Dora and said sweetly, "Look who's here to celebrate with you; your mom!"

Dora didn't even glance my way. Just kept looking at Maria.

"Say something to your mom, Dora," Luca said, clearly pissed off.

Dora turned slowly to me. Her little voice trembled. "Mom… please don't hurt Maria."

I blinked. "What?"

I couldn't believe what I just heard. "Why would you say that?"

Luca jumped in, his voice calm. "Dora, your mom's not gonna hurt anyone. She's here for you, okay?"

I turned to Dora. "Did you ask to see me, sweetheart? Did you really want me here?"

Fiona stepped in fast. "No need to talk about that now. It's a party. Come on, cheers!"

After dinner, Fiona pulled me aside.

She handed me a small box; inside was a necklace, just like the one she gave Maria.

Only she didn't put it on me.

She smiled and said, "Catrina… I know things haven't been easy for you. Being part of this family… it's not for everyone. But thank you. For bringing Dora into our lives."

Then she walked away like nothing happened.

Like she hadn't spent years making things difficult for me.

Later, Maria and her mother went out. Finally, Dora was alone with me.

I sat beside her on the couch. She tensed up, but not like before. At least she didn't flinch away.

I whispered, "Happy birthday, Dora."

She turned to look at me, and honestly, that alone almost made my heart melt.

I reached into my pocket for the little gift I'd been carrying around just for her… but then she spoke.

Her voice was cold. Way too cold for a six-year-old.

"Did you hide Maria from me?"

I froze.

"What? No, of course not—"

"You're bothering me," she snapped. "I'm watching TV."

That hit harder than I thought it would.

I gave everything to bring her into this world, nearly died doing it.

And now she's calling me a bother?

I knew then this wasn't the moment to patch things up. Maybe one day I'd fix whatever lies they've fed her. But not today.

I looked at her little face in profile, still glued to the screen, and said quietly, "Alright, Dora. See you around. Maybe next time you'll remember who your real mom is."

She didn't even blink.

I slipped the gift behind the couch cushion, didn't want to leave empty-handed, but I couldn't bear taking it with me either, and walked straight to the door.

This time, nothing was gonna stop me.

I'll admit it—I lied to Dora.

The truth is, I didn't care anymore whether she saw me as her real mom or not.

I'd taken care of everything. Paperwork, tickets, the car was already waiting.

If Maria was the one they all truly wanted…

Then fine. I'd disappear from their world.

I was done with the Morettis.