In the seventh year of marrying Don Sebastian Quinn, I finally stopped loving him.

After finishing the family business in the afternoon, I found an excuse to go out for coffee; He wanted to take me to attend the family core meeting, but I politely declined by saying I had to fly to Paris to watch a show; When he finally refused his social engagement and tried to get intimate with me, I lied about feeling unwell and slept in a separate room.

Even when his lover was wearing my silk nightgown and commanding the housekeepers in the living room, I calmly complimented her good figure.

My indifference finally hurt this man.

He forcefully grabbed my chin in the middle of the night, his eyes red. "Why aren't you mad seeing another woman sleeping in my bed? Nicola Scott, I'm your husband. Don't you care at all?"

I looked at his out-of-control state and only smiled faintly, thinking, 'Sebastian, you've probably forgotten that I loved you the most during the years you punished me by making me kneel and reflect on my actions.'

Nicola's POV

When I had no response, Sebastian Quinn punched the mirror behind me. The glass shattered, and the glass fragments cut the back of his hand.

Instead of panicking and looking for the first-aid kit as I usually would, I summoned the Consigliere, George Johnson, to handle the situation and then turned around to go to the dressing room to pick out my outfit.

"Nicola Scott, do you no longer care about my bleeding?" Sebastian's voice echoed behind me, carrying a suppressed anger.

I turned my head around calmly. "You're someone who does big things. This minor injury won't affect you much." After a pause, I added, "Winnie Jenner is afraid of blood, so don't scare her."

When it came to Winnie, Sebastian's fury diminished instantly. He stood still, his face a mixture of paleness and fury. Finally, he slammed the door and left.

The next morning, Winnie wore my haute couture silk nightgown, purposely showing off the hickies on her neck as she strolled downstairs. She gestured towards the red velvet cake on my plate and remarked, "Donna Quinn, Don Quinn mentioned you gained weight lately. This cake is loaded with calories. Why not let me have it instead?"

I popped the last piece of cake into my mouth and wiped the corner of my mouth with a napkin. "Since you like eating other people's leftovers, these crumbs are indeed perfect for you."

Winnie's face flushed instantly, and she looked aggrievedly at Sebastian, who had just come downstairs. "Don Quinn, Donna Quinn…"

Frowning, Sebastian put his arm around Winnie. "Nicola, it's just a piece of cake. When did you become so bitter? Apologize to Winnie."

I took a sip of my black coffee. "In that case, this plate of crumbs, along with everything else I don't want in this house, are hers."

Sebastian's face turned livid.

He stared at me for a few seconds before suddenly sneering. "Since you're so generous, let Winnie accompany me to the charity gala in Manhattan in three days."

I smiled and nodded in agreement. "Sure, then I'll trouble Winnie to take care of you for me."

Sebastian felt like he had punched a pillow. He loosened his tie in frustration and stormed off with Winnie.

Watching their car disappear at the edge of the manor, I turned around and went back to my bedroom, locking the door. From the most hidden compartment of my wardrobe, I took out a black handbag. Inside was a brand new passport and several bearer promissory notes from Swiss banks.

I walked to the fireplace. Without hesitation, I tossed the only photo of myself and Sebastian from the bedside table into the burning flames.

At dinner, George brought over a plate of black truffle foie gras, flown in from Paris. He said Sebastian had specifically called and ordered the chef to make it as an apology for the cake incident that morning.

Looking at the exquisite foie gras, I suddenly felt nauseous and dumped it straight into the trash can.

At 2 AM, my phone vibrated. It was a message from an encrypted number overseas.

[Nicola, everything is ready. The charity dinner in three days is your only chance to "disappear" completely.]

I stared at the words on the screen, my finger swiping across them lightly. There was no signature, but I knew it was Ethan Guillermo.

Ethan was the son of Corsa Guillermo, my late father's most trusted friend. He was also the current Don Guillermo and the only one who knew my plan.

I would be free in three days.

Early in the morning, all the luxury brands delivered the current season's haute couture straight to the manor for Winnie to choose.

Winnie deliberately held up a backless gown in front of Sebastian to show it. "Donna Quinn, is this too revealing? Don Quinn dislikes women wearing too little outside. Only you weren't too particular about such things."

I sat by the window drinking coffee, glancing briefly before saying, "Don Quinn did dislike it before, but since he now cares about you, maybe his taste has changed."

Sebastian heard this, and his face darkened. He sneered and ordered Winnie to try on the gowns.

After trying on the gowns, Winnie said coquettishly, "Don Quinn, I'm a little hungry after trying on these dresses for so long. I heard there's top-quality caviar in the kitchen. It was shipped by the shipping line you chartered specifically for Donna Quinn."

My fingertips trembled slightly. That was the shipping line Sebastian had specially commissioned at great expense for me because I was picky with food.

I thought Sebastian would at least hesitate a little, but he did not even look up. He merely flipped through a magazine page casually. "If you want it, just have someone get it. No need to ask about such trivial matters. You know everything I have is yours now."

After the chef brought the caviar over, Winnie took a bite, immediately frowned, and spat it onto the napkin. "It's so fishy. ​​Don Quinn, is this spoiled?"

Sebastian looked at me with disgust. "Nicola, what are you thinking? You fed her rotten food?"

Confronted with Sebastian's scolding, I calmly picked up my spoon and gracefully took a bite of the caviar they had turned down right in front of him and Winnie.

I swallowed my food and looked at Sebastian. "The caviar just arrived this morning. It's not that it went bad, but Don Quinn's taste has become cheap these days."

Sebastian's grip on the glass tightened immediately.

Seeing this, Winnie's eyes immediately reddened, and she threw herself into Sebastian's arms. "I'm too narrow-minded; I've embarrassed Don Quinn."

Sebastian wiped away Winnie's tears. "Vision is linked to power. Since Nicola doesn't care, you'll be in charge of the manor's expenses from now on."

Sebastian thought I would make a fuss and beg for mercy, but I calmly answered, "Perfect. I'm tired of managing these trivial matters anyway. Since she likes to manage them, let her do it then."

With the housekeepers watching, I swiftly took out a card from my wallet, gently placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Winnie. "Since you're managing the expenses, this card should also belong to you."

Sebastian had been waiting for me to soften and plead for forgiveness, but he never expected me to not only stay unfazed but also to cut off my own financial support.

The sneer on Sebastian's lips instantly froze. He icily ordered George, "Report all matters to Winnie from now on. Also, Donna Quinn cannot leave the manor without my permission."

I looked calmly at Sebastian and made my final request, "Since I have nothing to do at home, I'd like to visit my parents' graves at the cemetery in the western suburbs tomorrow."

Sebastian paused and then turned around to scrutinize me. He assumed I was going to my parents' graves to weep, so a flicker of vengeful satisfaction and contempt flickered in his eyes. He waved his hand dismissively, "Go ahead, but I'll have someone follow you."

I lowered my head, concealing the indifference in my eyes.

Six months ago, I had already transferred all the Scott family's hidden assets through Ethan.

The cards and the people were no longer my concern.

It drizzled in the early morning.

I put on a black dress and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the grey sky outside.

"Donna Quinn, the car is ready." George stood at the door, followed by two Soldati.

I nodded, took an umbrella, and walked out of the manor. The two Soldati sent by Sebastian flanked me.

The car stopped at the entrance of the cemetery in the western suburbs.

I walked up to my parents' tombstones and slowly knelt down.

White daisies were placed in front of the tombstones. The Soldati stood five meters away, holding the umbrella and watching my every move.

"Dad, Mom, I came to see you," I muttered, gently touching my father's name on the tombstone. "I'm sorry for letting you down. I failed to protect the Scott family and myself."

The sound of the rain grew louder, almost drowning out my voice.

Just then, a tall man in a black windbreaker held an umbrella and walked to the neighboring tombstone. He bent over and placed a bunch of white roses, slowly and devoutly.

It was Ethan.

I did not look up and kept speaking in a low tone. Ethan finished paying his respect and turned to go. As he walked by me, his foot slipped on the wet moss, and he bumped into my shoulder hard.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

In that moment, a microcapsule was slipped into the inner pocket of my trench coat.

"It's alright," I said, helping myself to my feet against the tombstone and brushing the dirt off my clothes.

Ethan nodded, opened his umbrella, and disappeared into the rain.

The Soldati assumed it was an accident and did not think much of it.

I knelt for another half hour until my knees were numb with cold before finally getting up to leave.

It was noon when I returned to the manor.

I had just reached the master bedroom door when I noticed it was ajar, and I could hear Winnie's voice from inside.

I pushed the door open.

Winnie stood in front of my dressing table. She wore an emerald pendant around her neck; it was a keepsake from my mother. I rarely wore it, keeping it locked in a safe. Only Sebastian and I knew the combination.

"Donna Quinn is back?" Winnie smiled smugly when she saw me. "Don Quinn told me to wear it to the banquet tomorrow night. The color is beautiful; it goes perfectly with my dress."

I stood in the doorway, staring at the pendant around her neck. It was the one my mother had placed around my neck before she died. She held my hand, telling me to keep it safe.

"Take it off," I walked over.

Winnie froze, her smile stiffening. "Why are you so fierce, Donna Quinn… I'll give it back to you."

She reached for her clasp, but her fingers "accidentally" slipped. The emerald pendant flew from her hand and slammed to the floor.

With a crisp crack, the pendant shattered into pieces and scattered across the floor.

Looking at the wreckage, my blood froze.

Slap! I raised my hand and slapped Winnie across the face. I used a lot of force, so Winnie's fair cheek instantly turned red and swollen.

"Ah! I didn't mean it!" Winnie covered her face and screamed as tears poured out.

Footsteps came from the stairwell.

Sebastian strode into the room. Seeing the mess on the floor and Winnie crying, he shielded her behind him before turning around to look at me. "Nicola! What's wrong with you? It's just an old pendant."

I crouched down, my hands trembling as I picked up the shards. The sharp edges cut my fingertips, dripping blood onto the emerald fragments. "Sebastian, have you forgotten?"

I looked up at him, adding hoarsely, "This is a keepsake from my mother."

Sebastian stiffened, a flicker of panic in his eyes. However, he quickly looked at Winnie behind him, and that guilt vanished instantly. He impatiently loosened his tie. "Haven't I bought you enough jewelry all these years you've been the Donna?"

I said nothing and only stared intently at the shards on the floor.

Sebastian pulled out his checkbook, scribbled down a string of numbers, and threw it at me. "Alright, here's five million dollars; enough to buy ten of these junks. Take the money and go back to your room. Don't get in Winnie's way."

The check fluttered to the ground, joining the shattered emerald pieces.

Holding Winnie in his arms, Sebastian slammed the door and left.

I knelt on the floor, picking up the shattered emerald pieces one by one. Blood flowed from my fingertips, staining my palms red.

Nicola Scott would not exist again after tonight.