The day after I gave my fiancé, Don Antonio Rossi, the cold shoulder, he took Sofia to Alicante for a romantic getaway.

He expected me to explode like I always had before—trash his study, start a fight, maybe even put another bullet through Sofia’s head.

After all, my arrogance and temper were infamous in the mafia world.

But this time, I did nothing.

When he came back a month later, he realized I had changed.

He deliberately handed the arms route I managed over to Sofia, and I surrendered it without protest.

He publicly criticized my competence to build Sofia’s authority, and I lowered my head and accepted every accusation.

Even when he announced at a family meeting that the ports under my control would be transferred to Sofia, I nodded calmly.

Sofia smiled at him triumphantly.

“See? I told you. A spoiled principessa like Isabelle just needs the cold treatment. Once she’s afraid of losing you, she’ll behave.”

Antonio believed her completely. That night, he held me in his arms and promised.

“Darling, you finally look like a proper donna now. I’ve already reserved the church. Next month, I’ll give you the lavish wedding you’ve always wanted.”

I only smiled at him and said nothing.

What that fool didn’t know was that before he left for that trip, the document he signed was an agreement terminating our engagement.

"Miss Isabelle, these are the casino accounts for this month. Don Rossi said you have to finish reviewing them tonight."

Sofia smugly tossed a thick stack of ledgers onto my desk.

Without looking up, I said, "Leave them there."

However, she didn't leave. Instead, she took two steps closer, and a familiar scent drifted toward me.

It was Antonio's favorite cedarwood cologne, one I had given to him.

"Oh, right. Don Rossi said he's taking me to tonight's negotiation. Since nobody is waiting for you at home anyway, once you get back to the estate, wash the carpets by hand.

"The red wine you splashed during your last tantrum is still there. Don Rossi said it annoys him every time he sees it."

Unlike before, I didn't glare at her coldly and simply nodded.

"Okay."

She was clearly satisfied with my obedient response and let out a disdainful snort.

"So you've finally learned. And don't forget, even though you used to be the Costa family's principessa, you're still a long way from becoming our don's donna."

The sound of her heels gradually faded away.

Around the room, several family members exchanged glances. Some looked at me with sympathy, while others seemed indignant on my behalf. Yet no one dared to say a word.

Everyone knew that I was Antonio Rossi's fiancée and the future donna of the Rossi family.

However, everyone also knew that the person he truly kept by his side, trusted, and favored was his consigliere, Sofia.

Three months ago, Antonio had poached Sofia from a smaller family and directly appointed her as the family's consigliere, while demoting me.

I had flipped the conference table on the spot.

"Antonio! What do you mean by this?"

Seated at the head of the table, he slowly puffed on his cigar.

"Isabelle, watch your attitude."

"My attitude is fine!" I grabbed a wine glass and hurled it at him.

"That position is mine. You promised it to me!"

The glass grazed past his ear before smashing against the wall, sending shards flying everywhere.

Antonio's face darkened.

"Enough."

"Not enough!" I screamed.

"I fell out with my family because of you. I gave up my claim to the Costa inheritance. How many messes have I cleaned up for you over the years? And now you're letting this b*tch stand over me?"

Sofia flinched and moved behind Antonio, who took her hand and patted it reassuringly.

That single gesture completely ignited my anger.

I immediately raised my gun and fired straight at her eye.

At the last second, Antonio pulled her away, and the bullet grazed her cheek before flying past.

He slapped me across the face.

Stars burst across my vision, and tears streamed down uncontrollably from the pain.

For the first time, he didn't wipe away my tears. Instead, he gripped my chin and forced me to look directly at him.

"Isabelle, you're too domineering. What I need is a donna who can support me and tolerate me, not a principessa who's always jealous and constantly causing trouble.

"The Alderney arms operation you've been managing will be handed over to Sofia for now. You're too emotional and aren't suited to handling core business."

At that moment, I genuinely considered leaving, and he noticed.

That very night, he pinned me down on the bed and swallowed all of my accusations with a deep kiss.

"Baby, stop making a scene. Sofia is just a tool. I need the intelligence she provides."

"Then why are you so good to her?"

"It's just an act."

He lightly bit my earlobe. "You're my donna, my only woman."

I believed him because I loved him.

I loved the man who had spent a fortune to buy me a rare blue diamond and said, "Only this is worthy of my principessa."

I loved the fiancé who would always pull me into his arms no matter how dangerous the situation became.

So I kept telling myself that he simply needed an obedient assistant, and that Sofia was nothing more than a tool.

Only I was his most special donna.

That was until I discovered that all of Sofia's so-called intelligence had actually been my work.

And whenever the two of them discussed business late at night in the study, ambiguous moans would always drift out from behind the door.

Hearing footsteps from the doorway, I looked up and saw Antonio walking past.

He had changed into a different suit, and his tie was the dark red color Sofia liked best.

As he passed ‌my desk, he glanced briefly at me. The arm around Sofia's waist tightened, pulling her closer against him.

It had been a long time since he had shown me such intimacy.

I knew he was doing it on purpose.

A few days ago, I discovered the flirtatious messages Sofia had been sending him and confronted him about it.

He flew into a rage and threw his phone.

"Do I need your permission just to talk to a female subordinate? Isabelle, a qualified donna doesn't question her husband!"

Later, I was injured during a negotiation I handled on his behalf and suffered from a high fever that wouldn't go away, leaving my entire body aching.

Yet during that time, he gave me the cold shoulder and took Sofia on a trip.

Five years of love burned away completely during that fever I endured alone. At last, I saw things clearly.

Under the excuse of training a "qualified donna”, he was simply making me tolerate all of his infidelity, both now and in the future.

Soon, he would pay the price for that.

By the time I finished reviewing the accounts, it was completely dark outside.

I opened my phone and saw Sofia's latest post.

In the photo, Antonio was draping his suit jacket over her shoulders while holding her in his arms, his gaze full of affection.

The caption read: [Don Rossi says the night view here is worthy of the most special evening.]

The post was already filled with likes and comments.

One business associate who didn't know the situation commented, [Are Don Rossi and his consigliere getting some good news soon?]

To which Sofia replied with a shy emoji.

Antonio didn't respond, but he did leave a like.

Calmly, I liked the post as well and left a comment.

[The accounts have been reviewed and placed in the study.]

After returning to the estate, I went straight to the bedroom to rest.

I had barely gotten into bed when Antonio's phone call came through.

However, when I answered, it was Sofia's laughter that greeted me.

"Miss Isabelle, thanks for your hard work with the accounts. You're home now, right? Don't forget to hand-wash the carpets."

Antonio's deep voice sounded in the background.

"There's no need to remind her. That's her responsibility."

"Don Rossi, don't say that. Miss Isabelle is still your fiancée, after all," Sofia said in an affectionate tone.

I curled my lips slightly.

Look at that. He even allowed her to use his personal phone to call me.

In the past, he would frown if I so much as touched his phone, saying it contained family secrets.

If this had happened before, I would have felt heartbroken. Now, I only find it ridiculous.

The anger and resentment that had once made me lose control receded completely, like a retreating tide.

"Oh, and Don Rossi says we'll be back later, so you don't have to wait up. Just go to sleep."

Before I could respond, the call ended.

This so-called "later" usually meant they wouldn't be returning that night.

In the past, I would have sat in the living room until dawn, checking the security cameras repeatedly, watching their location, and imagining what they were doing.

Now, I set down my phone and took out the Termination of Engagement Agreement from the bedside drawer.

Looking at the signature already written on it, I smiled.

Before they left for Alicante, I had mixed it into a stack of documents and sent it over.

Sure enough, whenever he was with Sofia, he never looked carefully at any paperwork.

The engagement that had bound me for five years had come to an end just like that.

I called my mother.

"Mom, start preparing my welcome-back party."

As though she had expected this all along, she let out a sigh.

"My dear, never throw away your future and become the woman standing behind a man just because he says he needs you."

Quickly, however, her tone became cheerful.

"Now that the game's over, come home, sweetheart. I can hardly wait to introduce you to some good men."

My mother's words made me laugh, and my voice grew lighter.

"The agreement has already been signed. Once it takes effect in a week, I'll come home."

"Agreement? What agreement?"

I froze. I turned around and saw Antonio standing in the doorway.

I hung up the call and didn't look at him.

"I was just talking to a friend."

He stared at me suspiciously, then noticed the agreement in my hand and instinctively reached for it.

Just as I was thinking about how to brush him off, his phone rang.

"Don Rossi, doesn't this spaghetti-strap dress look a lot like the color of your eyes?" A sweet voice message from Sofia came through.

His expression immediately softened, and he sent a voice message back.

"It looks beautiful. Wear that one tomorrow."

I couldn't be bothered listening to them flirt, so I got out of bed with the agreement in hand.

He stopped me, sounding somewhat displeased.

"I came back tonight specifically to spend time with you. Where are you going?"

I answered casually, "The study. I still have some work to finish."

His expression darkened further as he began lecturing me.

"What's up with your efficiency lately? I've told you to get some rest and stop bringing family business home. Is your principessa syndrome acting up again? Did you spend the day slacking off?"

I casually responded with an "Mm,” opened the door, and left.

Behind me came the sound of glass shattering.

Back in the study, I carefully went through the email my mother had just sent.

Five years had passed, and both the family's personnel and sphere of influence had changed. Before going back, I needed to familiarize myself with everything again.

Just as I was about to finish, he knocked on the door.

The smell of alcohol lingered around him.

"Come back to bed. It's late."

I turned off the iPad and didn't move.

"If you have something to say, just say it. You don't have to pretend to care about me."

He clearly hadn't expected such a cold response and paused for a moment.

"Is that really how you see me? Forget it then. There is something I need to tell you.

"Sofia secured an important partnership, and I want to reward her with several ports so the other members have an example to follow."

I nodded. "It's your business. Handle it however you want."

A strange look appeared on his face, almost as though he were trying to explain himself.

"You haven't been attending negotiations lately, and your work efficiency has been low. There's no point in keeping those ports under your control. Tomorrow, hand everything over to Sofia. Once you're back to normal, I'll return them to you.

"As my future donna, if you're holding power but not doing any work, people will talk. I'm doing this for your own good."

I glanced at the termination agreement lying on the desk and almost laughed.

Seeing my silence, he assumed I was about to argue again, and his tone became colder.

"The notice has already been sent out. Even if you disagree, I have ways of making the transfer happen. Be good. I don't want to be too forceful."

The pattern was far too familiar.

First came the excuse, then the suppression, and finally, the threat.

Every single time, it was for Sofia's benefit.

I answered casually, "I never said no."

His brows relaxed. "Good. Then it's settled. We'll handle it tomorrow. Stop working and come back to bed."

Antonio grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the door without waiting for a response.

As we passed the photo wall, he suddenly stopped.

"Why is this empty?"

The wall had once been covered with photographs of us.

From the first time we met, to our engagement ceremony, to every family celebration afterward.

Every photo had been a reminder of how deeply I had loved him and how desperately I had wanted to become his donna.

He had always mocked them as "pointless romance”.

They were also the first things I got rid of.

"I put them away," I answered casually.

"What?" he turned sharply to stare at me.

"Who gave you permission to take them down?"

I looked calmly at him.

"I took those photos. If I want to put them away, I can."

"Yours?" he sneered. "Isabelle, everything in this estate belongs to me. Including you. What gives you the right to take them down without my permission?"

Annoyed, I shook off his hand. "What's the problem? Weren't you always saying how much you hated those photos?"

He froze.

The alcohol seemed to slow his reaction, but the hurt in his eyes was unmistakable.

"You've changed." He stared at me as though examining something that had gone wrong.

"You're acting up again."

"I've always been like this," I replied evenly. "You just never cared before."

"But I care!” he growled. "I care more than you can imagine! Everything I'm doing is for you!"

"For me?"

At last, I laughed, full of mockery.

"Sleeping around with Sofia is for me? Taking her to committee meetings is for me? Giving her everything that belonged to me, is that for me too?"

"You don't understand!"

He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"You're too spoiled, too willful. Someone like you can't be the donna of the Rossi family. I'm trying to help you fix those flaws."

"So you're using another woman to humiliate me?"

"That's not humiliation. It's discipline!" he shouted.

"As long as you learn patience, learn generosity, learn to—"

"Learn to wag my tail like a dog begging for your approval?" I cut him off.

He went rigid.

So I walked around him and left the study.

He called my name from behind me, but I didn't look back.

At the next morning's meeting, he deliberately avoided looking at me as he announced the removal of all my positions and transferred control of the ports to Sofia.

I smiled and applauded.

Yet his expression only became uglier as he wrapped an arm around Sofia's waist and left.

Over the following days, Antonio took Sofia on one high-profile date after another.

While he was spending a fortune to buy her a rare blood diamond, I was copying the Rossi family's confidential files.

By the time rumors about the two of them were everywhere, I had already packed my luggage.

The day he returned, the termination of our engagement officially took effect.

Before leaving, however, his underboss, Marco, handed me a document and insisted that I personally deliver it to Antonio.

To avoid causing any further trouble, I tucked the file under my arm and pushed open the study door.

Through the gap, I saw Antonio reclining against the sofa while Sofia, wearing that spaghetti-strap dress, sat curled up in his arms in an intimate pose.

At the sound of the door opening, both of them turned their heads.

I raised the document in my hand.

"Would you two mind pausing for a moment?"