The day of the wedding, Enzo's first love Lucia showed up at the estate in the same custom gown I was wearing.

I watched them greet the guests together.

Kept a straight face and told them they made a much better match.

Lucia ran off crying on the spot.

Enzo called me jealous in front of every family guest at the ceremony.

After the reception ended, he took Lucia on our honeymoon.

I didn't argue. I just had my lawyer draw up divorce papers.

By the time I finished up at the estate, it was already late.

Pale moonlight spilled across the living room, leaving the whole place feeling empty.

I dragged myself upstairs and collapsed onto that oversized bed.

When I plugged in my phone, I just happened to see Lucia's Instagram post.

"Meeting you was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me."

The photo showed Enzo with his arms around her. They were staring into each other's eyes, lips almost touching, matching rings on their fingers.

Back in the day, I would've stormed straight to his study and demanded an explanation.

But now? I just turned off the screen.

Rolled over. Went to sleep.

The next few days came and went without a single message from Enzo.

But Lucia's Instagram kept feeding me updates about him.

Kissing at the beach. Posing for photos. Shopping hand in hand.

None of it got to me. I just handled the family estate transfer paperwork and called my lawyer to start the divorce.

Enzo and I had been together eight years. College through now.

Sure, we'd just had the big wedding. But we'd actually signed the papers years ago, right after graduation.

No ceremony. Just love.

And now that love had burned out, leaving nothing but a complete mess behind.

Then, half a month later.

I was sitting at home reviewing the first draft Marco had sent over.

The front door clicked open.

I looked up.

And there was Enzo, walking through the door holding Lucia's hand.

Our eyes met. For a second, guilt flashed across his face.

He quickly let go of Lucia's hand and cleared his throat.

"Lucia's never seen the ocean before," he said, voice a bit off. "That's why I took her."

Before he could finish, I looked back down at my screen and shrugged.

"Yeah, okay."

That got under his skin. He went cold.

"You can't be serious. I told you, she's never seen the coast. That's the only reason I brought her along.

"And it's not like we can't take a honeymoon some other time. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?

"Besides, I've told you a hundred times. Lucia and I are just—"

I cut him off before he could ramble any further.

"Just adoptive siblings. I know."

I looked at him calmly. No anger. No hurt.

His face went even colder. He frowned at me, all exasperated.

"Then what's your problem?"

"I'm busy."

I turned my attention back to the screen and ignored whatever expression he was making.

Lucia saw her moment and stepped forward, grabbing Enzo's wrist.

"Please don't be mad, Sofia," she said. "Don't fight with Enzo because of me.

"Enzo didn't take you this time, but he brought you a gift from the beach."

She looked up at him sweetly.

"Enzo, go on. Show Sofia what you got her."

He pulled a small box from his pocket, flipped it open, and pushed it toward me.

"Got this just for you. Open it."

He looked proud, like I was supposed to be grateful.

I glanced inside.

A pair of simple flower-shaped earrings. Little diamonds around blue stone petals.

I looked for a second, then pushed the box back.

"Keep it. I don't collect freebies."

The air went dead. Enzo's face dropped first.

"Sofia. What's that supposed to mean?"

I glanced lazily at the seven-figure ring on Lucia's finger, then locked eyes with Enzo.

"Exactly what I said. You gave her the real thing and tried to hand me the free gift. So what, I only deserve the cheap stuff?"

Enzo's face went awkward. Guess he didn't expect me to call it out like that.

But Lucia jumped right in, all wounded.

"Don't be upset, Sofia," she said. "Enzo only gave me the ring because he knew how much I loved it. If it bothers you, I'll give it back right now.

"Please don't fight with Enzo over me. I'm not worth it."

She said all that, but her hands didn't move an inch. She just stared at Enzo with big teary eyes, letting the tears fall one by one.

Enzo pulled her into his arms like she was made of glass and shot me a dirty look.

"Lucia, ignore her," he said. "That ring is yours.

"She's always like this. Loves picking fights over nothing."

I watched them for a second, then went back to staring at my screen.

That made Enzo even angrier.

He put his arm around Lucia and headed for the door. Right before leaving, he shoved the door wide open and stood there looking at me.

I knew what he was doing. Waiting for me to cave. Waiting for me to give him an easy way out.

That's how it always went.

I'd bend first. And every time, he'd push a little further.

Not this time. I didn't even look up.

I just added the few million he'd spent on Lucia's ring to the asset division.

Seeing that, Enzo slammed the door behind him.

Not long after they left, my parents called.

Wanted me to come over for dinner.

I said yes. And ran into Enzo right outside the Conti house.

He looked a little uncomfortable when he saw me, but he played it cool.

"Going in together?"

I nodded and walked in.

Dinner was painfully awkward. My parents were still upset about what happened at the wedding, so they weren't exactly warm with Enzo.

A while back, I would've tried to smooth things over.

But now? I just let him sit there uncomfortable.

After we finished eating, I was about to call a car when Enzo pulled up right in front of me. I opened the passenger door and saw a sticker on the seat: "Lucia's Seat."

Enzo cleared his throat. "She insisted on putting it there," he said. "It's not like you ride with me that often."

I nodded. "Makes sense. Young girl stuff."

He frowned, about to say something else when my phone rang.

I ignored him and answered my texts.

By the time I was done, we were parked outside some villa.

The second I got out, Lucia threw herself into Enzo's arms.

"Enzo, I missed you so much."

He looked embarrassed with me standing right there, and stopped her before she could kiss his cheek.

"All right, all right," he said. "You're not a kid anymore."

Lucia shot me a smug look. "Doesn't mean I'm not still your girl."

I didn't have the energy for their little act. I just walked in.

Right by the entrance, a digital screen was cycling through photos.

All of Lucia and Enzo.

Cuddled up watching the sunrise. Eating dinner together. And at the very end, a shot of them making out.

I barely got two looks in before Enzo rushed over.

"Sofia, none of those are real," he said. "Trust me, don't get upset."

I turned to him. Saw the guilt flicker across his eyes.

"Okay," I said. "Looks good."

He frowned deeper. "Sofia, you're not mad?"

"Nope."

Right then, my phone rang. Some official about the estate transfer.

I stepped aside to take the call and left Enzo standing there.

When I got back to the hall, Enzo was shielding Lucia and tearing into someone else.

From what I could piece together, the guy had accidentally spilled a little wine on Lucia's dress. Enzo was screaming at him to apologize.

I watched it happen and remembered something from years ago.

Enzo and I were at a big family gala. As we passed the champagne tower in the middle of the room, Lucia shoved me.

I lost my balance and crashed right into it.

Glasses shattered everywhere. Champagne mixed with blood running down my body.

I looked at Enzo for help. And he laid into me in front of everyone.

"Can't you watch where you're going?" he yelled. "You didn't see a giant champagne tower right in front of you?

"And you had to fall into it? Do you have any idea how important tonight is? I don't know why someone so useless is even still breathing.

"If I were you, I'd find the nearest wall and put my head through it."

I pulled myself back to the present.

Stood there watching him lose his mind over a few drops of wine.

It was almost funny.

So I turned around and walked out.

Enzo didn't come home that night.

I wasn't surprised. Would've been weirder if he had.

But the next morning, while I was washing up, I saw him walk in with breakfast. And Lucia right behind him.

He put the food on the table and actually bothered to explain.

"Went out late," he said. "Lucia didn't want to sleep alone, so I took her home.

"It was the middle of the night. I just crashed at her place."

Lucia wrapped her arm around his and gave me a look.

"Yeah," she said. "You're not mad, are you, Sofia?"

I didn't bother answering.

Enzo must've felt how cold I was being, because he softened his voice.

"Weren't you talking about that new movie? The one everyone's been saying is good?

"I've got time today. Let's go see it."

I'd asked him to go with me so many times. The movie had been out for weeks.

He always said he was too busy with family business.

A couple days later, I saw him on Lucia's Instagram.

"The best movies are for the best person."

No faces in the photo. But I'd recognize those hands anywhere.

I caught the faint scent of perfume on Enzo and shook my head.

"No. I've got plans."

He looked uncomfortable, like he wanted to push it.

But Lucia was already on the couch, playing innocent.

"Sofia's plans," she said. "Would those be with an old college friend?"

I gave her a sharp look.

Nobody knew about the divorce except me and Marco. And certainly nobody knew Marco was my college classmate.

Lucia saw my reaction and turned to Enzo all flustered.

"Don't be mad, Enzo," she said. "I just heard from someone that they saw Sofia at a coffee shop with a college guy and they were being..."

She paused. Let the silence hang.

"...close.

"But I'm sure my friend was wrong. Sofia would never cheat on you. She loves you too much."

Enzo's face went dark. He swept a vase off the table and turned on me.

"Sofia!" he shouted. "You wouldn't go to a movie with me because you were sneaking around with some guy?"

I glanced at the broken glass on the floor.

Before I could speak, Lucia jumped in again, playing peacemaker.

"Enzo, take it easy," she said. "Don't yell at her.

"It's not really her fault anyway. I mean, her own mother cheated, so—"

That was it. I grabbed the tissue box off the table and threw it at her head.

Come after me all you want. But not my mother.

The box left a red mark where it hit. Enzo rushed to check her arm like she'd been shot.

Then he spun around and pointed at me.

"Sofia," he said. "I am so disappointed in you.

"So what if she made it up? That doesn't give you the right to put your hands on her.

"Don't you know—"

I cut him off.

"So you admit it was made up?"

The color drained from his face. Just for a second. Then he pulled himself together, all righteous anger.

"Fine. Yes. I saw them too.

"But that doesn't make it okay for you to hit someone.

"Apologize to Lucia. Right now. Or we're done. Divorce."

Ice ran through my whole body. I stared at him in disbelief.

Then I reached into my bag, pulled out the divorce papers I'd had ready for weeks, and slapped them down in front of him.

"Let's go. Right now. I'm ready."