I'm married to Don Vincenzo Corleone of the Corleone family for five years. During those years, I'm the Donna whom everyone is envious of.

But only I know that his love doesn't belong to me anymore.

Vincenzo no longer takes me to core family gatherings. Our home is filled with photos of him and his childhood sweetheart, Lina Villo.

At the banquet, Lina, who has won an award with the recipe she has stolen from me, nuzzles against Vincenzo's chest while receiving everyone's congratulatory wishes. Meanwhile, I get berated by the same man in public.

Even when I get kidnapped, Vincenzo chooses to not save me just because he wants to take care of Lina.

I've given Vincenzo five years of my love, only to end up with nothing good.

So, I delete all of his contact information and board the ship meant for Castelloro.

Vincenzo, I'm not going to pine for the genuine love and respect you owe me anymore.

Let's not see each other again for the rest of our lives. We don't owe each other anything anymore.

It had been five years since I married Vincenzo Corleone, the Don of the Corleone family.

It was our wedding anniversary that night. Vincenzo got home and came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on the crown of my head and said tenderly, "Thanks for this, amore mio."

I turned slightly to avoid his touch and plated the dessert. "It's nothing. I'm just doing my part."

This was always what he had been like throughout our five years of marriage. He remembered everything I couldn't eat, brought my travel-friendly meals whenever he went on trips, and even sat beside me with a glass of warm water when I stayed up late testing new recipes.

Everyone envied me for marrying the most powerful man in San Aurelio and winning his unreserved tenderness, but only I knew that it came with an expiration date.

Vincenzo picked up a dessert fork and tasted a bite. His usual approval colored his eyes. "Yours is still the best. By the way, the Villo family is hosting a banquet tomorrow to announce Lina's pregnancy and her culinary award. You should skip it."

I looked up at him. "Why? I want to check things out."

"It's unnecessary." He set the fork down. "It'll be busy, and you want to avoid conflict, right? Haven't you always wanted a child? Stay home and rest. I'll deliver the gift and come right back to be with you."

"Conflict?" I sneered. "You're just worried that I'll steal Lina's spotlight if I go, aren't you?"

Vincenzo's face hardened for a split second before he composed himself. "Don't overthink it. Lina's pregnant, and it's a big day for her with her award. If you go and anything turns unpleasant, it could affect relations between our families."

"Between our families?" I shot to my feet, the anger in my chest finally breaking loose. "Did you marry me because you love me, Vincenzo, or to use me as a cover for Lina?"

He didn't answer. He merely frowned. "Isabella, don't be unreasonable."

Unreasonable? I stared at his handsome, indifferent face, and five years of memories flooded my mind.

Vincenzo used to take me everywhere and proudly tell everyone I was the love of his life. He would bid outrageous sums at auctions just to win me a piece of jewelry.

If I looked at something for more than ten seconds, it would show up in my hands within a day. Once, with just a single comment that I liked roses, he'd filled the estate with them.

But now, he no longer brought me to the core family gatherings. Whenever Lina Villo needed something, he would show up at her side as soon as possible. Even in our home, there were childhood photos of him and her on display.

I kept lying to myself, telling myself he was simply loyal to the people in his life. But on this night, he didn't even bother to pretend.

Still, after five years of loving him, I couldn't accept fading out so carelessly.

After dinner, Vincenzo went to his study to make a call. The door wasn't fully closed, and his voice carried. "Don't worry. I've already told her not to come tomorrow. She won't bother you."

I didn't listen to the rest. I turned away and walked back to the bedroom.

I sat at the vanity and stared at my reflection. Exhaustion rimmed my eyes, but there was a thread of resolve in them. I pulled out my phone and called Giuseppe Conti.

Giuseppe was my family's driver. He was the one who'd driven me when I married into the Corleone family; he was also one of the few who knew what I was going through and would walk through fire for me.

"Giuseppe," I said calmly, "I need you to set up two things. First, I'm going to tomorrow's banquet. Wait for me outside Villo Estate. Second, arrange an 'abduction.'"

He was silent for a few seconds. Then, he said worriedly, "Ms. Rossi, you're planning to…"

"I want to test him one last time," I cut in. "If he can leave Lina and immediately come to my aid, maybe I can convince myself to give him another chance. But if he can't… Then stage it so it looks like I was killed. I'm leaving him."

Giuseppe sighed and gave in. "Si, Ms. Rossi. I'll do as you say. When should it happen?"

"The day after the banquet, at 8:00 pm." I thought about it. "That'll be enough time for Vincenzo to hear the news and for Lina to try to stop him."

"Got it."

After I hung up, Vincenzo pushed the door open and stepped in. His eyes flickered when he saw me. He walked over to hug me, but I stepped back out of reach. "Don't touch me."

His face went dark. "Isabella, what exactly do you want?"

"I don't want anything." I turned and lay down on the bed, my back to him. "I'm going to the banquet tomorrow. You can't stop me."

That night, I stared into the darkness until dawn. Vincenzo breathed evenly beside me, as if our argument had never happened. I carefully lifted his hand from my waist, knowing this might be the last time I lay next to him.

When I went downstairs after the sky had turned bright, Vincenzo was already waiting in the living room. He frowned when he saw me. "Are you really going to go?"

"Yes. I want to see how your darling Lina basks in everyone's blessings with my recipe."

His gaze turned cold. "Isabella, don't cause a scene."

"A scene?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm just going to take back what's mine."

…

Villo Estate blazed with lights, and luxury cars lined the street.

When I got out of the car, several people gave me odd looks. In their eyes, I, the Donna of the Corleone family, hadn't shown up at this sort of event in a long time.

Giuseppe leaned close and murmured, "Ms. Rossi, the abduction arrangement is all set."

I nodded, pushed the doors open, and walked in.

The ballroom was buzzing. Lina wore a white gown that put her pregnant belly on display; she was surrounded by admirers like a proud princess. When she saw me, her smile froze for a beat. Then, she tilted her chin and strode over.

"Well, well, Isabella. What brings you here?" Her tone dripped with undisguised mockery. "Didn't Vincenzo tell you that today's my big day? Outsiders aren't welcome."

"Outsiders?" I let out a short, cold laugh. My gaze swept over the table and landed on a plate of tomato-basil pasta. "If I'm an outsider, then tell me how you got the recipe for that dish."

The room instantly went quiet, and every eye turned to us.

Lina blanched before she quickly threw on a look of innocence. "What are you talking about? I developed that recipe myself. How could it be yours?"

"You developed it?" I took a step forward, closing the distance. "Have you forgotten what happened three years ago, when I was testing that dish in the family's restaurant?

"You used touring the kitchen as an excuse to steal my recipe book, then copied the special handling notes I'd marked. You think I didn't notice? The cleaning lady saw you sneaking out of my station and told me about it."

Her gaze turned shifty and panicked. She instinctively stepped back, arms tightening protectively over her belly. "That's utter nonsense! You copied my method, and now you're turning it around to smear me!"

"Smear you?" I signaled a server to bring the plate over. "The basil is supposed to be marinated in olive oil for three hours. The tomatoes must be from San Zanoro, peeled and seeded, then sauteed in butter until almost molten.

"These are details that no one aside from myself would know. Are you really claiming you figured all that out on your own?"

Lina's lips trembled. She couldn't form any words.

Just then, the crowd parted, and Vincenzo walked in. His expression darkened when he saw us facing off, and he hurried to Lina's side.

When she saw him, she suddenly reeled backward, almost falling. She would have fallen if he hadn't caught her.

"Vincenzo!" Lina's eyes instantly reddened, and her voice caught. "Isabella bullied me. She said I stole her recipe, and she even pushed me…"

A wave of condemnation rose around us.

"How could she push a pregnant woman? That's outrageous!"

"Exactly. Lina's pregnant, and she just won an award. Donna Corleone is obviously jealous."

"Donna Corleone is such a disgrace."

I stood where I was, watching the farce unfold, finding it nothing short of absurd.

Vincenzo frowned at me. His tone was tinged with reproach as he said, "No matter what happened, Isabella, you shouldn't have laid a hand on Lina. She's pregnant."

"I didn't push Lina." My voice stayed calm. "She fell on her own and tried to pin it on me. Vincenzo, did you actually see me push her?"

Vincenzo hesitated, then said, "Even if you didn't, you shouldn't have argued with her. Today is her big day."

"Her big day?" I pointed at the plate of pasta, my voice suddenly rising. "She won this award with my recipe, lied her way into everyone's praise, and trampled over my work to get her 'big day'! You know the truth, and you're still going to protect her, aren't you?"

Just then, a server rushed in and announced, "Congratulations, Ms. Villo! Your tomato-basil pasta made the cover of a prestigious newspaper. Food critics are calling it this year's most stunning dish!"

Lina immediately beamed through her tears and nestled into Vincenzo's arms. "That's amazing! Vincenzo, I knew I could do it!"

He looked at her with a gentle smile I hadn't seen in a long time. It felt like an ice-honed blade driven straight into my heart. Then, when he turned to me, the smile vanished, and he said flatly, "You see how things have turned out. We can talk about the recipe later. You're coming home with me now."

"Home?" I laughed until tears spilled down my face. "How do you expect me to go back, Vincenzo? Am I supposed to watch you and her play the happy couple? Watch as my work is stolen from me? Watch as you two play me like a fiddle?"

"Isabella, mind your place!" Vincenzo growled, his voice cooling and carrying the authority of the Don. "This is the Villo family's banquet. Don't humiliate yourself with this scene."

"Humiliate myself?" I pressed a hand to my chest. "My biggest humiliation was marrying you! It's been five whole years, Vincenzo. Is there even room in your heart for me now?"

The murmurs around us swelled, and the Villo family's patriarch's face darkened. "Vincenzo, control your wife."

Vincenzo's expression turned stormy. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. "You're coming with me!"

"Let go!" I yanked free. A voice recorder slipped from my pocket and clattered to the floor, but I didn't pick it up. The evidence no longer mattered. The prelude to my test had already shown me everything I needed to see. "I'm not going back. We're finished from today on, Vincenzo. Whatever ties between us are severed!"

With that, I spun around and walked away.

Behind me came Lina's mockery. "Who do you think you are, Isabella? Without Vincenzo, you're nothing!"

I didn't look back as I strode straight out of the ballroom. Giuseppe's car was still waiting at the entrance. I opened the door, slid in, and finally let the tears fall.

The car was quiet. Giuseppe handed me a tissue. "Ms. Rossi, don't be upset."

"I'm not." I wiped my tears and said resolutely, "We'll proceed as planned at 8:00 pm tomorrow, in the old downtown. I don't want a single mistake."

He nodded. "You can count on me, Ms. Rossi."

As the car rolled away from Villo Estate, I pulled out my phone and opened Lina's social media feed. She had already posted a new update—a photo of herself with that plate of pasta. The caption read, "Hard work pays off. Thank you for the support, especially Vincenzo."

The comments were all congratulatory, and Vincenzo had liked the post.

I closed the app and tossed the phone aside. Most of my hope had already burned out. Only a small, foolish ember remained. It was just enough to carry me through one last test.