Chapter 5

Serena

M y colleagues and I are discussing the case at hand in the conference room. We're working on a corporate merger, and everyone is on edge. I sit quietly, absorbing the details, waiting for the right moment to speak.

“Serena, any thoughts?” Evelyn’s voice cuts through the noise, bringing the room to silence.

I look up, meeting her gaze.” I suggest that we concentrate on the legalities of the merger to prevent any antitrust problems," I say, my voice remaining firm. "If we handle possible regulatory issues at an early stage, we can avoid future delays and complexities."

Heads nod around the table, and I continue. “We should also make sure the contractual terms are clear and fair for both parties. This will help in creating a smoother transition.”

She smiles, a glint of approval in her eyes. “Excellent points, Serena. Let’s move forward with those suggestions.”

The meeting is dismissed, and I gather my things, heading back to my office. The moment I sit down, my phone rings. I glance at the screen and see that it’s my mother. I've been dodging her phone calls for about a month, ever since I discovered the contract, but I can't keep avoiding her forever.

I answer the phone with a frustrated sigh. “Hello, Mother.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you started working? We had to find out what our own daughter was up to from her father-in-law... in what world?!” she explodes. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“Mother, I am an adult. I can do as I please without having to inform or ask for permission from you or anyone else,” I snap, feeling my patience wear thin.

There is a short moment of silence before she talks once more, her attitude cold. “Make sure you are not neglecting how you look for this job. In a few days, you're scheduled to go to the hair salon for a bleaching treatment on your hair. “

“No,” I say firmly, putting a stop to this nonsense. “I won’t change my appearance to impress you or anyone else anymore.”

“Serena, don’t be silly,” she screeches. “You know how important it is for you to—”

“I don’t care!” I interrupt, feeling a surge of anger. “I’m done with all of it. I’m done with the constant pressure to look perfect, to be perfect. If you can’t handle that, then maybe you should stop calling.”

I can almost hear her fuming, searching for the right words to regain control of the conversation.

“You’ve lost your mind,” she finally says. “You’re making a mistake, Serena. You’ll regret this.”

“Maybe I will,” I reply, my voice softening slightly. “But it will be my mistake to make. Goodbye, Mother.”

After ending the call, my hands tremble. This is my first time confronting her so openly, and the sensation is both thrilling and frightening. I inhale deeply, attempting to calm myself.

I place my head in my hands and chuckle, the sound softly reverberating in my office. I finally expressed what I had been wanting to communicate for all those years. It feels like freedom. My vision blurs with tears of relief and laughter, and I quickly wipe them away when I hear a knock at the door.

"Come in," I call out, still smiling.

A few of my colleagues enter. Despite my short time here of just two weeks, I have loved every moment of working in this place. The people are just wonderful.

Sasha plops down on my desk, while Daniel leans against it, his usual calm self.

"We're heading to the club tonight with some folks from the firm to blow off some steam," Sasha says with a grin. "You in?"

The idea of a night out sounds like exactly what I need. "Absolutely, I’m in."

Daniel fingers the ring on his finger and looks at me thoughtfully. "You can tell your husband to come as well if you like," he suggests, his tone casual but probing.

I shake my head, keeping my smile in place. "No, he's quite busy. Maybe next time."

I can tell Daniel is curious, probably wondering about my marriage, but he doesn’t press further. Instead, he nods and says, "Alright, we'll see you tonight then."

I can't help but wonder about his curiosity. Is it because our marriage is always discussed in the tabloids, painted as a fairy tale? Or is he interested in me personally? Both options are less than ideal. I shake off the thought. I don’t need more stress.

They leave, and I feel super excited for the evening ahead. For once, I’m making decisions for myself, enjoying my life on my terms.

I look around my office, the place already giving off a feeling of being a second home. I've discovered a space where I can truly be who I am and I am extremely proud of it.

As I head back to the mansion, dread fills me. I know Salvatore won’t like my plans for tonight, but I don’t care. I’m my own person, and I’m not going to let him dictate my life anymore.

The moment I open the front door, he is there, greeting me immediately. He takes my purse from me with surprising gentleness, sets it aside, and even kneels to help me out of my heels. The gesture is so out of character that it catches me off guard.

"I made Alfredo pasta, your favorite," he says, his voice almost hopeful.

I thank him coldly, not wanting to encourage his behavior. "Thank you."

I notice the flowers he put on the table as we sit down to eat. He’s been giving me an extravagant bouquet every day, it’s weird. They are pretty, but I don’t comment on them. The only sound in the room is the clinking of our forks against the plates. The silence is thick.

"Do you like it? I asked Lucia for the recipe," he asks, breaking the silence.

"It’s okay," I reply, not giving him a single compliment. I don’t want to praise him for the bare fucking minimum.

The silence stretches on, becoming almost unbearable. Finally, he snaps. "Please, Serena. Please, just talk to me."

I glance up, surprised by the raw plea in his voice.

"How was your day? Did you finish that series you told me about? What did you do at work today? Baby, please, just talk to me," he begs, and it’s then that I notice the dark circles under his eyes, how his cheeks are sunken in. He looks worn, almost desperate.

For a moment, I am tempted to soften, to give in to his plea. But then I remember the lies, the manipulation, and I steel myself.

"My day was fine," I say nonchalantly. "I worked, as usual. And no, I haven't finished the series. I have more important things to do."

He sighs, looking down at his plate. "I know I’ve made mistakes. I’m trying to make amends."

"Amends? By cooking dinner and bringing me flowers?" I shake my head. "It’s pathetic."

He visibly swallows. "I’m just trying to show you that I care."

"Care?" I scoff. “If you truly cared, you wouldn't have lied to me from the very beginning.”

"I know," he says quietly. "I apologize."

"It isn’t enough," I say.

I walk away, but before I leave the room, I turn back to him, not able to stop myself from throwing a dig. "For someone who claims not to love me, you're certainly acting like you do,"

I storm to the guest bedroom, already at my wits end. I’m not going to bring up my plans to go to the club tonight. I’ll sneak out. The last thing I want is any of the guards following me, wreaking havoc at his order.

When I finish getting ready, I take my wedding ring off my finger. I can’t stand to look at it anymore. I don’t want any reminders of him tonight.