Gone in the Sea of Faces

When I returned to Fontana Estate, I was stunned to hear loud music.

Cesare liked peace and quiet. Even the guards moved around in silence. But now, I could hear the music even from the front gate. It grew clearer as I stepped into the house.

As jazz music played from the speaker in the corner of the living room, Sonia held Cesare's hands while twisting her body around sensually. He was clumsily trying to keep up. Even though he was frowning, he readily accompanied her in her dance.

I startled them when I opened the door. Upon seeing me, Cesare stopped dancing, but Sonia continued to hold his hands tightly.

"Hi, Rosalia! We're just reenacting a classic scene from a movie. You should join us!" Sonia made a graceful twirl, her crimson dress swirling in the air.

My hands tightened around the documents I was holding. Mixed among the stack of documents that needed to be signed was the divorce paperwork.

The scene I stumbled upon made my eyes prickle. I couldn't even offer a single polite remark.

I now knew that Cesare was capable of doing things he didn't enjoy for someone else's sake. He was willing to compromise for the sake of the woman he loved.

Noticing the stack of papers I had with me, Sonia came over and asked curiously, "What are those? Are they for Cesare?"

I tensed up, the courage I'd only just mustered swiftly crumbling again. "It's nothing. These are just some documents that needed to be signed. It can wait. I'll—"

"What documents? Give them to me."

Cesare's voice rang out above my head, his tone firm and commanding.

Gulping, I flipped open all the documents to the last page, where they needed to be signed.

"These are just the purchase agreements for some items bought at an auction."

With his brows slightly creased, Cesare took the documents and started signing them. And when his signature fell on the divorce paperwork, I felt the tension melting away from me.

Everything was over now, right?

After taking back the stack of documents, I turned to leave without hesitation.

"Wait a minute!" Cesare called out.

I stiffened, my hands trembled as I clutched the documents. Did he notice something?

Cesare walked up to me. His fingers brushed over my palm as they reached for the documents I was holding. My fingers tightened around them.

Just as he was about to take them from me, Sonia grabbed his hand and said, "We haven't finished our dance, Cesare. Don't waste your time on unimportant things."

Cesare didn't refute Sonia's remark about "unimportant things". He simply lowered his head, allowing her to grip his hand. He wasn't the least bit cold toward her. He was nothing like the husband I'd been married to for five years.

This realization stabbed me in the heart, making it hurt even more.

Sonia's eyes flickered toward me, her gaze visibly taunting. "Do you want to join us, Rosalia?"

Shaking my head lightly, I declined in a voice so soft that I could barely hear it myself. "No thanks. I don't know how to dance."

I had none of the skills and etiquette that were expected of young ladies from distinguished families.

During my time with Cesare, what I learned was how to manage an estate and settle financial accounts. With all my time spent on doing my best to be a good donna, I had no time to pick up other frivolous skills.

Now that I thought about it, I realized how useful it was for me to have learned the things I did. Even after leaving Cesare, I could still support myself.

Sonia's eyes flashed with contempt. "That's such a shame. How can a Donna not even know how to dance? You're woefully unfit for the role."

Her words felt like a slap in the face, making me turn red with mortification.

"Do you want to learn? I'll hire you a teacher," Cesare abruptly said.

"N-No. It's fine," I said before rushing off, as if I were fleeing.

I hurried up to my room on the second floor, feeling both humiliated and relieved. I was leaving anyway, so why should I bother learning how to dance?

As I stared at the signed divorce paperwork, my eyes misted over. The unequal marriage had resulted in the end of our relationship.