I Left Him and Took Everything He Owed Me
Chapter 2
Chloe’s champagne flute toppled, splashing across her lap.
A flight attendant rushed over.
Chloe shrieked, hand to her face. “Are you insane!”
“You deserve worse!”
The attendant physically stepped between us, her smile strained. She guided a furious Chloe to a seat far from mine, speaking in low, placating tones.
Finally, Chloe simmered down. She dabbed at her dress with a towel, shooting me a look of pure contempt.
“I hate women like you. So self-righteous. Calling me a whore. You’re just jealous because you’re old and no one wants you.”
I surged forward.
The attendant held me back.
I forced myself to sit. My hands were fists.
Chloe’s gaze swept over me, dismissive. “Let’s be real. You’re not young. Your husband definitely has someone on the side. Go home and check his phone. A woman like you… no wonder men don’t come home.”
SPLASH
The fresh orange juice the attendant had just handed me was now dripping from Chloe’s hair and face.
Her scream was ear-piercing.
More crew swarmed us, forming a human barrier. The head flight attendant, her smile now brittle, leaned close to me.
“Ms. Lopez, please. She is a… valued guest of Don Matteo Cefalù. It is in your best interest to let this go. He is very protective of her.”
Don Matteo Cefalù.
The title hit me like a bullet.
We landed for a brief layover. Neither of us disembarked. Phones could be turned on.
I texted Matteo.
Where are you
A photo came back. A cluttered ledger desk, stacks of shipment records and betting slips. Working hard for my wife
For me? Or for someone else
No reply.
I sent a question mark.
A second later, I heard his voice. From Chloe’s seat.
“Someone threw a drink on you? Who dared touch you, mi amore?”
“Some old hag! It’s your fault! If you were here she wouldn’t dare!”
“Shh, it’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
A mechanical female voice chimed from her phone. Alipay payment received. Five hundred thousand yuan
Matteo’s voice was warm, indulgent. “Buy yourself something pretty. Forget about her.”
My nails dug into my palms.
Chloe’s pout was audible. “Not enough! You said you missed me! You wanted to see me for New Year’s! If not for that, I wouldn’t be on this plane with that psychopath!”
“What about the new villa I just bought for you?”
She went quiet for a beat.
“I see you smiling, cuore mio.”
“I am not!” Her voice was lighter. “But… fine. You get one chance. Only because I love you.”
“Good. I will make it up to you tonight. All night.”
“Three hours. Minimum!”
“However long you want.”
A tremor ran through me. When he was sent to oversee the Family’s New York territory, our visits were brief. Just hugs. Chaste kisses. When I hinted at more, he’d sigh.
“I’ve been under a lot of pressure, amore. The business… it’s exhausting. Let me rest, okay?”
He was always too tired. And then he’d be gone again.
The plane prepared for takeoff. Chloe made a kissing sound into her phone and hung up.
Matteo’s text arrived.
Why don’t you trust me, Sara? Are you sad I’m working over the holiday? When I come home, I’ll take you for that rotisserie you love
As the engines roared, an attendant approached Chloe with a black, gold-embossed box.
“From a gentleman, Ms. Apple gate.”
“My Prada necklace! He remembered!”
The attendant handed her a card. “The gentleman also asked us to convey a message: ‘Do not let the noise of others drown out your own voice. Move forward. I am behind you. Always.’”
I looked at Matteo’s text on my screen. I closed my eyes.
The head attendant appeared beside me. She pressed a small, cool stone into my hand. A diamond.
“For you, Ms. Lopez.”
“For me?”
“Don Cefalù is aware of your… disagreement with Ms. Apple gate. Her doctor says she must avoid stress. So. You will go and apologize to her. Sincerely.”
I stared at the diamond. A bitter laugh escaped. “An apology? This seems excessive.”
“The Don earns several of these in a day. It is nothing.”
Several of these in a day.
A five-figure diamond.
I rolled the stone between my fingers.
And laughed.
A stranger got more from him than I ever did.