Leaving Him in the Dust

Returning to the manor, I began packing my belongings, which I didn't have much despite being married to Luca for three years.

All the family wealth was locked up in the safe in the vault room, all entrusted by Luca to Lina and to be governed by her whim.

Only she knew the password, which was why I needed her approval for everything, including my mother's medicine.

It was just like queuing up outside a soup kitchen.

One time, I asked for fifty euros more to get my mother some socks, and Lina flung the note at my face in front of the entire accounting department. "A slumdog is always a slumdog! All you do is take money from us!"

Then, she forced me to publicly apologize and made me stand outside in the winter snow for three hours.

Luca knew that, but he merely clapped my shoulder and said, "I know you married me for my money, but know your place. You have no business being the Donna if money is all you care about—and I don't want you to be like that."

I sighed at those memories and reached into the bottom of the bedside drawer, taking out my red academic certificate.

Three years ago, I was praised as a prodigy in chemistry, having won the top prize in the youth category for the invention and innovation of new metals.

But after that, I succumbed to Luca's relentless wooing

He promised me a family and to fulfill my dreams, and I had every intention to help his business to new heights with my metals research, improving his arms development.

But he chose to believe Lina instead, forcing me out of a job and reducing me to a housewife suffering everyone's whims.

Plucking the soda can pull tab that he called my wedding band, I flung it into a trash can and headed out with my suitcase.

There was nothing in there, aside from some bleached clothes, my mother's ashes, and my academic certificates.

However, I had just reached the door when Eliza the chef called out to me, looking at me sideways and scoffing hostilely. "Just give up already. You'll just come back like you did all the time before! What's even the point of such cheap drama?"

It wasn't a surprise that she didn't respect me, when her salary was a ton better than my monthly allowance.

I was the Donna in name only, but I had nothing to my name.

Meanwhile, Eliza was still huffing at me. "Don't forget that the Don wants his Cointreau tonight!"

I stopped and snapped coolly, "Go get if you want, or tell Lina to do it. She's just a slut who got where she is by sucking up to others, no? It's the best possible job for her!"

The other servants clamored among themselves, while Eliza was reeling in shock, obviously not expecting me to snap.

Eventually, she recovered and bellowed "How dare you badmouth Lady Lina! You'd better watch it, or I'll tell the Don!"

In their minds, they had probably already acknowledged Lina as their real Donna.

"Whatever." I laughed coolly and turned away.

As I basked in the sun, I had never felt more relieved.