The Weight of Broken Promises

At the table, Bella stared at the food, but it tasted like nothing. Steven's fake sweet act, Ada's smug little performance—it all spun in her head until she felt sick.

She shoved her chair back and headed upstairs to pack. The mansion was just ghosts now, and she needed to rip them out.

Ada slipped in after her. "Ms. Beaufort, you're good at pretending. Ollie's the Rocca heir, and I'm his mom. You don't belong here."

Bella's smile was sharp and cold. "So what?"

Ada blinked, then doubled down. "I know you don't want a divorce, but stop clinging to the title of 'Mrs. Rocca.' The family will never accept a woman who can't have kids."

Bella laughed, short and cutting. "'Mrs. Rocca'? If you want it that bad, take it."

She pulled the divorce papers from her bag and held them out.

"You know how Steven feels about me. He won't make divorce easy. I'm giving you the papers—if you're capable, get him to sign and send them back. If not, get used to being the secret lover for life."

Ada's eyes lit up as she snatched them. Spotting Bella's signature, she squinted. "You're really willing to leave Steven?"

Bella's chest clenched. Love had swallowed most of her life—how could walking away not sting?

She shut her eyes, forcing it down. When she opened them, only ice was left. "I'm not fighting over a man."

She'd once risked her life for Steven. Betrayal killed that.

Ada sneered, sure Bella was just putting on a show, but still walked off with the papers.

Bella stared at the walk-in closet stacked with Steven's gifts. All she felt was empty.

She packed her clothes, documents, the basics—nothing left behind. Steven's gifts? Boxed up and shipped to the auction house.

If she was leaving, every tie had to be cut clean.

The staff peeked from the hallway, whispering, but she didn't explain a thing.

By the time she finished, the sun was already slipping past noon. Sitting in the living room with her suitcase, she waited for Heidi to pull up.

That's when it hit her—she hadn't seen Oliver all day. Had he really been sent away?

Still trying to piece it together, she saw Steven rush in, Ada and Miranda right behind him.

"Mrs. Rocca, where's Ollie?!" Ada cried, throwing herself at Bella and shaking her arms.

Bella stumbled back, slamming into the corner of a table. Pain shot through her side.

She gasped. "What are you even talking about? How would I know where he is?"

Ada only sobbed harder. She snatched a fruit knife off the table and pressed it to Bella's throat.

"Mrs. Rocca, I know you hate Ollie, but how could you hide him from Mr. Rocca and send him away? Give me back my Ollie!"