Marrying The Rival: My Ex-Husband's Despair

fia wife, only to hear him mocking me as an "ice s

l went deeper t

ith a shattered leg. Lying in the hospital bed, I over

ria had sabotaged my gear. He

lled my near-death experience a "lesson"

buy family heirlooms for her. He stood by while she

lay the hero for a woman he

idea she w

cro-cameras throughout the estate

ent" Aria sleeping with his guards, his rivals, and even

nt of the entire crime family, Ale

beg. I di

drive to the main proj

pte

na De

lutching a stack of financial reports against my chest, when

a physical blow: if I opened this door, I

a woman who knew she had already won-a sound that threatened to strip away the

r folder until my kn

ter suite of the De Luca estate. The silk sheets were c

f violence, and I was the statue he had p

shone like spun gold. I applied my makeup with t

e. They bowed their heads when I walked by, but I could fe

aiting for

on in the mirror. Perfect sk

ething that resembled respect. I thought it was enough. I thought if I molded myself into the

s a

acquisition. A trophy to

ported perfumes, was a tube of lipstick. It was a cheap, drugstore brand. The plast

aced down

t away. A servant must

way, that tube of lipstic

by a low, guttural groan. It was Alessandro. It wa

as efficient.

n't k

door open b

t me harder

sk, his white dress shirt unbuttoned halfway.

ily friend" he had brought into the manor six months ago. The

ng her throat. Her hands were ta

with a hunger that terrif

r head slightl

ull away. Sh

sm

d, dragging her nails down Alessandro's chest, leaving a red mark. She want

ssandro murmured, his voice

ot like her. Not like that ice

left m

scul

ng to be perfect for him, trying to be the woman worthy of the De

ed over me. I felt bi

ocuments slipped slightly, crinkling

fore Alessandro c

ked against the marble floor, a rhythmi

talking as I approached, but the moment I passed, the whispe

ly one who h

my room and l

. I walked to the mirror. The woman stari

o

e. I wiped the single

ther used to say: The sharpest knife i

ng on Aria weeks ago. I had dismissed my suspicions then, thinkin

f fraud. Connections to rival families th

She was a parasite. And Al

anniversary. Last week, I heard Aria telling the ga

repla

was a utility. A placeholder until

he tether of loyalty I had held onto for

phone. My hands

r that hadn't be

old man answered. "I need

necklace Alessandro had given me on our wedding day.

pped it into the deepe

t statue w

had ju