Chapter 3

“Tonight is the gathering of the five families. Dress simple. Don’t steal Nora’s spotlight.”

On the sofa was the cheap old dress he had thrown at me.

Behind him stood Nora, dressed in a custom maternity gown, wearing my pink diamond necklace.

“Dante, do I look good in this?”Nora lifted her skirt and spun around.

Dante walked over and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“You look beautiful. You’ll be the most stunning woman there tonight.”

He turned to me, frowning slightly.

“What are you standing there for? Go change. Don’t waste time.”

I picked up the gray dress and walked into the guest room. When I came out, Dante had already left with Nora.

I could only take a taxi to the hotel by myself.

I pushed open the banquet hall doors and saw Dante holding a glass of wine, chatting and laughing with several family heads.

Nora clung to his arm, soft and dependent.

I walked over, about to stand behind Dante.

“Mr. Marchetti, who is this?”

One of the family heads pointed at Nora.

Dante raised his glass, smiling brightly.

“Let me introduce you. This is my fiancée, Nora.”

Flattering voices rose around them.

“Miss Nora is truly stunning. A perfect match for Mr. Marchetti.”

Another family head recognized me.“Wait, then who is the lady behind?”

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Every gaze on me carried curiosity and mockery.

Dante paused, not even turning his head.“Her? She’s my sister.”

Ten years by his side, and I had become his sister.

He did not even bother to give me a decent explanation. With one sentence, he erased everything about me.

I stood in the corner, watching Nora receive everyone’s blessings.

Midway through the banquet, Nora walked toward me with a glass of red wine.“Oh!”

She suddenly slipped, and half the glass spilled onto my gray dress.

The red liquid dripped down the fabric, leaving me a mess.

“Aurora, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Nora covered her mouth, pretending to panic.

Dante rushed over, shoved me aside, and pulled Nora into his arms.

“Are you okay? Did you hurt your stomach?”

He turned and glared at me, his voice sharp.

“Why were you standing so close? You know she’s pregnant, and you still got near her!”

“Go to the restroom and deal with that. Stop embarrassing yourself here.”

I said nothing and turned toward the restroom.

After the banquet, we waited for the driver in the parking lot.

Nora suddenly cried out.

“Ouch, Dante. I twisted my ankle. It hurts.”

Without hesitation, Dante crouched down.

“Get on. I’ll carry you.”

Nora climbed onto his back, her arms wrapped around his neck.

Over his shoulder, she looked at me walking behind them.

Her lips moved silently.

“You spent ten years with him, and it’s still not worth my three months.”

I stopped, staring at their overlapping shadows.

Dante turned back, impatience clear on his face.“Aurora, can you walk faster? The car keys are in your bag. Stop dragging your feet.”

I stood there and didn’t move.“Give them to me!”

His voice rose.

I unzipped my bag, took out the keys, and threw them onto the ground with a sharp clatter.

Dante froze.

I didn’t look at him. I turned and walked to the roadside, stopping a taxi.

When I got home, I opened my phone.

There were more than three thousand photos in my gallery, all of them from my past with Dante.

I selected them and deleted them, one by one, until nothing was left.

I erased his number from my contacts as well.

The last message popped up. It was from Dante.

“Remember to try on the bridesmaid dress tomorrow. Nora wants pink.”

I didn’t reply.

In the corner of the living room, three packed suitcases stood quietly against the wall.