Chapter 1

Before I got together with Don Vincent Moretti, he told me he wasn't good at coaxing people.

So on the third day of the silent treatment after our ninth fight, I went to his estate, just like I always did.

Every time we fought, Vincent would move out. And every time, I was the one who went looking for him first, the one who backed down first, the one who pulled this relationship back together.

But that day, the moment I reached the door, I heard laughter from inside.

"Boss, you're really not going to make it up to Olivia?"

"Seriously. If Olivia found out you spent last night sending Vanessa flowers, buying her bags, and personally apologizing just to make her feel better—would she break up with you on the spot?"

Vincent let out a soft laugh.

"No." His tone was absolute. "Olivia loves me too much. Three days of silence, and she panics more than anyone. She won't bring up breaking up."

He paused, then added, "But Vanessa's different. If I ignore her, she can actually go a whole month without talking to me."

My hand froze in midair.

So it wasn't that he didn't know how to coax someone.

He just didn't want to coax me.

Well then. There was no reason for me to keep coaxing him either.

Inside, Vincent's underboss Vanessa laughed and said, "Oh, don't be so dramatic. I wouldn't go a whole month without talking to you. Two weeks, tops."

Vincent's response came naturally. "Two weeks is still a long time. Better to get you calmed down first—more cost-effective."

I stood outside the door, my feet nailed to the ground, unable to move.

Someone inside started egging them on.

"Boss, you really are something else. But aren't you worried Olivia might cause a scene?"

Vincent didn't answer right away.

Two seconds later, he laughed.

"Worst case, we break up."

He paused, his tone growing even more careless.

"But you guys think she'd actually go through with it?"

The room erupted in laughter.

"True. Every time you two fight, no matter who's right or wrong, isn't it always Olivia who backs down first?"

"She really does love you."

Vincent didn't deny it.

He'd always known how to make me give in.

Vanessa laughed too, her tone certain. "Don't worry, Olivia will definitely show up tonight. You guys don't know this, but last time before she came over, she sent Vincent this huge apology message. I replied with one line—'Stop messaging him'—and when she showed up, her face was white as a sheet."

She laughed even harder after that.

I laughed too.

Only the smile was so cold it tasted bitter.

So that message last time—it was Vanessa who replied.

That day I came to the estate looking for Vincent, Vanessa was there too. She didn't look the least bit flustered. Instead, she casually told me to change my shoes, as if she were the lady of the house, as if she were Vincent's woman.

Inside, Vanessa collected herself and continued, "But Olivia's apology messages were actually pretty sincere. After reading them, I almost wanted to forgive her on your behalf. Right, Vincent?"

Vincent's voice carried a hint of helplessness, but also indulgence.

"Right. Whatever you say."

"Then let's make a bet," Vanessa said. "On when Olivia shows up."

Vincent pressed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Sure. I bet tonight."

"Your silent treatments have never lasted more than three days, right?" someone asked.

Vincent gave a low hum of confirmation.

"Then isn't today the third day? Boss, you've already won."

Standing outside the door, I realized belatedly that they were right.

In three years, Vincent and I rarely fought. And even when we did, it never lasted more than three days, because before three days were up, I would always go to him first.

This was the ninth time.

And today was exactly the third day.

The voices inside grew louder. Everyone was saying Vincent had already won. Vincent didn't argue.

When they'd finished laughing, he finally spoke, slow and unhurried.

"That's just how Olivia is. She can't stand being ignored."

"I stop paying attention to her, she panics, and she comes back on her own. She has no boundaries in relationships. She can't help it."

I used to think that ending the silent treatment first meant I valued this relationship.

But in Vincent's eyes, it was just proof that I would never leave.

I lowered my head and let out a quiet laugh.

Too bad.

This time, he was going to lose.

I wasn't going to back down again.