4 A.M. Heartbreak

At 4:00 a.m., my husband, Rocco, gently shook me awake.

His voice was a low murmur, . "Alessia, my love, could you do something for me?"

But his next words shattered the illusion. "Scarlett is hungry. Go make her some seafood soup."

Scarlett was our maid, and she was also Rocco's pregnant goomar.

"I just had fresh seafood delivered. Get to the kitchen and make her a bowl of soup. Just for Falcone's heir."

I refused, my voice cold. His anger flared in an instant.

"Don't be so unreasonable, Alessia."

"Is it really so hard for you to make some soup?"

I shook my head, silent.

He stroked my cheek, a patronizing smile playing on his lips.

"Fine, Alessia. So you've learned to defy me now."

"Think carefully, Alessia. Do you really want to keep your place as a Falcone?"

"And your position as the family's lawyer? Think about whether you still want these… then give me your answer."

Seeing the arrogance in Rocco's eyes, the last ember of love I had for this man died.

I took out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time. "I want out of the Falcone family."

At 4:00 a.m., my husband, Rocco, gently shook me awake.

His voice was a low murmur, . "Alessia, my love, could you do something for me?"

But his next words shattered the illusion. "Scarlett is hungry. Go make her some seafood soup."

Scarlett was our maid, and she was also Rocco's pregnant goomar.

"I just had fresh seafood delivered. Get to the kitchen and make her a bowl of soup. Just for Falcone's heir."

I refused, my voice cold. His anger flared in an instant.

"Don't be so unreasonable, Alessia."

"Is it really so hard for you to make some soup?"

I shook my head, silent.

He stroked my cheek, a patronizing smile playing on his lips.

"Fine, Alessia. So you've learned to defy me now."

"Think carefully, Alessia. Do you really want to keep your place as a Falcone?"

"And your position as the family's lawyer? Think about whether you still want these… then give me your answer."

Seeing the arrogance in Rocco's eyes, the last ember of love I had for this man died.

I took out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time. "I want out of the Falcone family."

...

The moment I hung up, Scarlett stormed into my private study without so much as a knock.

"Alessia, who was that on the phone? It sounded like a man."

The maid's taunt caught the attention of several other servants outside, who began whispering amongst themselves.

"Rocco just stormed out of here because of you. You'd better not be fooling around behind his back!"

I looked Scarlett straight in the eye. "What gives you the right to be so bold in the Falcone estate? Spreading rumors in this house has consequences."

Scarlett placed a hand on her hip and sneered. "You dare