After Tonight, Never Again

At the birthday banquet of the old Godfather, Salvatore Moretti, the estate was bustling with high-profile guests. Don Marco Moretti arrived late, bringing along his new secretary, Sophie.

"Elena, move to the opposite side. It's Sophie's first time at an event like this, and she’s used to sitting next to me."

I didn't hesitate for a single second. Picking up my wine glass, I walked straight over and sat down beside Salvatore, whose face was completely grim. Marco raised an eyebrow, seemingly caught off guard by how compliant I was. He then guided a visibly nervous Sophie into the seat that had just been mine.

Soon after, my phone buzzed in my hand.

【Are you making a scene again? How many times do I have to tell you? I just brought the girl out to show her the world. Stop throwing these pathetic, jealous tantrums.】

【I’ll fly you to Paris next week to pick out your wedding dress. Stop giving me the cold shoulder, alright?】

I let out a soft laugh. Seeing the smile on my face from across the table, Marco smiled back, thinking he had smoothed things over.

What he didn't know—What I was actually laughing at was the fact that we wouldn't be going to Paris at all. Exactly ten minutes before he walked through the door, I had already finalized the dissolution of our engagement with Salvatore.

A notification from the airline popped up on my screen: Flight departing in three hours.

Marco, after tonight, you and I are completely finished.

"Dad, happy birthday. To a long and prosperous life." Marco raised his glass of whiskey toward Salvatore with a smooth smile. "By the way, this is my new assistant, Sophie. She’s incredibly sharp, so I brought her along tonight to celebrate your birthday."

Sophie stood up somewhat timidly, raising her glass. "Wishing you good health, Mr. Moretti."

Salvatore’s expression remained utterly stone-faced. "You absolute fool. Are you trying to infuriate me to death? Who gave you permission to bring an outsider into our family home? You show zero care for your own fiancée, yet you pour all your attention into a mere assistant."

Sophie’s eyes instantly welled with tears, and she turned to Marco with a helpless, pleading look.

The hand Marco was using to swirl his whiskey paused. His sharp gaze shot directly toward me. "Did Elena complain to you about me again?"

"Hmph! She wouldn't even waste her breath on you," Salvatore snapped. "I’m neither blind nor deaf. Do you honestly think I don't know about the pathetic stunts you’ve been pulling?" Salvatore was already seething because I had just called off the engagement, so his tone was exceptionally harsh.

Meanwhile, I sat there completely unfazed, nonchalantly enjoying my food and drink.

Seeing my detached attitude, Marco lost his temper too. "I merely took Sophie with me on a business trip and spent a few days exploring the area afterward! How does that constitute throwing a tantrum?!"

Hearing this, I couldn't help but