I couldn't tell if Dante was trying to soothe my feelings or just flaunting their affair in my face.

After lunch, I drove out to the lakeside estate in the suburbs.

This secluded mansion was the first house we lived in after getting married. We moved later for security reasons, but some of the family's most important documents were still stored in a hidden safe room here.

As soon as I arrived, I heard a faint noise coming from the master bedroom.

No one had lived here for a long time. It should have been completely silent.

"Feeling better now? Still want to cry?" Dante's familiar voice drifted down from the second floor.

My heart sank. He brought another woman to our first home.

"You'd better make up for my lost bonus!" Sierra's voice was no longer soft and gentle; it was playful and demanding.

"I said I was going to punish you. This will be a lesson not to mess around in front of Ilara. That's my line."

"Then why did you call me out in front of everyone at the family meeting? You really hurt my feelings."

"I know you felt wronged. That downtown penthouse you were looking at… if you like it, you can move in. It's closer to the headquarters."

"Is that all I get?"

"Then what kind of compensation do you want?"

Sierra's voice dropped to a whisper, and I couldn't make out her words.

But then I heard the unmistakable sounds of intimacy from the bedroom.

"I'll make you cry all you want," Dante's low voice was painfully clear.

I should have known Sierra was confident in her position when she dared to provoke me with that perfume.

But hearing it with my own ears still felt like I was suffocating.

Fighting back the urge to vomit, I stumbled back to my car.

My mother was right. Love really does make you weak.

But I would not end up like her.

After taking a few deep breaths, I dialed Dante's number.

"Darling, what's wrong?" Dante's voice was still laced with exertion.

"Where are you?"

"In a meeting with some of the family elders."

"I can't find an old file. I was thinking of checking the lake house…"

"It won't be there. All the important stuff is at home. Don't waste your time."

"Really? I still think I should take a look."

"Don't go…" Dante's voice suddenly sharpened. "I mean, it's not safe for you to drive out to such a remote place alone. How about I go with you this weekend?"

"Never mind, it's not urgent. Get back to work," I said numbly and hung up.

A message from Sierra popped up almost immediately.

【Looks like Mrs. Moretti is getting a little worried. Should I describe it for you in more detail?】

It was followed by a picture. The nightstand was littered with empty condom wrappers, searing my eyes.