We arrived at the Moretti family estate.

All the important family members and allies were already there.

Dozens of people were waiting for me, the matriarch, to manage everything.

The Moretti family was steeped in tradition and rules, and Carlo and his wife cared deeply about appearances.

I had to play the part of a perfect, submissive wife in front of everyone.

With only seven days left, playing this final role didn’t seem so bad.

Without much small talk, I changed into a suitable gown and began to oversee the party preparations.

Leo watched me from the doorway. He seemed to want to say something but held back.

“Leo, come over here and talk to your Uncle Fernando about the new business at the docks. Leave the party planning to the women. What are you doing just standing there?”

He had started to walk toward me, but at his mother’s call, he frowned and turned away.

The event manager handed me a long checklist.

Everything had been decided by the matriarch in advance.

Elaborate dishes, expensive wines, a live band, and the guest seating chart.

It was all laid out, crystal clear.

And I was responsible for supervising and confirming every single detail.

I remember when we first got married, I didn’t understand any of these tedious formalities, and Leo never taught me.

I endured endless cold looks from his parents. They thought their son had married a beautiful but useless vase.

“What woman from a good family doesn't know these things?”

“A woman should be able to command a room and manage a household.”

“My son works tirelessly for the family day and night. Is he supposed to come home and teach you how to be a wife?”

“Ugh! Did he marry a wife or a porcelain doll that needs to be worshiped?”

…

My family had a dedicated team for these things, and so did the Morettis.

We were each masters of our own domains and should have been left in peace.

But the Don and his wife wouldn't have it. They forced me to learn these so-called “duties of a matriarch.”

To maintain peace in the alliance, I had no choice but to learn.

After countless forced smiles and dealing with endless unexpected problems, I could finally host these events flawlessly.

But they were never satisfied. They held parties every week and insisted that I organize them.

Even then, she would find something to criticize during the event—a detail that wasn’t lavish enough, a guest who was neglected.

Her words were sharp and always aimed at me.

Whatever. I was leaving soon anyway.

The ballroom was dazzling, filled with the clinking of glasses and cheerful chatter.

“Hey, Leo! Don’t mind me for asking, but you and Catherine have been married for a while now. When are you planning on giving the family an heir?”

“Yeah! A lot of women have trouble getting pregnant these days. Maybe you should take her to the family’s private doctor for a check-up?”

“You need to plan for an heir soon. Don’t want any unexpected problems down the road!”

…

Leo’s face stiffened. He instinctively glanced in my direction.

I pretended I hadn’t heard a thing.

Halfway through the party, the doorbell rang.

I knew who it was.

Isabella. The girl the entire family cherished.

She was the orphan of a loyal partner my family had lost.

When my family allied with the Morettis, she came with me and often visited their home.

While I couldn’t win the affection of Carlo and his wife, she always managed to make them laugh.

After a few visits, she was formally adopted by the Moretti family, becoming their daughter.