MATTEO “Whats going on? Why won't you tell me anything? Is your company really facing backlash? Tell me it's not true, Matteo!” Isadora yelled as I poured her a glass of wine.

We were back at the private condo that I had bought earlier this year so the both of us could get our privacy whenever she returned with Tera not finding out but things decided to blow over like this.

Tera wouldn't want to see me now so I just had to bring Isadora here.

“Isadora, I've told you again and again. There's really nothing wrong with the company.” I reassured, giving her hands a tiny squeeze as I caressed her face.

I had felt a little panicked when Mr Dante talked about my company losing out but once I had made a few calls and realized that the company was still stable, I knew it was his attempt to get revenge and try to save face for his worker.

“Are you sure? That man seemed so sure.” She whispered as she took a sip of the wine and I shook my head, smoothing her hair.

“Trust me, don't worry about whatever he says. He was probably trying to save face for Tera.” I soothed and her face contorted immediately, as she spurned to face me.

“Speaking of Tera, she didn't seem too good when we left her. I really feel bad that you couldn't take her to the hospital yourself because of me.” Isadora sniffed, using the back of her fingers to wipe away the droplet of tears that had surfaced at the corner of her eye.

Sweet Isadora.

Always considerate, always the sweetest. If only Tera could even measure up to her step sister, maybe, just maybe, things wouldn't have been this way.

“She's fine. I'm sure it isn't that serious. You know the kind of person she is, she's clingy. If it were serious, she'd have protested for me to take her to the hospital myself. She would have even called me multiple times by now so I know she's fine.” Isadora nodded as I helped her cut up her steak.

“But Tera —”

“Enough talking about Tera, let's talk about us. How long has it been since we were this close to each other? I'm really glad you're back.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead and she giggled.

“I've missed you so much too, Matteo.” She trailed her hands along my jaw line, tipping my face closer to her when my phone suddenly began buzzing in my pocket.

I cleared my throat as I furrowed through my pockets and fished out the phone. I looked at the caller ID and it turned out to be my assistant on the line.

“Whatever you're calling for better be urgent else you're on track to losing your job.” I seethed immediately the line went through and there was a pause at the other end of the line.

“Dom? Why aren't you saying anything? Hello?” I called out repeatedly when I heard a feminine voice sigh.

“Aren't you coming back for your mother's funeral?” Tera’s voice cut in and my vision blurred for a moment.

She had never sounded like that on the phone in person no matter how angry she used to be at me in the past.

She seemed cold and distant and I could feel it right from the phone.

“Are you cursing my mother? How could you wish death on your own mother in law?” I shot back when Isadora snatched the phone from me.

“Sis, I already called the old manor and they said Matteo's mom and your son are fine. How could you tell such a lie just to get Matteo's attention?”

Anger surged through my veins as the lengths Tera was willing to go dawned on me.

Why would she even think of something so despicable?

“My son? You mean, your son?” Tera retorted and Isadora turned to me immediately.

“Tera! Stop it! Don't you even know your own child? How could you just believe an outsider that blurted out anything at the spur of the moment? You really disappoint me so much!” I half yelled.

“That's good. I'm glad you're disappointed. I don't care wherever the hell you are but what I do care about is that you return home in time to sign the divorce agreement.” My jaw tightened as I detached the phone from my ears and stared at it in my hands like I was trying to burn holes through it.

“What? Ter—”

“Don't worry. I'll inform your assistant once the documents are ready so you'll return at once and sign them.” She stated and before I could say another word, I heard a beep.

She had ended the call.

She had actually hung up on me.

5 years! 5 years and she had never done that, ever.

I felt panicked. I looked back at Isadora who was playing with her phone and stared at my phone.

Why did I feel like my chest was tightening? Like I had made an ultimate mistake?

This wasn't any of my fault.

Before we got married, Tera knew she couldn't expect love from our marriage. It was only a business marriage so why did it feel like I had done something so wrong?

“Get your bag. We're going home.” I informed Isadora and she stood up abruptly.

“What do you mean by that? You clearly told me that we'd stay here and go on little trips for one week to recover the lost time. Matteo, you can't forget your promise to me simply because my sister is upset. Or have you forgotten that I'm the one you love and not her?” Isadora queried and I felt dumbfounded.

At this point, I was feeling like a total jerk. What the hell was I doing?

I needed to pick a side. All Tera had done in the past 5 years was be a lowly wife, manipulating me at every turn.

My wife knew, everyone knew.

Even at a crucial moment, she had faked that she was pregnant when I knew clearly that she wasn't. And that blood? Nice touch to whatever drama she was acting in.

She even went to the lengths of saying my mother and son was dead. If Isadora hadn't called home immediately to confirm, I'd have buried my mother alive with words.

I didn't want that kind of woman around me. She wanted a divorce? Fine. I really hope she keeps to her words and have it drafted before I get there.

“Fine, fine," I said after a long pause, forcing a smirk, "We're staying.”

"She's fine." I muttered under my breath, "Tera's always fine."