Chapter 7

Elena sat in silence for what felt like an eternity.

Was this really the right time to end her marriage?

It wasn't Sebastian she dreaded facing.

It was the rest of the Vieri family.

Don Rowan and Margaret Vieri had treated her like a daughter from the day she entered their home. Never once had they made her feel as though she were an outsider who had married into the family for the sake of an alliance. If they asked her to stay... if they begged her to give Sebastian another chance...

She wasn't sure she had the strength to refuse them.

She was simply exhausted.

Too exhausted to explain.

Too exhausted to keep fighting for a marriage that had already died long before she found the courage to admit it.

After a long silence, she finally looked across the desk at Belinda.

"What if I leave everything to you?" she asked quietly. "Speak to Sebastian for me and have him sign the divorce papers. Once that's done, I'll come back and finalize the rest myself. Would that be possible?"

Belinda regarded her thoughtfully before giving a slow nod.

"It can be done," she replied. "You'll need to sign a power of attorney authorizing me to act on your behalf."

Elena accepted the documents without another word.

Her fingers trembled ever so slightly as she signed each page, but her expression never changed.

When everything had been completed, Belinda walked her to the front entrance.

The moment they stepped outside, chaos erupted.

A crowd rushed toward them before either woman could react.

Paper cups filled with coffee, half-empty takeout containers, and handfuls of mud flew through the air.

The cold liquid soaked Elena's coat and splashed across her hair before dripping onto the pavement beneath her feet.

For a brief moment, she simply stood there, too stunned to move.

"You homewrecker!"

A young woman shoved her way to the front of the crowd, pointing at Elena with open contempt.

"You stole Celeste's place!"

"You'll never be Mrs. Vieri in our eyes!"

"Celeste is the only woman worthy of the Vieri family!"

The insults came one after another.

Before Elena could recover, someone shoved her hard from behind.

Her body, already weakened by the poison slowly consuming her, failed to keep its balance.

She stumbled forward.

Then crashed onto the concrete.

Pain shot through her ribs as the impact forced the air from her lungs.

"That's enough."

Belinda's voice cut through the commotion like a knife.

She pushed through the crowd and immediately knelt beside Elena before helping her sit up.

Her eyes swept over the group with icy composure.

"Do you people have any idea what you've just done?"

One of the women folded her arms defiantly.

"Done?" she scoffed. "We're only giving her what she deserves after everything she did to Miss Celeste."

Belinda's expression remained unreadable.

"Did Miss Celeste ask you to come here?"

The woman hesitated before shaking her head.

"She would never do something like this. She's too kind. We're doing this because someone has to stand up for her."

"Exactly!"

"She's suffered because of this woman for years!"

Belinda gave a faint smile that held no warmth whatsoever.

"I see."

Her gaze swept across every face in the crowd.

"I hope you'll all be just as confident when you're explaining yourselves to the Organized Crime Commission and the court."

Almost on cue, several armed Vieri security officers rushed out of the building.

The crowd scattered in panic.

Some escaped into waiting cars.

Others weren't fast enough.

Within moments, several of the instigators had already been restrained.

Belinda helped Elena to her feet.

Her clothes were soaked, strands of silver-blonde hair clinging to her face, while the color had nearly disappeared from her complexion.

Without another word, Belinda guided her back inside.

**

After Elena had cleaned herself up as best she could, the two women headed to the commission office responsible for disputes involving the city's major mafia families to formally report the assault.

On the way there, Belinda's phone vibrated repeatedly.

Someone had recorded the entire incident.

The video had already spread across the private networks used by the country's crime syndicates, accompanied by thousands of comments.

Elena quietly scrolled through them.

Some mocked her.

Others celebrated what had happened.

Many insisted she deserved far worse.

She read every single one.

By the time she locked her phone, the last trace of hesitation inside her had disappeared.

She turned to Belinda.

"Ms. Sawyer."

Belinda looked up.

"I have one more favor to ask."

"Go ahead."

"I want every person who knowingly spread defamatory statements about me to be sued."

Her voice remained calm.

"So far as today's assault is concerned..." She paused before continuing. "I won't accept mediation, private compensation, or an apology."

She met Belinda's eyes.

"I want every legal remedy available."

Belinda nodded without hesitation.

"I understand."

"I'll handle it personally."

**

By the time Elena finished giving her statement, she looked ready to collapse.

The poison had been draining her strength for weeks, and the attack had exhausted what little she had left.

She leaned back against her chair, her face almost completely drained of color.

Belinda watched her with growing concern.

"Elena," she said gently, "would you like me to have someone drive you back to the Vieri estate?"

Elena slowly shook her head.

"Thank you... but I'd rather walk."

She forced a small smile.

"I need a little peace before I go back."

Belinda hesitated before finally nodding.

"Very well. Please be careful."

She waited until Elena disappeared beyond the front gates before immediately taking out her phone and calling Clara.

"Elena just left my office," she said without preamble. "She doesn't look well. I offered to send security with her, but she refused."

A brief pause followed.

"Please go after her."

Clara was in the middle of a meeting with several family representatives when the call came through.

She stood before anyone could stop her.

"I'm leaving now."