Thinking of that, the fork slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. My fingers trembled as I bent to pick it up.

By the time I straightened up, Vincent was already gone.

“Family emergency,” he’d tossed over his shoulder without looking back. “I’ll drive you next time.”

Half an hour later, I limped to my desk—a private office at the Costello Family’s corporate headquarters.

For some reason, the bodyguards and office staff were all looking at me with pity in their eyes.

When I went to the breakroom for water, I overheard two secretaries whispering.

“So, the boss is really going to dump Lina for that Ava girl?”

“Of course. You didn't see it this morning? Ava got her period and stained her skirt. The boss picked her up, bridal style, right in front of all the captains, and carried her into his office on the top floor.”

The mug slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor.

The gossiping in the breakroom stopped instantly.

I knelt, silently picking up the broken pieces and throwing them in the trash.

I worked late, until ten that night.

Suddenly, I felt a weight on my shoulders.

It was Vincent, draping his Armani suit jacket over me.

“Lina, why didn’t you answer my texts?”

I didn’t turn around. I just lit up my phone and glanced at the unread message:

【What flavor milkshake do women usually like?】

Three years ago, I had acted like a normal girl and asked Vincent for a pumpkin spice latte.

He had looked at me with disgust.

“Lina, you’re almost thirty. Don’t disgust me with that stupid crap you see online.”

But now, Vincent was offering me a milkshake.

When he saw I hadn’t touched it and was still working on the Family’s accounts, he looked puzzled.

“I thought you were dying to have one of these?”

I gave him a weak excuse.

“It’s too late. It’ll keep me up.”

After a moment of silence, he said coldly, “I’m going to the restroom. Then we’ll go home together.”

Thirty seconds later, Vincent's phone, which he'd left on my desk, lit up.

It was a message from Ava.

【Vince, you’re such a dummy~ Who brings someone dozens of milkshakes at once? Are you trying to fatten me up like a little piggy? Tee hee~】

We got home after eleven.

I went into the bedroom and started packing my personal things.

When Vincent came in after his shower, he noticed the vanity was half-empty.

He frowned.

“Lina, I’m going to Milan next month. Make a list of anything you want.”

I replied without thinking.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t need anything.”

I’d be gone in a few days anyway.

Why bother?

He threw his towel on the bed and stared at me, his eyes like ice.

“Are you still pissed off just because I bought the wrong breakfast this morning?”

I was about to tell him I wasn't angry.

But he just scoffed.

“You know I hate it when women play these hard-to-get games, Lina. You’ve crossed a line.”

He stormed into his study and slammed the door.

In our seven years together, Vincent had started countless cold wars.

And I had been the one to humbly surrender every single time.

But this time, I truly didn’t care.

Vincent stayed in his study all night, waiting for a knock on the door that never came.

The next morning, I made breakfast for two, as always.

Just as I finished my portion and was about to leave, Vincent emerged from the study, his face a mask of cold fury.

He held up his phone and ordered me, “Lina, take the day off. I need you to make a custom cake exactly like this by five p.m.”