The Last Night at Home

PART 2 — The Bracelet That Was Never Hers

“Miss Carter,” I said calmly, “would you mind telling me why you’re wearing my bracelet?”

Sophia lowered her eyes.

“I… Mr. Moretti gave it to me.”

I turned toward Vincent.

“Really? That’s interesting. You gave me that bracelet on our first wedding anniversary. You told me it was a family heirloom.”

Vincent’s jaw tightened.

“Claire, don’t make a scene. It’s just a bracelet.”

“Of course. To you, everything is just something.”

I smiled faintly.

“Your wife, your marriage, and apparently even your promises.”

Sophia quickly removed the bracelet and placed it on the table.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Moretti. I didn’t know it meant so much to you.”

I looked at her.

“You knew exactly whose bracelet it was. You just thought I wouldn’t dare ask for it back.”

“That’s enough!” Vincent snapped.

Richard slammed his hand against the armrest.

“Vincent! Control yourself!”

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Richard looked at me.

“Claire, I understand you’re upset. But this is a private family matter. You don’t need to involve the entire company or embarrass Vincent publicly.”

I took a slow breath.

“Richard, I spent three years protecting your son’s reputation. I covered for him when he missed anniversaries, canceled vacations, and stayed overnight with his secretary.”

I glanced at Sophia.

“And now I’m supposed to apologize because I finally stopped pretending?”

Richard rubbed his forehead.

“Vincent made mistakes. Every marriage has problems.”

“Five nights with the same woman aren’t mistakes.”

Vincent stood abruptly.

“Claire, you’re exaggerating. Sophia is my secretary. She works late because I have responsibilities. You’re my wife. You should understand that.”

I looked at him for several seconds.

“Then why was she wearing your jacket in a hotel room at midnight?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, Sophia began crying.

“Mr. Moretti, perhaps I should leave. I don’t want to cause problems between you two.”

Vincent immediately turned toward her.

“Sit down, Sophia. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

I almost laughed.

There it was.

The answer I had been waiting three years to hear.

He could defend her in front of his father, but he had never once defended me.

I opened my handbag and placed a folder on the coffee table.

“These are the divorce papers. Nathan Brooks has already reviewed everything. I only need your signature.”

Vincent stared at the documents.

“You actually hired a lawyer?”

“Yes.”

“You think you can just walk away from this marriage?”

I met his eyes.

“I already have.”

He picked up the papers, glanced through them, then tossed them back onto the table.

“I won’t sign.”

Richard nodded approvingly.

“Good. Both of you need time to calm down.”

I stood.

“That’s fine. My attorney will handle the next steps.”

As I turned toward the door, Sophia suddenly spoke.

“Mrs. Moretti, if you really love him, shouldn’t you give him another chance?”

I stopped.

Then I looked over my shoulder.

“Miss Carter, if you really loved him, you wouldn’t need to borrow another woman’s husband.”

Her face turned pale.

I walked out without another word.

Outside, Nathan was waiting beside his black sedan.

He opened the passenger door.

“How did it go?”

“He refused to sign.”

Nathan sighed.

“I expected that. Don’t worry. We’ll proceed legally.”

I looked back at the enormous Moretti estate.

For the first time, I felt no sadness.

Only relief.

But I had no idea that Vincent was about to discover something far more important than the divorce papers.

Something about me that he had never bothered to learn.