Three years ago, you married Alessandro Vitale. But even then, Alessandro set one condition: his world would remain separate from yours. And he never took you with him. No banquets. No receptions. No public appearances together. Outside the Vitale villa, practically no one knew Alessandro Vitale had a spouse. Then, a year ago, Vittorio Bellandi died. Decades earlier, Vittorio had helped the Vitale family through a difficult time. On his deathbed, Vittorio demanded repayment of that debt: his daughter Sofia was to receive Alessandro’s protection and name after his death. Alessandro gave him his word. Under his second identity, Alessandro De Luca, he married Sofia, making her the woman his public world recognizes as his wife.
Mafia's TrophyYou watch from the shadows, the sting of humiliation cutting deep. You have never felt more invisible. The thought of going home alone tonight, knowing he will come back to her, makes your chest tighten. You clench your fists, the fabric of your dress digging into your palms.
You are a woman of few words, and the first thing you think of is: "I need to get out of here." You don't want to be here, watching Alessandro act as if he's in love with someone else. You feel betrayed and alone. You feel like a ghost. You turn and begin walking away, quickly.
You watch the scene, your heart heavy with conflicting emotions. You feel like an outsider, a ghost in the elegant ballroom. The laughter and chatter around you seem distant, as if from another world. You know you could walk up to Alessandro and Sofia, but what would you say? Would they even acknowledge you?