Less than half an hour after the news about Scarlett broke online, Vincent's call came through.

His voice was as clear and pleasant as ever, tinged with a gentleness that was reserved only for her, almost fawning.

"Lucia, don't believe any of that garbage online. The company is backing that actress for business reasons, that's all."

"Today is our seventh anniversary. I'll wrap things up at the office as soon as I can. We'll go out for lunch, then see a movie, okay? We haven't had a date in so long!"

Before Lucia could refuse, Vincent was already planning their day with excitement.

"There's a re-release of that old movie I've been wanting to see with you, but I've been so busy lately. It's perfect for our anniversary, don't you think, Lucia?"

"And... Valenti's has a new chef who's amazing. I had my assistant book a private room."

"After dinner and the movie, we can..."

Vincent chattered on, and Lucia listened patiently.

Then, a knock on a door could be heard from his end, and a sweet, girly voice cut in. "Mr. Gallo, about lunch, I was hoping you could..."

The rest was muffled, as if Vincent had covered the phone.

A few seconds later, his nervous voice returned. "Lucia, that was... my assistant with a work update. I have to go, but I'll meet you at Valenti's for lunch. See you there."

He hung up in a hurry, leaving only the cold dial tone.

Lucia realized with stark clarity that the little animal she had raised by her side for seven years had finally grown up. He was now mature enough to lie to her face without even flinching.

She walked into her study and took out the anniversary gift she had prepared.

It was a photo album she had made by hand, filled with memories of her and Vincent over the past seven years.

In the past, Vincent loved to hold her, stroking her long hair as he complained, "Lucia, how come I'm always the one talking and you're the one listening? You're so quiet. Sometimes I think you don't even care about me."

Then he would gently cup her face in his hands.

"Smile, Lucia. You're so beautiful, why don't you smile more?"

Growing up in a Mafia family, Lucia had long since learned to hide her emotions and rarely expressed her feelings directly.

But after she got together with Vincent, she began to change, partly by choice and partly by his influence, becoming more like the woman he wanted.

She opened the album. In one photo, she was smiling, caught mid-sentence as she mouthed the words "I love you" to Vincent.

She hadn't even realized it, but she was no longer the cold, ruthless enforcer for the Moretti family.

The thought brought a bitter ache to her chest.

Seven years ago, Vincent had been drawn to her, chasing her across the world like a moth to a flame.

He had been with her through firefights, walked with her through the mud of the slums, witnessed the darkest parts of humanity, and weathered countless storms by her side.

Finally, Lucia couldn't bear to see the young man, who should have been living a comfortable life in New York, risk his life for her any longer.

She quit the family's core operations team and brought him back to New York to live a life "in the sun."

Lucia gave Vincent everything. When his father died suddenly and vultures came to circle his family's business, she stepped in. She used the Moretti family's resources and her own savings to help Vincent stabilize the situation, establishing the Gallo Group as a perfect legitimate front.

Every time Vincent was on the verge of breaking, Lucia was there to shield him from the storm, giving him space to breathe and recover.

Vincent was like a sapling that Lucia had planted and nurtured herself, growing from a tender shoot into a towering tree.

But no matter how powerful and decisive Vincent Gallo, the President of the Gallo Group, was to the outside world, at home, he was still the same boy who clung to Lucia, dependent on her.

It had been like that for seven years.

This year, Lucia had even been ready to marry him. She had told all her friends overseas, preparing for a grand wedding.

And then, she found out he was cheating.

He had forgotten to log out of his account on the tablet. His chat history with Scarlett was still on the screen.

Scarlett: Vincent, thank you for everything. My agent is practically bowing to me now.

Vincent: Don't worry about it, babe. If you have any trouble, just tell me. I'll take care of it.

Scarlett: Thank you, Vincent. I'll be waiting for you tonight in that little bunny outfit you like!

Vincent: My little bunny better be squeaky clean. I'm coming to eat you up.

...

Those few lines were like daggers to Lucia's heart.

Just then, a new message from Vincent popped up. "Lucia, are you at the restaurant yet? Go ahead and order. I'm on my way!"

The contrast was so absurd it was almost funny.

The innocent, clean-cut young man she knew was now someone else's powerful "Don." How ironic. How pathetic.

If he wanted to enjoy being worshipped by a starlet, then she would let him.

And she would walk away.