I saw someone nudge Alessandro's arm and point in my direction.

When Alessandro saw me, the smile on his face froze. He shot a cold glare around the room, and everyone seemed to shrink, avoiding his eyes and looking down.

But Ava remained perfectly composed. She walked over with a smile.

"I invited her. I remember Alessandro didn't properly celebrate your birthday, so I thought we could have a do-over for you tonight with everyone here."

"Ava!"

Alessandro always called her "Ava" in private; he rarely used her full name with such a sharp tone.

Ava knew she had really pissed him off this time, but she didn't panic. She just tugged on his arm, pouting.

"Alex, don't be mad."

"I invited her because you forgot her birthday, and that diamond necklace you gave her later just wasn't enough. I just wanted to help you celebrate it properly."

"I didn't mean any harm by it. I just thought, since it's so lively today, we could make it up to her, so I called her over…"

The more Ava spoke, the more pitiful she sounded, and Alessandro's expression immediately softened.

"It was presumptuous of me. With my status… how could I… Never mind. Let me raise a glass to you, Alessia. To apologize. I’ll try to stay out of your way from now on. Please don't be angry."

She had just picked up a glass of champagne when Alessandro snatched it from her hand and replaced it with a glass of juice.

"Who told you to drink? You can't handle your liquor, so stick to juice."

Ava lowered her head with a helpless smile, then picked up another glass of champagne and handed it to me.

"I really am a lightweight. After all those dinners with Alex, I still haven't learned how to drink. I guess that's just his way of looking out for me. He worries about me, and I hope you can understand that. I'll toast you with juice, as an apology."

Every word she said was a deliberate provocation, and I could see the smug satisfaction in her eyes.

She was trying to bait me, hoping I'd lose control like I used to, to scream and cause a scene without any regard for the Moretti family's reputation.

But I wasn't that person anymore.

I didn't feel a single pang of pain. I just felt… bored.

I didn't take the glass, and the people around us started whispering.

"Is Alessia going to lose it again?"

"Honestly, what man doesn't have a girl on the side? Especially a man like the boss, with women throwing themselves at him. How could she possibly stop it?"

"Still, for the official wife to be provoked like this by the mistress… it’s only natural she’d snap."

…

Alessandro took the glass from Ava and held it out to me, his expression leaving no room for argument. "I want you two to get along."