Chapter 10: The Woman Who Came Home

(Luna's Perspective)

The moment the plane touched down in Averia, I felt something inside me finally loosen.

For three years, I had treated Riverton as my home.

I had defended Dominick against everyone, including my own parents.

Now, as I stepped onto the private runway, I realized I had never truly stopped missing the place I came from.

Archibald walked beside me, still limping from his injury.

"Donna, your parents are waiting."

I nodded, but my hands trembled.

I had imagined this moment countless times during the past three years.

Yet I had never imagined returning as a divorced woman.

A line of black cars waited at the end of the runway.

The moment the doors opened, my mother rushed toward me.

"Luna!"

I barely had time to react before she pulled me into her arms.

I buried my face against her shoulder and finally allowed myself to cry.

"I'm home, Mom."

"Yes, sweetheart. You're home."

My father stood a few steps away.

The stern man who had refused to speak to me for three years now had tears in his eyes.

He walked toward me slowly and placed a hand on my head.

"You don't have to apologize anymore."

Those simple words broke the last wall around my heart.

I hugged him tightly.

For the first time since leaving Averia, I felt safe.

That evening, my parents refused to let me discuss business or the Costas.

They prepared my favorite dinner and filled the table with dishes I had loved as a child.

Yet after everyone had gone to bed, I sat alone beside the window.

My phone kept vibrating.

Dozens of missed calls.

All from Dominick.

I stared at his name for several seconds before turning the phone face down.

A message appeared.

"Luna, please answer me."

Another followed.

"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I need to see you."

Then another.

"Please give me one chance to explain."

I almost laughed.

Explain what?

That he had betrayed me?

That he had lied to my face?

That he had allowed his family to humiliate me?

Or that he had nearly destroyed everything I had left because he was too arrogant to believe I could walk away?

I deleted every message without replying.

The next morning, my father entered my room with a file in his hand.

"There is something you need to know."

I looked up.

"What is it?"

He placed the file on the table.

"The Costa family's business has been under investigation for months."

My brows furrowed.

"Dominick never told me."

"Of course he didn't." My father sighed. "But there's more."

He opened the file and showed me several documents.

My eyes widened.

Several companies connected to the Costa family had transferred large sums through accounts bearing Gia's name.

"Why would Gia have access to their finances?" I asked.

My father looked at me gravely.

"Because she wasn't merely Dominick's affair partner."

My heart tightened.

"What do you mean?"

"We believe Gia has been using Dominick for years."

I stared at the documents in disbelief.

My father continued.

"There are missing funds, forged signatures, and confidential information leaked to Costa's enemies. Someone inside the family has been feeding information to an outside organization."

I slowly closed the file.

Suddenly, everything felt different.

Gia had always wanted my place.

But perhaps she had wanted much more than that.

My phone rang again.

This time, it was Frankie.

I hesitated before answering.

"Donna..." His voice was tense. "You need to know what happened after you left."

"Tell me."

"The wedding guests didn't leave quietly. They took copies of everything shown on the screen."

I remained silent.

"The Costa family's reputation has collapsed overnight," Frankie continued. "Several allies have already withdrawn their support."

"And Dominick?"

There was a pause.

"He flew to Averia."

My fingers tightened around the phone.

"He's coming here?"

"Yes."

I closed my eyes.

Three years ago, I would have welcomed him with open arms.

Yesterday, I would have been afraid of facing him.

But today, something had changed.

I was no longer his wife.

I was no longer the woman waiting for him to choose me.

"Let him come," I said calmly.

Frankie sounded surprised.

"Donna?"

"Tell him Luna Bianchi is no longer hiding from anyone."

I ended the call.

Outside the window, the morning sun rose over Averia.

For three years, Dominick had believed I would always be waiting for him.

He was about to discover how wrong he had been.