Episode 3

The city gleamed under the light rain while Valentina Rossi stared out at Manhattan from her bedroom window.

Her bedroom.

For the last time.

The enormous walk-in closet stood open.

Suitcases on the bed.

Expensive dresses carefully folded.

And still, all of it felt unreal.

In forty-eight hours, she would leave New York to move to some lost ranch in Montana with a man she did not even know.

Absurd.

Completely absurd.

"Are you going to keep staring out the window like the depressed heroine of a movie, or are you going to get ready?"

Valentina turned her head.

Sofia Moretti walked in without permission, carrying shopping bags and a bottle of champagne.

Behind her came Camila Vega and Julieta Bianchi.

"We said dramatic farewell, not funeral," Julieta declared.

Camila lifted the bottle.

"Tonight we're going to get so drunk you'll forget you're about to live among cows."

Valentina let out a tired laugh.

"Thank you for reminding me."

Sofia set the bags on the bed.

"You can't leave sad."

"I can try."

"No. This is your last night as a free woman."

That hit harder than expected.

Free.

Valentina slowly looked around her room.

The photographs.

The city lights.

The heels lined up perfectly.

Her whole life was there.

And it was about to disappear.

Camila opened the closet.

"God, if I were being forced to live in the country, I'd take this entire closet with me."

"I'm considering it."

"Do you know what he's like?" Julieta asked while sorting through dresses.

Valentina shook her head.

"My father barely told me his name."

"And you didn't look for photos?"

"I don't want to see the face of the man who bought my life."

Silence fell for only a few seconds.

Because even though they were all trying to joke, the situation was still horrible.

Sofia moved closer, slowly.

"Do you want to run?"

Valentina looked up.

And for one instant...

She considered it.

Take money.

Leave the country.

Disappear.

But then she remembered her father's expression.

The desperation.

The ruin.

She closed her eyes for a second.

"I can't."

Camila made a sad face.

"I hate that you're responsible."

"I hate that my life looks like a business contract."

Julieta picked up a short black dress and tossed it at her.

"Then tonight, act like you still own your life."

Valentina caught the dress.

And slowly...

She smiled.

Two hours later, the most exclusive club in Manhattan was practically vibrating.

Golden lights.

Loud music.

Endless champagne.

And in the middle of the dance floor was Valentina.

Beautiful. Free. Untouchable.

As if nothing could reach her.

She danced with her friends, laughed too loudly, and accepted drinks she normally would have refused.

Because she did not want to think.

She did not want to remember that this was her goodbye.

"To Valentina Rossi!" Camila shouted, raising a glass. "The only woman capable of turning an arranged marriage into an elegant crime."

Everyone laughed.

Valentina did too.

But something ached in her chest.

The night moved forward in laughter, selfies, and music.

Several men tried to approach her.

As always.

One wanted to buy her a drink.

Another asked for her number.

Another tried to dance with her.

And for the first time in years...

Valentina did not care about any of them.

Because they all seemed part of a life that no longer belonged to her.

Later, she stepped out onto the VIP balcony for air.

The cold struck her bare skin at once.

New York shone below like an entire universe.

She braced both hands on the railing.

"I'm going to miss you," she whispered to herself.

The door opened behind her.

Sofia appeared with two glasses.

"I knew you'd hide out here."

Valentina accepted one.

"I want to freeze this moment."

"It won't be forever."

"How do you know?"

Sofia watched her for a few seconds.

"Because you never completely belonged here either."

That made her frown.

"What does that mean?"

"Everyone here lives by pretending. You do too, only better dressed."

Valentina gave a soft laugh.

"What a deep speech after three martinis."

"Listen to me. Maybe this change won't destroy your life."

Valentina looked at the city one last time.

The lights reflected in her eyes looked almost like tears.

"Or maybe it will."

And deep in her chest, for the first time, she was afraid to discover who she would be far from everything she knew.

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