I didn’t bother tracking his whereabouts either. I went through the motions, gave the divorce papers to my lawyer, and began packing what was mine. 

But my lawyer told me that to expedite the process, I had to submit the original marriage certificate we signed in that little chapel in the South Side years ago. 

That document was locked away in the old apartment we used to live in, which had been empty for years. 

I decided to go get it myself and take care of selling the apartment while I was at it. 

I brought the building manager upstairs, but when we reached the door, I realized it was slightly ajar. 

A woman’s muffled moans and a man’s heavy panting drifted from inside. 

Through the dim lighting, I could see Mia’s cheap lace slip tossed casually onto the dusty floor. Julian had her pinned against the peeling wall, his dress pants dropped to his knees as he drove into her. 

Our wedding band was still on his ring finger as he gripped her waist. 

I clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle a sound, then turned and fled. 

I looked back at the building manager. “Today isn’t a good time. Let’s come back another day.” 

The manager was a young woman, and she had clearly heard the noises inside too. 

She looked at me with an unspeakable pity in her eyes. “Mrs. Marchetti… do you need me to make a record of this?” 

I shook my head slightly. “It’s a private matter. Please don’t get involved.” 

What would pushing that door open change? 

Throw a massive fit like a vulgar shrew, or act like a desperate, bitter wife crying over the hard days we survived together on the streets? 

None of it meant anything anymore. 

When a man’s heart is gone, fighting to keep him only gets you an empty shell. 

I hurried downstairs, only to be grabbed by Julian, who had chased after me. 

He was still panting. His shirt collar was undone, and a bright red mark stained his collarbone. 

“Why are you here? Just now… did you see everything?” 

I pulled my hand away, my tone composed. “I was just passing by to pick up a few old things. I realized I didn’t bring the key, so I was leaving.” 

He audibly sighed in relief, assuming I simply couldn’t bear to think further about it. 

“The docks have been under tight scrutiny this week, and I just managed to slip away. Mia said there were rivals staking out her neighborhood, so I brought her here to lay low… Don’t overthink it.” 

I didn’t even have the energy to call him on such a pathetic lie. I just turned and continued walking away. 

Just then, the deafening sound of shattering glass erupted from the apartment, and bright orange flames spewed from the window frames. 

Julian’s face turned pale. He violently spun around, seized my jaw, and a raw fury burned in his eyes. 

“Did you set this fire?! Serafina, I thought you were just throwing a fit, but I never imagined you’d work with our rivals to pull a deadly stunt like this!” 

“Let me tell you, I was the one who let Mia stay here! If anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me!” 

He shoved me away fiercely, turned, and charged into the fire. 

I wanted to just leave, but I suddenly remembered that the original marriage certificate urgently needed for the divorce, along with some of my parents’ belongings, were all locked in the bedroom safe. 

I turned back and rushed in against the scorching heat wave. 

Thick smoke billowed through the apartment as Julian came rushing out, carrying a half-conscious Mia. 

When he saw me, his eyes instantly turned cold. “What are you doing back here?! Get out!” 

I ignored him and ran straight toward the bedroom. 

The flames were already licking at the curtains. The safe sat right at the foot of the burning wardrobe. 

“Serafina! Are you out of your fucking mind?! Get out here!” Julian roared from the doorway. 

I dropped to the scorching floor and rapidly spun the dial on the safe. 

The instant I yanked the heavy metal door of the safe open, the old chandelier on the ceiling came crashing down! 

Julian instinctively pinned Mia under him, rolling backward rapidly to avoid the crash. 

I was thrown back by the massive shockwave of the blast. Sharp wooden splinters and shattered glass instantly pierced my back, and blood quickly stained my coat. 

I gritted my teeth and clutched the folder containing the keepsakes and the original certificate tightly to my chest. 

Thick smoke flooded my lungs as my vision darkened inch by inch. 

Before I blacked out, the last thing I heard was Julian carrying Mia to safety, and the distant wail of approaching sirens.