The Divorce He Signed Without Reading

“Mrs. Romano, are you certain you want to proceed?”

The attorney pushed the divorce papers across the desk.

“You’re making no claim to the marital assets and requesting only primary custody of Leo. Once Mr. Romano signs the divorce and custody settlement, together with the parental travel authorization, we can file everything immediately. The travel authorization will allow you to leave with Leo while the divorce is pending.”

“I’m certain.”

I signed my name on the final page.

Elena Moretti.

The attorney placed the signature page for the divorce and custody settlement and the parental travel authorization beneath the firm’s routing sheet, then handed the packet to me.

“Should I notify his private counsel?”

“No.”

I placed the two signature pages in my bag, left the law firm, and returned to Romano Holdings.

When the private elevator opened onto the top floor, Dante was walking toward me with Camilla DeLuca.

His black coat rested over her shoulders, and her fingers curled lightly around his sleeve. As an employee passed with a document cart, Dante shifted to the outside, placing himself between Camilla and the cart without hesitation.

I had meant to tell him about the divorce.

“Dante, I need to—”

“Ms. Moretti.”

His gaze shifted toward the employees and guards along the corridor. The warning was clear. Inside Romano Holdings, I was one of his executives.

“Mr. Romano, I need to report something privately.”

Camilla loosened her hold on his sleeve. “I’m sorry. Am I keeping you from work?”

“You aren’t.”

“I can meet the attorney alone. The divorce is over, and my former husband’s men may have been trying to frighten me.”

“Until the DeLuca family takes over your protection, you stay with my security team.”

“You’ve already canceled two meetings because of me.”

“Your father asked me to get you safely out of that marriage. I gave him my word.”

Camilla lowered her eyes. “I hate causing trouble for you.”

Dante called for the physician and motioned the guards toward the private lounge.

As he passed me, he glanced at the folder in my hand. “We’ll discuss your matter later.”

He left with Camilla before I could mention the divorce.

My phone lit up with a message from Leo’s watch.

Mom, will Dad come home for my birthday?

I sent Dante a message.

Today is Leo’s birthday. Can you come home tonight?

Across the corridor, he checked his phone before following Camilla into the lounge.

A reply appeared a few seconds later.

I’ll be home before eight.

That afternoon, I left the office early to pick Leo up from school.

He ran toward me with his backpack bouncing against his shoulders.

“Mom, is Dad coming home tonight?”

He used that word only when we were alone.

“He said he’d be home before eight.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Back at the apartment, Leo changed into his favorite white shirt and placed the birthday card he had spent several days making beside Dante’s usual seat.

He had drawn three people.

A child stood between his parents, holding both their hands. Beside them, he had written:

Happy Birthday to Me.

At seven thirty, Leo checked the private elevator for the third time.

Eight o’clock passed without a sound from the hallway.

By nine, dinner had gone cold, but he still refused to let me cut the cake.

“Dad might still be handling family business.”

I sent Dante a message.

Leo is still waiting for you.

It was delivered, but he did not reply.

Close to ten, Leo finally lowered his head.

“Mom, is he not coming again?”

Before I could answer, a notification from Camilla appeared on my phone.

The photograph had been taken inside the Romano family’s private club. Dinner and two glasses of wine sat on the table. Dante’s face was outside the frame, but his hand and the Romano family ring were visible at the edge.

The black coat Camilla had worn that afternoon hung over the back of her chair.

Her caption contained a single sentence:

Thank God someone still remembers how to make me feel safe.

Dante had not forgotten Leo’s birthday.

He simply believed we would keep waiting.

I turned off the screen and placed the birthday hat on Leo’s head.

“Let’s cut the cake.”

“Should we still wait for Dad?”

“No.”

I lit the candles. Leo closed his eyes and pressed his hands together.

“I wish I could stay with Mom forever.”

After a moment, he glanced at the empty chair across from him.

“Just the two of us would be okay.”

I pulled him into my arms.

“Okay.”

After Leo blew out the candles, I put the card with the three of us into a drawer and left the signature pages from the attorney on the dining table.

This time, I was waiting only for his signature.