He Loved Me in Secret, Until I Became Someone He Could Never Have Chapter 04

He Loved Me in Secret, Until I Became Someone He Could Never Have Chapter 04

I didn’t wait for a reply. I just went to sleep.

The next morning, Camilla was leading the Harbor Point project update.

When she switched slides, a chat screenshot appeared on the screen. The last line was impossible to

miss.

[Alessio, we’re done.]

The room went dead silent.

Camilla shut off the projector instantly.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!”

“I was at Alessio’s place last night going over the project. I must have accidentally screenshotted

the chat too.”

Everyone looked at me.

Then at Alessio.

Camilla laughed nervously, playing peacemaker.

“Vivienne was obviously just kidding. Alessio’s always been against office relationships.”

But Alessio didn’t say a word.

Even though I was already leaving.

Even though one sentence would’ve been enough. “That’s personal.”

He wouldn’t do it.

The meeting continued.

Like those words had never appeared.

Afterward, the rumors spread fast.

“Did she seriously think she was going to marry into the Rinaldi Family?”

“She worked beside the boss for a few years and actually believed she was Mrs. Rinaldi?”

“Now she’s quitting and talking about breakups? So embarrassing.”

I listened. Then I let out a cold laugh. And blocked Alessio.

Work number. Personal number. All of it.

At lunch, coworkers crowded around Camilla. “Were you really at Alessio’s place last night?”

Camilla waved her hand with a smile. “I was just there for the project.”

“He’s so busy. I hate bothering him.”

“Getting to work from the Rinaldi penthouse? That alone is already enviable.”

I stood and left.

Alessio caught up with me in the hallway. “Blocking me. What’s that supposed to mean?”

I didn’t look at him. “I’m done being the joke people laugh at for thinking she could marry into the

Rinaldi Family.”

His brow furrowed. “How many times have I told you? Don’t discuss personal matters on work

accounts.”

“If someone sees it, it becomes impossible to explain. Work and personal life stay separate. We

agreed on that a long time ago.”

I finally stopped walking.

He looked at me, his voice cooling. “Vivienne. You’ve been throwing tantrums long enough.”

“You should know better than anyone. Without Rinaldi, without me, you’re nothing.”

I looked at him. So that’s what he truly believed. That I couldn’t leave him.

The next day, Camilla came to me with the Harbor Point proposal again. “One last look?”

I was about to refuse, but she deliberately held her phone in front of me.

A photo filled the screen, and my whole body went rigid.

Bruno was lying on the living room floor at Alessio’s place. A shattered decorative vase beside him.

His collar crooked.

Camilla covered her mouth. “Oh, sorry. I forgot to delete that.”

My voice came out tight. “What happened?”

She shrugged.

“Last night at Alessio’s. He kept barking at me. Wouldn’t let me near the study.”

“I got scared, so I grabbed something to block him. Then he lunged and the vase hit him.”

She paused, then said it so casually.

“I think they couldn’t save him.”

My ears started ringing. “Where was Alessio?”

“Him?” Camilla smiled.

“He said it was just a dog. No point letting it affect work.”

My hand moved before I thought. I slapped her so hard her phone flew out of her hand. The entire

office went silent. The conference room door swung open and Alessio strode out.

“Vivienne!”

I didn’t look at him. My eyes stayed on Camilla.

“You touched Bruno?”

Tears spilled down her face instantly. “I didn’t know he was your dog…”

“Enough.” Alessio grabbed my wrist.

I turned. “Did you really tell her he was just a dog?”

He frowned, clearly not understanding what Camilla had actually told me.

But with everyone watching, he did what he always did.

He protected the surface. “Vivienne, calm down. We’ll deal with Bruno later.”

“If you really want a dog, I’ll get you another one.”

I stared at him. “Another one?”

“Alessio. Bruno was with me for eight years. He’s not furniture. He’s my family.”

He froze. Because in five years, that was the first time I’d said his name in front of the whole company. I shook off his hand and walked out.

The next day, Icame back to pack up my things. Alessio walked to my desk and handed me a project

roster.

“Port Aurelia has a new project. This is your last chance. You’ll handle execution.”

I glanced down.

The project lead line read: Camilla De Luca.