Vow of Convenience

Ch. 1

ZESA RUSSO

Levi had been dead serious at that contract signing event, it seemed. One month into our marriage, and nothing about his behavior had shifted. Before the press, he played the role of the perfect husband—sweet, caring, a man any woman would kill for. But behind closed doors? I was nothing more than a ghost in his life. His heart was somewhere else. With Nina Meyer.

I couldn’t make sense of it. Levi and I had known each other since we were eight, over twenty years of shared memories, history, and laughter. But Nina? She was different. They’d only met last year. On my birthday, no less. Nina was supposed to be serving drinks, but instead of doing her job, she’d managed to bump into Levi, spilling champagne all over his suit. Like something straight out of a cheap romantic comedy. It would’ve been laughable if it weren’t my life unraveling because of it.

When I saw them getting too close, I did what anyone in my position would do—I did a background check. Nina Meyer, daughter of a restaurant owner, nothing more. I thought maybe she blackmailed him, cornered him somehow. But no, Levi wasn’t the type to be manipulated. If anything, he was too righteous, too self-assured. Which left me feeling like the villain in our home. Funny how love warps everything.

I tossed the remote onto the coffee table, the TV blinking off as silence settled in the empty room. My phone read 11:14 PM. Levi still wasn’t home. Where else could he be if not wrapped in Nina’s arms? I sighed, standing from the couch and walking into the bedroom. We hadn’t shared a bed until his mother came to visit, and even her scolding didn’t change anything. It still felt like I was sleeping alone.

I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting, hoping, for the sound of the door creaking open. But by the time the clock ticked past 11:30, I gave up, crawling under the covers and letting sleep drag me under.

---

The next morning, I woke not to the warmth of my husband’s touch, but to the sound of him rummaging through the closet, swapping one suit for another. He hadn’t come home last night. Again.

I sat up, the weight of reality sinking deeper into my chest. “Where were you?”

He didn’t bother glancing my way. “Don’t act like you don’t know. I’m aware you have people watching me.”

It was true, but that didn’t make his words sting any less. “Why are you doing this? I don’t expect you to love me overnight, Levi, but can’t you at least be grateful? If it weren’t for me, your company would’ve crumbled.”

He finally turned, fixing his tie as he met my eyes. “I never asked for your help.”

“Your mother did.”

His jaw clenched. “Exactly. My mother asked for it, so why don’t you marry her instead and leave me to be with the woman I actually love?”

I flinched, his words like a slap in the face. Nina. Always Nina. “Can’t you at least try? Try to know me, understand me. You’ve known me for most of your life.”

“I can’t.” He grabbed his jacket from the bed, slipping it on with mechanical precision.

“Levi,” I called out, my voice trembling despite my effort to hold it together. He paused, looking over his shoulder at me. “Let’s have breakfast together. It’s been three weeks since we’ve eaten together.”

He checked his watch. “I’m late.”

It was only 6:45 AM. He wasn’t late; he just didn’t want to be with me. “Go then.” I forced the words out, holding back the tears that pricked at my eyes. He didn’t deserve my tears.

Without another word, he left, the door closing with a soft click. The silence that followed felt suffocating. I let the tears fall, each one heavier than the last. How did it come to this? How could he turn so cold? I pulled myself together, dressed, and left the house without bothering with breakfast. I couldn’t stomach anything, not with the weight of Levi’s betrayal clinging to me like a second skin.

I was about to get into the car when my phone buzzed. I answered it, not really caring who it was.

“Zesa Russo speaking.”

“Why do you always do that?” The familiar voice of Finn Giovanni drifted through the speaker. I turned to find him standing by the car, hands in his pockets. One of my closest friends, Finn always had a way of knowing when things were falling apart. Tall, with curly black hair and warm brown eyes, he was a constant presence in my life, always there to remind me that someone still cared.

“Why are you here, Finn?” I asked, slipping my phone into my bag.

“Let’s talk on the way.” He slid into the car, patting the seat beside him. “Come on, I know you need it.”

I sighed but got in anyway. Finn wasn’t the type to let things go, and part of me didn’t want him to. As the driver pulled away from the house, I crossed my arms, staring out the window. “What do you want to talk about?”

He glanced at me, his eyes softening. “I take it Levi didn’t come home last night.”

“I don’t want to talk about him.”

“Zesa…” he began, but I cut him off.

“I see the writing on the wall, Finn. But I’ll erase it.”

He blinked, his brows furrowing. “Erase it? How?”

“I’m going to see Nina after work. She needs to know her place. Who does she think she is, going after a married man?”

Finn sighed, pulling out his phone. After a few moments of scrolling, he handed it to me. “You don’t need to see her. I had someone tail Levi, just like you asked. He went to a jewelry store.”

My stomach twisted. “And?”

“It’s confirmed. He bought a ring. And we both know it’s not for you.”

I stared at the picture on his phone—a receipt from a high-end jewelry store. That was all the confirmation I needed. My fingers curled into fists, white-knuckled as anger surged through me. “Take me to H.K.”

---

The moment the car pulled up in front of H.K.’s towering glass building, I stepped out, Finn trailing behind me as he begged me to stop. I wasn’t listening. This was it. I stormed inside, ignoring the surprised looks from the staff. Mr. Julian Alcaraz, Levi’s secretary, rushed to meet me at the elevator.

“Mrs. Russo, Mr. Del Campa wasn’t expecting—”

I cut him off with a sharp smile. “Does a wife need an invitation to see her husband?”

Julian shook his head, wisely deciding to stay silent as the elevator whisked us to the top floor. Finn, ever the diplomat, tried again. “Zesa, you need to calm down.”

I ignored him. As soon as the elevator doors slid open, I marched to Levi’s office. Julian opened the door for me, stepping aside as I entered.

Levi barely glanced up from his desk. “What is it now?”

I dropped my bag onto his desk with a loud thud. “Am I a joke to you?” When he didn’t respond, I grabbed a stack of papers and threw them at him. “Answer me!”

He stood, his expression cold. “You’re making a scene.”

“And you’re a married man!” I shot back. “You should know better.”

“I’m married to you because of the contract,” he said, his voice icy. “But my heart belongs to someone else.”

“Is that why you bought a ring?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

Levi’s smirk sent a chill down my spine. “You’re smart. You can figure it out.”

The ache in my chest was unbearable, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. “I’m your wife!”

“In the eyes of the media, maybe. But that should be enough for you.”

My breath caught. “What?”

“Now, if you’re done with your tantrum, I have work to do.”

I turned on my heel, heart pounding, feeling the weight of his words crush whatever hope I had left. Outside his office, Finn was waiting, his eyes full of concern.

“Go handle things at the office,” I told him, my voice flat. “There’s someone I need to see.”

“Zesa—” Finn began, but I didn’t stop. I was done being the good wife. I needed to face her. Nina.

---

The car pulled up outside Sapphire Vine Eats, the restaurant owned by Nina’s family. I sat in the back seat, staring at the building, my mind racing with a thousand unanswered questions.

“Should I call her?” My driver, Edwardo, asked.

“Yes,” I answered. He stepped out, walking inside to fetch her. I used the brief moment to fix my makeup, hiding the hurt behind a mask of calm. I couldn’t let her see me weak.

When Edwardo returned with Nina, I straightened, watching as she slid into the seat beside me. She was beautiful, I couldn’t deny it. Light brown skin, mid-length brunette curls, large hazel eyes. But there was nothing exceptional about her. Nothing that could justify tearing my world apart.

“I’m sure you know who I am,” I said, breaking the silence.

Nina crossed her legs, giving me a polite smile. “Of course, Mrs. Russo. To what do I owe this surprise?”

I studied her for a moment before speaking. “I know about you and Levi.”

Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I think you do. Let me make this clear—you’ll end things with Levi, or I’ll destroy everything you hold dear.”

I could see the fear tightening her expression, but she was still trying to maintain her facade.

Nina’s fingers twitched, gripping the fabric of her dress. “You think threatening me will change anything? If Levi wants to be with me, he will.”

I leaned in closer, narrowing the distance between us. “Let me tell you something about Levi. He might think he loves you now, but what he values more than anything is his reputation. When I’m done with you, he’ll regret ever meeting you. You don’t know the lengths I’m willing to go to protect what’s mine.”

Nina’s eyes widened slightly, betraying the cracks in her confidence. Her lips parted as though she wanted to argue, but the words caught in her throat.

“Consider this your final warning,” I said, my voice dropping to a near whisper. “One week. After that, I won’t be so kind.”

She reached for the door handle, giving me one last look. The smirk she wore when she first sat down was gone, replaced with unease. I had planted the seed of doubt, and that was enough for now. I didn’t need her to crumble in front of me. I just needed her to start unraveling on her own.

As she stepped out of the car, Edwardo was waiting, holding the door open for her. She walked away from me without another word, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. The war wasn’t over, but I had fired the first shot.

I would win this. I had to. Levi was my husband, and no one, especially not someone like Nina Meyer, would take him away from me.