Chapter 3

Two days later, at the morgue of a small church in the suburbs, I collected my grandmother's ashes.

As I bent to sign the papers, Vincent's call came through.

"Where are you? We had a dress fitting scheduled today. Why didn't you show up?"

I lowered my gaze, watching the staff carefully place the urn in a transport box. I was about to refuse.

But Vincent didn't give me a chance to speak and hung up.

"Text me the address. I'll send a car."

I didn't send it.

But less than half an hour after I left the church, a fleet of black cars pulled up at the entrance.

To my surprise, Vincent himself stepped out of the lead armored car.

He loosened the tie of his bespoke suit and gestured toward me with his chin.

"I was out of line the other day. No matter how busy I am with family business, I should have gone to see your grandmother."

"Even if you think her hands weren't clean, she's still the woman who raised you. I get that."

I frowned.

"Once we're married, she'll be your family too. And she would never steal anything."

"Fine. Since the cross wasn't found on her, she didn't steal it. Serena said she was distraught over the late Donna's heirloom and panicked when she had her men take your grandmother."

"She feels terrible about having your grandmother thrown in the dungeon over this. We'll go and get her out personally in a bit."

The passenger side window rolled down, and Serena's delicate face appeared, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I heard your grandmother has a heart condition. I forgot to have someone prepare her medicine that day. It was so thoughtless of me. This is a special medicine flown in from Switzerland, the best and most expensive kind. Let's bring it to the old lady."

The innocent, radiant smile on Serena's face was like a blade in my eyes.

"Save it. Cut the act."

Serena's smile vanished.

Vincent's expression immediately darkened.

"Chloe, don't push it. Serena and I just postponed a family meeting with the capos to come here. I didn't drive all this way to watch you make a scene."

"Get in the car. Don't waste my time."

Serena nodded, looking wronged.

"Chloe, I'm being sincere. I've come to apologize. I was too reckless before. It was all a misunderstanding."

But what she called a "reckless misunderstanding" had cost my only family her life in a cold dungeon.

I clenched my fists and took two steps back.

"Apologize? Fine. Then get on your knees and apologize to her."

Serena's eyes instantly turned red.

"How can you say that? I came here with medicine and a sincere heart, and you're humiliating me…"

"Forget it. It's my fault. It's what I deserve for losing something so important. You two go try on the dress. I should have never come back from Italy…"

She threw the car door open as if to bolt, but Vincent grabbed her.

He pushed her back into the passenger seat, murmuring soft comforts. After a long moment, he looked up at me, his gaze cold.

"Chloe, I understand you're angry, but you don't have the right to speak for your grandmother."

"It doesn't matter. She can hear everything."

Vincent's expression faltered. I didn't wait. I turned and walked toward the cemetery.

The staff at the cemetery had already called several times. It was time for the burial.

Alone, I laid my grandmother to rest in the public cemetery in the South District.

By the time I finished all the arrangements and took a car back to the city center, night had fallen.

I didn't want to go back to the apartment. I found a random roadside motel and checked in.

Just after I showered, my phone started ringing incessantly.

Vincent was sending me picture after picture of wedding dresses.

When I didn't reply, the calls started, one after another.

I didn't even look. I just turned my phone off.

Just as I was drifting off, my door was kicked open.

Vincent saw me, and a wave of relief washed over him.

"You scared the hell out of me. No matter how angry you are, you don't turn off your phone. And you don't run away."

"Since you don't want to see Serena, I came to get you myself."