Chapter 4

That night, Lorenzo was sitting on the couch waiting for me when I got home.

I froze for a second.

"Why are you here?"

His brows were locked tight, barely contained anger in every word.

"The hotel told me you didn't cancel the wedding. You just postponed it to the day after tomorrow?"

So that's what this was about.

I looked down and changed my shoes.

"Yeah. But I already transferred the hotel deposit to your account."

He wore an expression of strained patience.

Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore and said something harsh.

"You can't wait three more years?"

"Seraphina, is marrying me the only thing in your life?"

He stood up and walked over to me.

"We've been betting on horses so long. Dante and the others really believe in luck."

"Right now the family hasn't hit any trouble, but if we do, they'll definitely hold it against us for going back on the wedding."

"I've protected you too well all this time. Do you think this is how the Bianchi family got where it is? Sweetheart, can't you be a little more understanding?"

Then he strode toward the door.

"I won't answer any more calls from the hotel. Cancel the wedding yourself. Otherwise, when there's no groom, you'll be the one humiliated."

"Tomorrow I'm going to Saratoga with Julia and the others for the races. I'll be gone about a week. Take some time to cool off."

The door slammed shut.

I stood there, listening to his footsteps fade down the hallway.

I walked to the keypad lock.

Changed the code from the date we got together to my own birthday.

The next morning, Lorenzo called.

"Seraphina, I'm at the airport. Still an hour before security. Do you want to come... see me off?"

Every time he traveled before, I'd picked him up and dropped him off, rain or shine.

"No. I've got things to do today."

There was a pause on the other end, then his voice softened further:

"I was a little emotional yesterday. Don't take what I said to heart. I promise, by the time you're thirty, I'll be Don, and you'll be the Donna of the Bianchi family."

"And if that day, Julia wants to bet with you again?"

The line went noticeably still.

Then his voice tinged with displeasure:

"Seraphina, you're still hung up on this."

"I'm not hung up. I'm just saying, if a bet means more to you than a promise, then don't make promises so easily."

Another long silence.

I called his name softly:

"Lorenzo."

"Hmm?"

Then the roar of plane engines came through the line.

I smiled and said quietly:

"Thank you. For these seven years."

Through the roar, he asked, dazed:

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." I spoke into the phone. "Have a safe trip."

"Okay." He paused, as if sensing something, his tone carrying a hint of reassurance.

"Seraphina, don't worry. I won't—"

Before he could finish, Julia's soft, sweet voice came through:

"Lorenzo, come get the tickets!"

I pressed the hang-up button.

Then I opened my phone, went into Lorenzo's family group chat, and tapped "Delete and Leave."

Tomorrow was the last of the three days. The day I'd leave Lorenzo for good.

Then I got a call.

"I'm downstairs." The voice on the other end was low and gentle.

"Tomorrow's the wedding. I'm here to take you to your dress fitting."

"Okay."

I grabbed my bag and walked out briskly.

That night, at an upscale hotel in Saratoga.

Dante sprawled on the lobby couch, scrolling his phone, then suddenly shot upright.

"Oh my God!"

He shoved his phone toward Lorenzo.

"Lorenzo! Seraphina posted on Instagram! She's getting married tomorrow!"

Lorenzo rubbed his brow wearily.

"Tell her to stop."

"How's she going to get married if I'm not there?"

Dante stammered, cold sweat breaking out.

"B-but the guy she's marrying is..."

"You know what, just look yourself."

He didn't dare say it, so he shoved the phone straight into Lorenzo's hand.

Lorenzo's gaze drifted over lazily, then stopped dead.

His pupils contracted sharply.