Chapter 3

The next morning, Matteo offered to drive me to pick out wedding favors—something he usually never cared about.

The silence in the car was suffocating.

Out of nowhere, he broke the dead quiet. "Sienna, we're doing the wedding on a luxury yacht. You don't have a problem with that, right?"

He gripped the steering wheel, casual as could be, without even glancing my way.

"You know I have severe PTSD. I can't leave dry land." I looked out the window, my voice dead flat. "If you want to change the venue, tell my father directly."

Matteo's grip tightened, veins bulging on his hands.

"No need to bother your dad. I was just asking." He forced back his annoyance with a fake smile. "We're here."

Inside the top wedding customization salon in Napa Valley, expensive crystals and custom favors lined the displays.

But the designer wasn't the only one waiting for us.

Camilla stood in the VIP lounge wearing a tight white dress, acting like she owned the place. She handed me a glass of ice water with a sweet smile.

"Sienna, you finally made it." She turned to Matteo, naturally grabbing his sleeve. "Matteo, the gourmet snacks here are still amazing. Just like the ones you bought me when you brought me here for gifts before."

I didn't take the glass.

Camilla's eyes dimmed. She picked up a fresh ocean-themed favor box from the table, acting completely innocent.

"Sienna, exposure therapy actually helps with aquaphobia. Matteo picked a yacht for the wedding and sea-themed favors to help you get over your fear. He's doing it for your own good."

I stared at her coldly, walking right past her toward the couch. "An outsider doesn't get a say in my wedding."

Camilla went pale. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes as she took two dramatic steps back.

"I'm sorry... I'm just too clingy with Matteo. I only wanted to help... I'll leave."

"Stop right there!"

Matteo's voice exploded through the salon.

He lunged forward, grabbing Camilla's hand and lacing his fingers through hers right in front of all the staff.

"She's just trying to help! Who are you to act so high and mighty?" Matteo glared at me, his eyes sharp enough to kill. "You wouldn't even let her be head bridesmaid, and now you're humiliating her in public? Where are your damn manners, Sienna?"

The staff lowered their heads, breathing as quietly as possible.

Looking at their intertwined hands, I suddenly laughed.

"You're lecturing me about manners in front of her, at our wedding shop?"

"Stop the drama!" Matteo tore off his mask completely, roaring so loud the crystal chandelier rattled. "I didn't cause your fear of water! And so what if your eyes got damaged? Don't pretend I didn't try with you! You cried yourself blind again in secret, playing sick for attention! You think using the 'life-saver' card lets you hold me hostage forever?"

Those words slammed into my last shred of dignity like a blade.

Playing sick?

Back when he actually loved me, he'd run to a doctor if I lost a single eyelash.

Ever since Camilla came back, everything changed.

I remembered three months ago when I had a 104-degree fever, convulsing and losing my sight from a PTSD episode. Sitting in Camilla's oceanfront mansion, he sent me a cold two-word text: Drink water.

I remembered our four-year anniversary. I waited outside a private gallery until my hands went numb from the cold, while he rented an island half a month in advance to throw a massive birthday bash for Camilla.

All my sacrifices meant nothing to him. They were just leverage I used to trap him.

"Matteo, the wedding is off." I stood up slowly, tearing the design sheets in my hands into shreds and throwing them right into his face.

"Since you found someone more fitting, I wish you two a happy life together."

I turned around and walked out of the salon without looking back once.

Night fell.

I sat alone in the Rossi family mansion. On the table sat a cancellation agreement I had drafted long ago.

My phone suddenly buzzed.

I picked it up. Matteo's slurred, drunk voice came through, dripping with arrogance and command:

"Sienna... drop the attitude. Pack your stuff and get your ass on the yacht. Act right, and the position of Falcone family leading lady is still yours."

Listening to his heavy, intoxicated breathing, the last spark of warmth in my eyes died completely.

"Matteo," I said calmly into the mic. "Cancel the wedding."

The line went dead silent for a second before he snapped back furiously, "What kind of game are you playing now?!"

I didn't answer. I hung up the phone and blocked his number.

Since he wanted to drown with Camilla so badly, I'd cut his anchor myself.