Chapter 3

The entire drive to the restaurant, I considered asking the driver to turn around.

It wasn't because I was nervous.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

The truth was, I wasn't ready. Three days ago, my husband had walked out of our marriage. Three days ago, I'd discovered that the woman he'd chosen over me was my own sister. And now, somehow, I was on my way to meet another man.

It felt wrong.

But Elena had been relentless.

"You're not looking for a husband," she'd said before shoving me into the car. "You're looking for proof that life didn't end when Damian left."

As much as I hated admitting it, she had a point.

The hostess led me to a quiet table by the window overlooking the city. It was the kind of restaurant where every detail screamed luxury, yet nothing felt excessive. Soft piano music drifted through the room as couples chatted over candlelit dinners.

I checked the time.

Seven o'clock.

He wasn't late.

Neither was I.

A waiter approached with a polite smile, offering me a glass of water while I waited.

I wrapped my fingers around the glass, more for something to do than because I was thirsty.

What if this was a mistake?

What if he was just another arrogant businessman who measured people's worth by their bank accounts?

Living as a De Luca had introduced me to plenty of wealthy men.

Most of them shared the same traits.

Overconfident.

Self-absorbed.

Convinced money excused bad manners.

Damian had fit that description perfectly.

The thought made me sigh.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled me from my thoughts.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

The voice was deep and unexpectedly warm.

I looked up.

For a moment, my mind went completely blank.

He was tall—well over six feet—with broad shoulders that filled out his charcoal suit effortlessly. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his sharp features would have looked intimidating if not for the apologetic smile on his face.

He wasn't flashy.

No expensive jewelry.

No loud designer logos.

Just a well-tailored suit, a classic watch, and a quiet confidence that didn't beg to be noticed.

"You must be Aurora."

His smile widened ever so slightly as he held out his hand.

"I'm Lucian."

I slipped my hand into his.

"Aurora."

His handshake was firm but careful, as though he were afraid of squeezing too hard.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said as he pulled out my chair before taking the seat across from me. "A meeting ran longer than expected."

"It's only been a minute."

"Even so, I don't like keeping people waiting."

I blinked.

That was...

Unexpected.

Most men in his position would've expected me to wait without question.

Instead, he apologized.

A waiter appeared to take our orders before disappearing just as quietly.

For a brief moment, silence settled between us.

Not the awkward kind.

The comfortable kind.

Lucian was the first to break it.

"So," he said, setting his menu aside, "how much did Elena tell you about me?"

I smiled despite myself.

"Almost nothing."

He nodded thoughtfully.

"That makes two of us."

"You don't know anything about me either?"

"Only your name."

"And you still agreed to a blind date?"

"So did you."

I couldn't argue with that.

A soft laugh escaped me.

It surprised both of us.

It had been days since I'd laughed without forcing it.

Lucian noticed.

He didn't comment on it.

Instead, he simply smiled to himself, as if he'd accomplished something important.

For the rest of the evening, the conversation flowed effortlessly.

We talked about travel, favorite foods, embarrassing childhood stories, and the places we'd always wanted to visit. Not once did he interrupt me or steer the conversation back to himself.

He listened.

Really listened.

When I spoke, he gave me his full attention, never once glancing at his phone or scanning the room.

It was such a simple thing.

Yet somehow, it felt rare.

By the time dinner arrived, I realized something that caught me completely off guard.

Lucian Moretti wasn't anything like the wealthy men I'd grown up around.

There was no arrogance.

No need to prove he was important.

No expectation that the world should revolve around him.

If anything, he seemed far more interested in learning about me than talking about himself.

For the first time in what felt like forever...

I found myself forgetting Damian.

And for one peaceful evening, I wasn't someone's ex-wife.

I was simply Aurora.

The evening slipped by so naturally that neither of us noticed how late it had become.

Our plates had long been cleared away, yet neither of us seemed eager to leave.

A waiter stopped beside our table.

"Would either of you like anything else?"

I reached for my handbag, ready to ask for the bill.

Before I could, Lucian glanced at me.

"One more drink?"

I hesitated.

Three days ago, I would have said no without a second thought.

Three days ago, I was still wearing a wedding ring.

Now...

I found myself smiling.

"One more."

His lips curved into a faint smile.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

The waiter returned with two glasses, and our conversation picked up where it had left off. We spoke about everything and nothing at all—books we'd never finished, places we wanted to visit, childhood memories that still made us laugh.

Not once did he ask about my divorce.

Not once did he make me relive the worst week of my life.

For the first time in years, I didn't feel like I had to pretend to be someone else.

I could simply be... me.

***

Warm sunlight brushed against my face.

I frowned and buried myself deeper beneath the blanket.

Why was my pillow so...

Warm?

A deep voice chuckled beside me.

"I was wondering when you'd wake up."

My eyes flew open.

The unfamiliar ceiling.

The luxurious hotel suite.

The discarded clothes scattered across the floor.

Then the memory of last night came rushing back all at once.

My face burned.

"Oh..."

I covered my face with both hands.

"Oh no."

A quiet laugh came from beside me.

I peeked through my fingers.

Lucian was sitting against the headboard, looking far too composed for a man who'd just completely derailed my life. His tie was gone, the top buttons of his shirt were undone, and his dark hair was slightly messy.

Somehow...

It suited him.

Before either of us could speak, my phone began vibrating across the nightstand.

Elena Calling...

I snatched it up.

The second I answered, her voice exploded through the speaker.

"Tell me everything!"

I winced, lowering the volume.

"Good morning to you too."

"Don't 'good morning' me. How did it go? Did you like him? Did he like you? Are you still at the restaurant?"

I glanced at Lucian.

He was pretending not to listen.

Poorly.

"It... went well."

"'Went well'?" Elena gasped. "Aurora, I need details!"

"I'll tell you later."

"Why later?"

"Because I'm a little... occupied."

Her silence lasted exactly two seconds.

"...Occupied?"

I closed my eyes.

"I have to go."

Before she could ask another question, I hung up.

The bathroom door opened.

Steam drifted into the bedroom.

Lucian emerged, his sleeves rolled to his forearms as he dried his hair with a towel.

Panic set in.

I needed to leave.

Now.

Moving as quietly as possible, I slipped out of bed, gathered my clothes, and tiptoed toward the door.

Just one more step...

A warm hand closed gently around my wrist.

I froze.

"I was beginning to think you were trying to escape."

I turned slowly.

Lucian stood behind me, amusement dancing in his gray eyes.

"I..." I cleared my throat. "I wasn't escaping."

"No?"

"No."

"You were simply leaving without saying goodbye?"

"...Maybe."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"I see."

He stepped aside, releasing my wrist.

"I won't stop you."

For some reason...

That almost disappointed me.

***

An hour later, I was halfway home when my phone rang again.

Elena.

The moment I answered, she screamed so loudly I had to pull the phone away from my ear.

"AURORA!"

"What?"

"Please tell me you didn't spend the night with him!"

"..."

"Aurora."

"..."

"You did, didn't you?"

I sank lower in my seat.

"...Maybe."

There was a long, horrified silence.

Then—

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"I set you up with the wrong man!"

I blinked.

"What are you talking about?"

"The man you were supposed to meet cancelled at the last minute! The restaurant accidentally seated someone else at your table!"

My stomach dropped.

"...What?"

"And it gets worse."

Her voice fell to a whisper.

"Aurora... do you know who you spent the night with?"

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"No."

"The entire city has been talking about him since yesterday."

A chill ran down my spine.

"He isn't just some businessman."

I stopped breathing.

"He's Lucian Moretti."

The name meant nothing.

Until Elena uttered the next sentence.

"The newly appointed head of the Moretti Mafia."

Silence.

"They're saying he's even more ruthless than his father."

My pulse hammered in my ears.

Somewhere across the city...

The man I'd spent the night with was probably getting ready for work.

And somehow...

I had a feeling this wasn't the last time our paths would cross.