Chapter 2

By the time the helicopter landed on the island's private helipad, the sun was already hanging low.

Finn grabbed both suitcases with one hand and, out of habit, reached to pull me into his arms.

"Why the long face? Are you not feeling well?"

I shifted my shoulder to avoid his touch and started toward the villa, pulling my own suitcase.

His arm froze mid-air. A moment later, he was right behind me.

In the master suite, he set the luggage against the wall, then knelt and took my hands, his voice softening.

"Amanda is just a psycho who's been spoiled her whole life. We all grew up together; we see each other all the time. I can't just burn bridges with her over every little thing."

"I'm saying this because I know you'll understand, right?"

I didn't speak, my gaze drifting past him to the deep blue of the ocean outside the window.

He continued, his tone becoming even more soothing.

"Once we're married, no one will dare to come between us again."

"Everything you've been hoping for, I've prepared it all."

He tilted my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"A ceremony on the beach, white roses, champagne colors, the most dazzling diamond ring… I'll use all of the family's resources to give you the grandest wedding imaginable."

Grand. I had heard that word countless times over the last three years.

And he had promised it to me countless times.

Now, he was looking at me again with sincere eyes, a mix of guilt and hope for the future.

But I couldn't see any fear of losing me in him.

Of course. The thought that I might actually leave him had never crossed his mind.

"Are you exhausted from the long flight?"

"Yeah."

I finally spoke, my voice soft. "I'm tired."

He let out a sudden breath of relief and stood up, rubbing my shoulders. "It's been a long afternoon. You should get a good night's sleep."

He turned to leave the room.

"Finn," I said, stopping him.

He paused and looked back.

"When I say I'm tired, I don't mean from the flight. And it's not just about today."

His brow furrowed slightly. He was about to speak when the door was pounded on.

"Finn! Open this door!" Amanda's impatient roar came from the other side.

The door was pushed open a crack, and she squeezed halfway through. "I'm missing something."

"What is wrong with you? Why are you coming to me if you lost something!"

She shot him a glare without a word and walked straight to the suit jacket Finn had tossed on the sofa. She expertly fished a square packet from the pocket.

It was a condom, still in its wrapper.

The air in the room froze.

Amanda dangled it in front of him. "Where were you fooling around last night?"

Finn's face went grim. "When did you put this on me?"

"Like I have nothing better to do? The evidence is right here. Are you still going to deny it?"

Amanda turned to leave, then glanced back at me with a smile.

"Chloe, don't you take it to heart. Maybe one of his men put it in the wrong pocket by mistake!"

Her shamelessness was breathtaking. So brazen that if I were to react, I would be the one accused of making a scene.

Then she spun back to Finn. "My showerhead is broken. You come over and fix it, and we'll call it even."

"Aren't there servants on the island? Have them fix it."

"I want you to come over! I'm going to freeze to death in the middle of my shower."

She urged him on, stomping her foot like a demanding child.

Finn glanced at me but didn't move.

Amanda immediately raised her voice. "Finn! Are you coming with me or not?"

He sighed, muttering under his breath, "She's so clumsy. Always making trouble for me."

But in the end, he started walking. Before he left, he remembered to tell me:

"If you're sleepy, go to bed early. The view from the cliff is even better tomorrow."

"I'll be back soon."

The heavy wooden door clicked shut.

I sank onto the edge of the bed and closed my eyes, exhausted.

I knew he wasn't coming back.

I was so defeated I couldn't even summon the energy for disappointment.

The wedding, the future, all of it… I suddenly didn't want any of it anymore.