Chapter 5 Deceit

Luciano ambushing me after work? Not on my bingo card.

Curiosity snapped to annoyance. My face went cold.

"If you're just passing through, keep walking. If you came for me, don't bother—there's nothing left to say."

I shoved past.

He grabbed my wrist. Eyes all desperate and drowning in regret.

"Gaia, listen. That night—it was a mistake. I was drunk. Cecilia came on to me. She set me up!"

My glare dug in.

"If you could just own what you did instead of pointing fingers, maybe I'd have a shred of respect left. But right now..."

I let out a short, bitter snort.

God, it hurt. Like something ripping in my chest.

I didn't want to believe the guy I once loved—really loved—was this weak. This spineless.

His laugh, that stupid dimpled grin, all those soft little memories? Torched.

"I always knew Cecilia was a snake," I said, stepping back. Voice flat, razor-edged. "But you? Lying to both of us? That's just sad."

I'd heard it—him calling me a boring nun. Seen it—them, tangled up in his damn kitchen. And he still thought he could sell me some sob story?

Couldn't even look at him.

I turned to go—and then he snapped. No more begging. All bite now.

"Oh, so you're innocent? Gaia Miller, you really think this is all on me? Newsflash—you started this!"

He stormed up, chest puffed under that black suit, fists clenched.

"We were together for three years. THREE YEARS—and you never let me touch you! I'm young, rich, healthy—do you know how many women throw themselves at me? I held back, Gaia. For years. And the ONE time I slip, I'm the bad guy?"

He actually looked proud. Like he actually believed it.

He stepped closer, jaw locked, hand twitching near my face. "How much more was I supposed to take?"

I backed up. Face blank. Voice colder than December.

Nothing he said made it okay. If anything, it just made everything clearer.

Wow. So this is who he really is.

"Luciano. Did you forget the promises you made?"

We met three years ago on Montrelle U's basketball court. He was the star—finance department's golden boy, lighting up the crowd. Every girl wanted him. So did I.

What I didn't know? He wanted me too. Captain of the cheer squad.

He chased me hard. Wouldn't quit.

I loved him back—but I was scared. Kept shutting him down.

Then one night, he drank himself sick over it. Literally passed out outside my dorm.

I hauled him to the ER, got him an IV, sat there while he came to—looking wrecked.

Something in me broke.

I gave in.