Chapter 4

Tony went white. He rushed to stand between us, trying to cover up the scene.

"Your friend had too much to drink and showed up here to cause trouble. You're not feeling well, right? Go rest in the bedroom. I'll get rid of her."

Clara didn't give him the chance to smooth things over.

She pulled up her post, held the phone in front of my face, and when Tony wasn't looking, laced her fingers through his, perfectly recreating the photo.

She leaned into his ear and murmured,

"Darling, I'm not her best friend. I'm your fiancee. You set the wedding date with me yourself just this morning..."

Confronted with undeniable proof, Tony frantically shook her off and reached for me, his eyes wild with panic.

"Let me explain. This was all arranged by the family. I had no choice..."

I watched him deliver his masterful performance of innocence and devotion in silence.

If the setting had been different, I'd have given him a standing ovation.

Last night he'd been scheming about having both of us. He hadn't counted on Clara forcing the issue in person. With no way left to hide it, his instinct was to play the victim in front of me.

I stepped back, dodging his reach.

Something dripped as I moved.

Startled, I touched my face and found tear tracks. I'd been crying without realizing it.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and spoke coldly.

"If you're going along with your family's arrangement, then let's end this on good terms."

A triumphant smile spread across Clara's face. She gave me a loaded look.

"Smart girl. All my careful planning wasn't wasted on you."

Tony ignored Clara's provocation and kept pleading.

"We've been together seven years. You know what kind of person I am. Trust me. Once I sort things out with my family, I'll give you a proper explanation."

I stared at the obsessive look in his eyes and went still for a long moment.

Hadn't he said just last night that I was nothing but a "broke nobody" he was toying with?

Why was he so desperate for my forgiveness?

Was he actually afraid of losing me?

Just as I nearly caved, I heard Clara's frantic demand.

"You actually fell in love with her, didn't you? You can't let go? Right now! Choose! One of us!"

Tony stood frozen. He looked at me long and hard, then finally turned to her.

"Go home. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

Clara's smile froze on her face. Tony's hesitation shattered what was left of her composure.

She charged straight at me like a woman possessed.

Tony's hand shot out on instinct, shoving me toward the bedroom.

I pitched forward with no warning.

In the instant before my belly hit the floor, I threw out my hand to break the fall. My entire left arm went stiff and numb, unable to move.

In the chaos, Clara bumped her forehead and immediately clutched the spot, screaming.

Tony snapped to his senses and roared at her.

"Are you insane? If you'd hurt her, you'd be facing criminal charges!"

Clara kept wailing, demanding that Tony take her to the hospital.

Tony looked at me, sitting in bruised silence.

After a few agonized moments, he scooped Clara up and tossed me a hollow promise.

"Trust me. We'll talk when I get back."

Then he was gone.

The dull ache in my arm was nothing compared to the pain in my chest.

Moments ago, I'd actually believed that despite all his lies, after seven years of sharing everything, he couldn't truly bring himself to abandon me.

But in the end, he chose someone else.

Even what looked like a move to protect me had really been about saving her.

Watching his retreating figure, there wasn't a trace of longing left in my eyes.

I struggled to dial a number with my right hand.

Half an hour later, a black Rolls-Royce Cullinan pulled up outside the building.

Edmund Bennett, the Romano Family's steward, noticed my frozen left arm. His expression shifted, and he helped me into the car with extreme care.

The car pulled away smoothly, leaving everything behind.

A text from Tony popped up on my phone.

"You're not feeling well. Get some sleep. I'll be home soon. Love you."

The throbbing ache in my left arm drew a cold laugh from me.

For the sake of my precious baby, I'd been willing to walk away quietly.

But he'd put my child at risk for the sake of another woman.

Then he could wait for me to settle every last score.