Chapter 3

Alan and I rushed back to the office.

Helen's eyes were red. She looked lost.

The whole bridal studio was silent, and everyone's eyes turned toward us.

Their pitying looks felt like a slap in the face.

As soon as Serena saw Alan, tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Alan, I didn't mean to. I didn't know the dress was so fragile."

Alan hurried over to steady her. Looking heartbroken, he wiped away her tears and murmured soothing words.

The dress I'd designed myself had been torn in two. It lay on the couch like a rag.

Pinned to Serena's veil was the brooch my grandmother had passed down to me.

It was the only keepsake my parents had left me. In the last century, an English duchess whose husband was the sixth to hold his title had given it to our family.

Not long ago, Alan had taken it to get the old, worn clasp repaired.

I never expected to see it pinned so brazenly to Serena's veil.

"My parents left that to me. Who gave her permission to wear it?" I nearly screamed.

Serena looked scared and frantically tried to pull the brooch off her veil.

"I didn't mean to. I just wanted to try it on."

But the old brooch was no match for her yanking.

It came apart, hit the hard stone floor, and shattered.

I was furious. I raised my hand to slap Serena.

But the next second, Alan stepped in front of her.

My hand landed on his face so hard it knocked his head to the side.

Alan didn't move. He lowered his eyes, unable to look at me. "I handled this badly. If you're angry, take it out on me. Don't hurt her."

When I heard that, my eyes burned.

He used to hate seeing me hurt. He'd always stood between me and anything that could harm me.

But now he was standing in front of me to protect another woman.

I laughed bitterly. All at once, my strength left me.

"Since you two love each other so much, I'll get out of your way."

The room went still.

Alan's face went pale. He stepped forward and grabbed my hand tightly.

"What are you talking about? You've always been the one I love most."

I shook off his hand, crouched down, and carefully gathered the broken pieces of the brooch from the floor.

Alan looked pained and reached down to help me up.

"Flora, stop this. I'll get the brooch fixed. It'll be ready in time for next week's wedding."

But all I felt was disgust. I pulled away.

"Don't bother! The wedding's off."

People behind us began to whisper.

Alan looked irritated and worn out.

"We're only borrowing the wedding. We'll still get married. Your parents may be gone, but can't you understand why Serena wants to do this for her mother?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he froze.

His lips moved, and with a frown, he reached out to grab me. "That's not what I meant..."

Losing my parents so young was the deepest wound I carried. More than once, I'd cried to Alan about how much I missed them. I'd held the rosary my father left me and prayed that they were at peace in heaven.

I never thought he'd use that pain against me.

Everything I'd held back finally broke loose. I shoved him hard. "Shut up!"

Alan stumbled back a step.

For a second, he just stood there. Then it hit him, and he rushed to apologize. "Flora, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'll make it up to you..."

I didn't look at him again. I turned and left.

I grabbed my luggage and headed for the airport.

On the way, I called Luca, the family's lawyer.

"Draw up the paperwork. I want every asset in my name pulled out immediately, including my stake in the wedding company."

Alan didn't know that years ago, when the company ran out of cash and nearly went bankrupt, I'd secretly used Grandpa's money to save it.

He thought he was a business genius. He had no idea that without me, he wouldn't have gotten a foot in the door.

To protect his fragile ego, I'd never told him who I was or what I'd done.

Alan kept texting me apologies.

"Flora, I was wrong. I shouldn't have hurt you.

"Next week, I'll make it up to you with the biggest wedding ever. Trust me."

Before I boarded, I sent him one last reply. "Don't bother. We're done."

This time, I wasn't going to cave.

I turned off my phone, took out the SIM card, and snapped it in half between two fingers.

I watched the city shrink beyond the plane window and felt nothing pulling me back.

At last, I was gone.