Chapter 3

Several workers were busy repairing the shattered windows, exchanging comments about just how violent the hurricane had been the night before.

When the supervisor noticed I was home alone, he could not help asking, “Miss, that hurricane last night was terrifying. The entire neighborhood lost power, and the storm was so fierce. We were worried it might not be safe for you to be here alone.”

I gave him a casual reply, “It’s fine. I can manage.”

He hesitated for a moment before asking another question, “With the weather that bad last night, didn’t your partner come over to keep you company?”

I let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh and answered honestly, “He was somewhere else, busy taking care of someone.”

An awkward silence swept through the room.

The workers exchanged awkward glances, then quietly fell silent. They could all hear the distance and bitterness in my words.

I did not bother explaining further.

To outsiders, Kane was one of the most powerful men in the underworld, a ruthless leader who never hesitated and had no apparent weaknesses. Yet when it came to me, he was always absent whenever danger struck.

When it was almost dusk, a message from Kane appeared on my phone: [I’m downstairs at your apartment. Let’s have dinner together tonight.]

My gaze lingered on the screen. It had been nearly a year since he had last taken the initiative to ask me out to dinner.

Previously, every private date we arranged in advance had inevitably been canceled at the last minute over some trivial matter involving Vera.

I changed clothes and headed downstairs. Kane’s car was parked quietly by the roadside.

I reached for the front passenger door, but just then, the window slowly rolled down. Vera was sitting in the passenger seat. She greeted me with a sweet smile.

“Good evening, Lenore!”

Kane looked perfectly at ease, seemingly unaware that anything was amiss. He casually explained, “Vera heard about a new upscale restaurant downtown. They make good nut-based risotto, and the reviews are excellent. I’ve already made a reservation. Let’s all go try it.”

I looked up at him, my expression perfectly calm. “I’m severely allergic to nuts. Have you forgotten?”

The composure on Kane’s face immediately faltered. He fell silent for a couple of seconds, unable to come up with a response. In the end, he simply started the car and drove away with Vera.

Standing alone in the evening breeze, I finally saw things for what they were.

He had not come to see me at all. He was simply taking Vera out on a date. My apartment happened to be along the way, and he remembered me only as an afterthought.

The Kane I once knew had been meticulous when it came to looking after me.

Whether we were dining out, attending family banquets, or simply ordering desserts and drinks, he always made sure to eliminate anything containing nuts before it ever reached my table.

It had become second nature to him, a habit he maintained for years. Now, he had forgotten it all.

My heart was utterly numb. I was ready to tell him we were over.

Then, out of nowhere, he mysteriously mentioned that he was hosting an event on Saturday and told me to make sure I showed up.

Saturday happened to be our seventh anniversary. I could not help finding the whole thing ironic. It turned out that he did remember, after all.

I had no idea what he was planning, but I made up my mind to end things once and for all that day.

Over the past three years, I had grown accustomed to disappointment. I had long since stopped expecting anything from him. All I wanted was to have a quiet, honest conversation and bring everything to an end.

…

On the evening of our anniversary, I arrived at the private club’s VIP suite Kane had reserved.

The door was slightly ajar. Instead of the quiet, intimate dinner I expected, I heard lively chatter and music spilling out from inside.

I pushed the door open. Before me stood a table laden with champagne, roses, and an exquisitely decorated custom-made cake.

Posters of Vera’s favorite band adorned the walls, while the screen played a continuous loop of songs she loved.

The room was filled with Kane’s friends. They had been busy setting everything up, but the moment they saw me, they all froze.

Someone hurriedly turned off the music.

Someone else whispered, “Why is Ms. Florer here? Wasn’t the Don supposed to be preparing a surprise for Ms. Hayes tonight?”

I stood in the doorway, my gaze slowly settling on the cake. The name written across it was Vera’s.

Kane hurried out from the back of the room, his expression betraying unmistakable panic. He shoved a jewelry box into my hands as he said in a hurried voice, “Why are you so late? Here, hide this for me. We’ll give it to Vera as a surprise when she gets here.”

I almost laughed at how utterly ridiculous it was. I looked straight at Kane as I asked, “What exactly is this supposed to mean?”