Chapter 3

"We'll watch something you like next time."

Maybe because Maya was in a good mood, Alessio actually looked a bit apologetic for once.

I just smiled. "No need."

I had heard those words a million times.

I wasn't stupid enough to believe them anymore.

Alessio froze, clearly not expecting me to say that.

Outside the theater, it was pouring rain.

The freezing wind cut my face like a knife. I shivered violently.

Alessio pulled Maya's trench coat tighter around her collar, then stepped in front of me.

He took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. "Maya's on her period; she can't afford to catch a chill. I'll take her home first. Wait here, I've already called a driver for you, he'll be here soon. Go straight to bed when you get back, don't wait up for me."

Maya lived in the opposite direction, though the distance was about the same.

I paused and called out to him:

"Alessio."

But Alessio was already shielding Maya with his large frame, striding down the steps and getting into the car.

My voice was swallowed by the howling wind.

Because of the storm, traffic was backed up.

I stood in the freezing wind for a full hour.

The driver apologized to me repeatedly, but I just shook my head.

But not long after getting in the car, my head started pounding, the prelude to a fever.

After getting out, just a few steps into the estate, my vision blurred and I fell hard onto the concrete. My arms and knees throbbed with pain.

I gathered my senses, and just as I was about to get up, my phone rang.

It was Alessio.

"Stella, Maya caught a chill from the wind earlier, she's got a bit of a cold. I need to stay and take care of her."

My eyes stung.

"Alessio, get me some water." Maya's whiny voice came through the speaker.

"Alessio." My voice broke, entirely out of my control.

I couldn't hold back the question I didn't ask at the theater.

"Why didn't you ever think that I'd be cold too, that I'd get sick too... and I'm your girlfriend..."

The only response was the beep of a disconnected call.

He was too busy taking care of Maya to even listen to me finish.

I sat on the ground, tears hitting the pavement.

My phone rang again.

This time it was my mom.

"Stella, what time are you guys getting here tomorrow?"

I covered my mouth tightly so I wouldn't sob out loud.

Tomorrow, Alessio and I were supposed to visit my parents to discuss our engagement.

But now, it seemed there was no point.

"Stella?"

It took me a long moment to compose myself.

"Mom, he's not coming."

The next day, I went back to my parents' house and told them about my three-year transfer to Milan.

My dad was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Why so sudden? Does Alessio know?"

It actually wasn't sudden. When the project started six months ago, I was the top candidate.

I only turned it down because of Alessio.

My mom thought Alessio and I had argued over me going abroad, so she didn't press about the engagement.

She just said, "It makes sense if Alessio disagrees. You'll be gone for three years, he's bound to worry."

I didn't say anything.

Because Alessio only worried about Maya.

He never felt the need to worry about me.

My phone rang. It was Alessio.

I paused, then answered it.

"Where are you?"

"At my parents'."

Silence on the other end for two seconds.

"Weren't we supposed to go together to talk about the engagement?"

I checked the time. We were supposed to leave at 8 AM.

It was almost 11, and he just remembered he was supposed to go home with me.

"Maya's cold got worse this morning. I took her to the hospital and lost track of time."

"Apologize to your parents for me. We'll discuss the engagement another time."

"Okay."

I hung up, and Maya's social media update popped up.

No caption, just a photo.

It was a picture of Alessio asleep beside her.

The comments flooded in: "Are you two back together?"

"I knew it, the Don only loves you."

"Stella must be heartbroken."

I didn't cry. I put my hand over my heart, and I didn't even feel pain.

My phone buzzed. My boss sent the flight info for the morning after next.