I Had the Wrong Guy, He Made the Wrong Choice

Vanessa Richardson's POV

When I agreed so easily, the shock on Leonardo Zeller's face was palpable. Then, his expression darkened.

"Look, I know you're desperate to marry me. It's not like there's no room for negotiation. If you're willing to put Renee White's name on your designs, I might consider going through with the wedding."

I simply stared at him. "There's no need for that. Just answer me one question, and I'll help you."

The shadow over Leonardo's features lifted slightly, his lips curling into a derisive smirk.

"What? You want to know if I ever loved you? Vanessa Richardson, don't you think that's a bit childish?"

I didn't give a damn about who he loved or who he wanted to marry. I had only ever loved one person—a man who had died in a car crash trying to save my life.

After he passed, his heart was donated. That was the only reason I had ever sought out Leonardo.

I had gone from being the envied heiress of the Richardson family to Leonardo's pathetic lapdog, trailing behind him while everyone in his circle looked down on me with utter contempt.

But to me, it was worth it. As long as I could hear my lover's heartbeat one more time, I would have walked through fire.

"That's not the question," I said, my voice steady as I braced myself for the final confirmation.

"Leonardo," I began, keeping a measured tone, "have you ever had a heart transplant?"

Leonardo's brow knitted together in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"My heart is perfectly fine," he snapped. "Why would I ever go through a cursed surgery like that?"

So, it was true. I had spent years with the wrong man.

A crushing wave of disappointment washed over me. I lowered my gaze and whispered, "Fine. I agree to call off the wedding. I'll withdraw from the design competition and credit the work to Renee."

After a brief pause, I added, "I wish you both happiness."

The moment those words left my lips, Leonardo and his entire circle of friends froze, mouths agape. Then the jeering began, wave after wave of mockery crashing down on me.

"Holy crap! I didn't think the high-and-mighty Richardson heiress could sink any lower. She's literally agreeing to anything just to cling to Leo."

"She's the Queen of Simps. At Leo's slightest whim, she'll drop everything, even her own wedding and career. She's completely devoted. Too bad Leo's heart only belongs to Renee."

"Enough. Everyone shut up," Leonardo barked, cutting off the insults directed at me for the very first time.

He stared at me, his eyes burning with an unreadable frustration. "Vanessa, do you have any self-respect at all?"

"I tell you what to do, and you just do it?" he snapped. "You never fight for yourself. I call off the wedding, and you don't even care enough to make a scene?"

I looked down, a faint, weary smile touching my lips. He wasn't the man I was looking for. So what was the point of fighting?

"At this point," I whispered, "none of it matters anymore."

My hollow expression seemed to strike a nerve. Leonardo's gaze wavered, and he grew inexplicably irritated, his grip tightening painfully around my hand.

"Vanessa, you…"