Chapter 1

Lucius studied me with a trace of suspicion in his eyes.

“Are you angry?”

He took the ring from Liz’s hand and casually spun it between his fingers, his voice soothing.

“Don’t overthink it. You’ve worn this ring for years, and the style is already outdated. I’ll get you a bigger one later.”

I stared at the glinting diamond between his fingers, my expression calm.

And yet something seemed to prick lightly at my heart, leaving behind an inexplicable ache.

Perhaps somewhere in those three years, my feelings for him had become real after all...

Had I really fallen in love with him too?

“Lucius.”

“That’s our wedding ring.”

His hand stilled.

For a split second, his gaze flickered away.

Then he looked at me, pressed his lips together, and seemed about to explain himself.

“I...”

“Donna, I’m sorry!”

Liz suddenly cut in, sounding flustered.

She stepped forward and placed herself between Lucius and me.

She bit her lower lip, her lashes trembling.

“I really overstepped. I just thought the ring was beautiful. I honestly didn’t think that much about it.”

“It’s my fault. I came from a small town and haven’t seen much of the world. I didn’t mean to upset you, Donna...”

“The Don already has so much on his shoulders every day. Please don’t be angry with him because of me, okay?”

By the time she finished, her eyes had already turned red.

Lucius reached out and wrapped an arm around Liz’s shoulders, comforting her in a low voice.

“No one is blaming you. You were only playing the game. She’s the one refusing to honor the rules.”

Then he turned to me, a hint of irritation entering his voice.

“Merope, since when did you become such a sore loser?”

“It’s just a ring. Liz is one of my most capable assistants. Would it really hurt you to show her a little consideration?”

“You’re the Donna. If word gets out that you’re treating one of our own like this over something so trivial, what do you think people will say?”

One of his most capable assistants?

Capable enough for him to hold her in his arms?

I looked at Liz, still half-embraced against Lucius’s side.

She had her face partly buried against his shoulder, her profile full of wounded innocence.

But the corner of her eye lifted toward me ever so slightly, silently declaring her victory.

Once upon a time, Lucius had held me just like that, promising to love and protect me for the rest of his life.

I forced down the ache swelling in my chest.

He had once been willing to pay any price to win my love.

Yet now, he was the first to turn away.

Love and promises—what fragile things they were.

Just like the power of the Wishing Willow, they all came with an expiration date.

The people around us kept glancing back and forth between the three of us.

A few lowered their heads to whisper, faint mockery curling at the corners of their mouths.

They were laughing at the Donna who couldn’t even hold on to her own ring.

I lifted my head and forced the corners of my lips upward.

“I already gave it to her.”

My voice was steady.

“Liz, keep it. There’s no need to give it back.”

Lucius’s expression eased, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

He released Liz’s shoulder and patted the back of my hand, as though rewarding a puppy that had finally learned to fetch.

“That’s more like it. I knew you were always reasonable.”

Then he turned his head and pinched Liz’s earlobe, murmuring something too quietly for me to hear.

Liz broke into a smile through her tears, the tip of her nose still red.

She raised her chin slightly as she looked at me, unable to hide the triumph in her eyes.

“I knew Donna was the most generous. Thank you, Donna.”

I said nothing and stood to leave.

Lucius’s hand twitched as though he meant to stop me.

“Lucius...”

Liz caught his arm and gave it a playful shake, her voice syrupy sweet.

“I haven’t finished making my request as the winner yet. Put the ring on me, please?”

Lucius hesitated and glanced at me before saying,

“Going to the restroom? Come back soon. We haven’t cut the cake yet.”

So he still remembered it was my birthday.

But I no longer wanted to celebrate it.

Liz tugged at him again, urging him on.

“You’re impossible.”

Lucius pinched the tip of her nose, his tone indulgent despite the helplessness in it.

As I stepped outside and closed the door behind me, Liz’s playful, sugary voice still drifted from the room.

I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

Maybe this was for the best.

Now there was even less for me to miss.

This relationship should never have begun in the first place.

I opened my eyes and looked down at my bare left hand.

Five days from now, that hand would once again wear the ring that belonged to the heiress of the Moretti Family.