CHAPTER 01

OPHELIA COLE

Waking up to my phone blowing up was not how I planned to start my morning. After the twentieth call came in—despite my having silenced the damn thing—I finally groaned, grabbed it, and answered. It was my best friend.

“Girl, I thought you were dead! I’ve been calling you. How are you holding up? Please tell me you’re calm and not doing anything crazy?”

The panic in her voice snapped me upright in bed. “Mary, I worked late last night. That’s why I overslept. And why would I be doing anything crazy?”

I heard her inhale sharply, then exhale like she was bracing for impact. “You… you haven’t seen it.”

“Seen what?” My stomach dipped.

“You need to check for yourself, babes. And whatever you do, try to stay calm. I’m already on my way to you.”

She hung up before I could press further. My heart hammered as I scrolled through my notifications,missed calls, frantic texts, messages from numbers I didn’t even recognize. And then I saw the headline from the morning news.

And everything inside me went still.

"LUCA DAWSON DETAINED FOR DRUNK DRIVING AFTER PEDESTRIAN DEATH."

My phone slipped from my hand before I could even catch it. Mary was right to rush over , because I was already panicking. With shaking fingers, I grabbed my phone again and dialed Luca’s house line, but it rang endlessly. No answer.

We were supposed to be getting married next month. Not even thirty days left. This...this nightmare was not the kind of news any bride-to-be should ever wake up to. When the house line failed, I went to search for his family’s number, but my phone rang first.

It was my mother.

“I’m guessing you’ve seen the news?”

“I have. Mom, please..tell me he wasn’t behind the wheel. Tell me he’s alright. What even happened?”

“We don’t know anything for sure yet,” she said, her voice tight. “The only news I’ve received is that Mrs. Caroline—his grandmother—suffered a stroke from the shock after she saw the news.”

“Oh God… the poor woman.” My chest tightened. “I wasn’t supposed to visit till next week, but I’m booking a flight home right now. Mrs. Caroline needs me.”

“Just stay calm and let me know when you land.”

When the call ended, Mary walked in and pulled me into a hug before I could say a word. I clung to her.

I didn’t know how to handle this scandal, or what charges Luca might face if everything turned out to be true. And if he was found guilty… what happens to us? To our future? To the life we’d planned?

I’d loved Luca Dawson since childhood. Knowing we’d end up married one day had always been the anchor of my life. Loving him was effortless. And when his father announced earlier last month that we’d be getting married this Christmas, I was overjoyed. I’d waited twenty-two years for this moment.

But now… everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers.

Mary accompanied me to the airport, staying with me until I boarded my flight to Madrid, Luca’s family home.

And when I arrived, the house was unusually quiet. One of the house staff helped me take my bag to the guest room and informed me that Mr. Dawson had taken his mother to the hospital, but they should be back soon.

I was tense while I waited. My stomach twisting from not knowing what had happened or how Luca was doing. The silence of the house only made it worse.

Soon, I heard a car pull into the driveway. I hurried downstairs, expecting to meet Mr. Dawson and Mrs. Caroline, but instead, I found myself face-to-face with Damien. Luca’s older brother.

I froze.

The last time I saw him was five years ago, at Mrs. Dawson's death anniversary. I had offered him a cup of coffee, hoping to soften the hard, unreadable look on his face. Damien was rarely home. For reasons no one ever understood, he wanted nothing to do with the family business and chose to live abroad. I always admired his independence, but Luca insisted he only did it to look like the better son.

Damien had always been cold, distant, and severe. Ten years older than me, with a dominating presence and features carved from stone, he was someone I silently avoided. I wasn’t even sure I had ever seen him smile.

Meeting him again felt… unfamiliar. Jarring. My feet wouldn’t move until he finally spoke.

“Ophelia” His voice was deep and steady. “What are you doing here?” His dark ocean eyes pinned me in place, sharp enough to cut through skin.

I swallowed. “I came to look after Grandma. I heard she suffered a stroke.”

“Yes, she did.” His gaze didn’t shift. “But I’m sure you’re also here for Luca.”

“Yes.” I nodded quickly. “I’m sorry,I didn’t know you were back. I rushed downstairs thinking it was your father. Other than what I heard from the news, I haven’t gotten any information. I just… I really want to know how he’s doing and what’s going on.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” he said calmly. “I came back to handle some business and… well, Luca happened. You should get some rest. I’m sure my father will be here any...”

We heard a car pull in.

“Well…” Damien’s eyes flicked toward the door, subtly urging me to follow. “There he is. Just like I said.”

We waited as Mrs. Caroline was wheeled into the living room. Mr. Dawson walked in right after, his phone pressed to his ear, his expression tight.

“Ophelia..” Mrs. Caroline called softly the moment she saw me.

I rushed to her side and wrapped my arms around her. She was the grandmother I never had, and she had always embraced me as the granddaughter she wished for. I told her I came as soon as I heard the news and assured her she didn’t have to worry, I would take care of her until she was better.

We were still speaking when Mr. Dawson’s voice cut through the room.

“I just got off the call with the lawyer. Luca has been granted bail. Evidence shows the pedestrian was jaywalking.Because of that, the prosecution is reducing the charge. He won’t be going to prison while the case continues…”

“Oh my goodness..that’s great news,” I said immediately, relief flooding through me.

Mr. Dawson’s expression didn’t soften.

“But Luca won’t be coming home. The court is mandating that he enter rehab immediately.”

My throat tightened. “But our marriage…?”

“That can wait, now can’t it?” he replied before walking out of the room.

I turned back to Grandma, and she reached for my hand with a small smile. She told me not to mind Mr. Dawson, that rehab was the best place for Luca right now. I nodded, even though the uncertainty in my chest didn’t ease.

As I wheeled her away, my eyes briefly met Damien’s. His expression, usually so cold, seemed… different. Softer, but impossible to read. I looked away quickly, my mind returning to Luca and the accident.

No one had actually told me what really happened.

And now, out of nowhere… Damien was suddenly home?

A quiet unease settled over me, one I couldn’t explain.

Something didn’t feel right.