Chapter 1

Charlotte Winston came over to us, holding a glass of champagne. Luca's arm was still wrapped around my waist.

She was two years younger than him. They had grown up together, and everyone thought they would end up together until I came along.

Then two became three.

I used to think she was my closest friend. I also thought she and Luca were only friends.

"Nicole." Charlotte walked up and leaned down to hug me.

The dark brown pouring off her was heavy. It was the color of hurt and resentment.

I slowly pulled away and caught her staring at Luca. She quickly looked away.

Her familiar smile was still in place as she raised her glass to him in a casual toast. "Finally engaged. I can tell you're happy today."

"Those earrings you're wearing today..." Luca looked at her and paused for a moment. "Are they the ones I gave you?"

The teardrop diamond earrings sparkled under the lights.

"It's your engagement party," she said, biting her lip. "Of course I wore my best."

Luca said nothing.

His eyes fell on Charlotte's lips. In that instant, his entire body glowed a deep, vivid magenta.

Uncontrollable desire.

My stomach turned. I said I felt dizzy and walked away.

The October air was freezing. I leaned against the terrace railing, but my heart felt even colder. Then I heard clothes rustling behind me. I quickly moved behind the large planters and hid in the shadows.

A moment later, Luca pushed Charlotte against a carved pillar and kissed her hungrily.

He pinned her into the dark corner beside the pillar and kissed her hard. One hand held the back of her head while the other locked around her waist.

She tilted her head back to meet him, her fingers twisting the front of his shirt, her nails almost digging into his chest.

They kissed for a long time. When they finally pulled apart, Luca kissed her earlobe. "The day I gave you these earrings, I kissed you just like this in the car. Don't you remember?"

Charlotte's eyes filled with tears. "But you're engaged. The wedding is next week. Once you marry Nicole, we can't keep doing this."

Luca pulled her closer. His voice was filled with worry. "You know I promised my father I'd take care of Nicole. I have to marry her if I want my inheritance. I'll give her my name and a respectable marriage, but you're the only one in my heart!"

"Just give me one more week," he whispered. "After the wedding, I'll send her abroad and make sure she never has a reason to come back. Then it'll just be the two of us."

Charlotte rested against the pillar with one hand on his back. "You always tell me to wait a little longer. Do you have any idea how painful it is to watch you two walk around hand in hand? She's just a homeless orphan. Why does she get everyone's blessings while I have to hide like I'm the one doing something wrong?"

Luca was silent for a moment. Then he kissed her neck, her jaw, and the corner of her mouth. "This time I mean it. When you left me three months ago, I nearly lost my mind. I can't go against my father's dying wish, but I can't bear to lose you either."

Charlotte looked up at him. Her gray-green eyes were startlingly bright in the moonlight.

He gently wiped the corner of her mouth. His thumb stayed on her lower lip for a moment.

I stood a few steps away in the shadows, my fingers gripping the cold railing.

His feelings traveled to me through the iron scrollwork of the railing. That overwhelming pale gold almost lit up the whole night sky.

Pale gold. The color of reckless, all-consuming longing.

It was the kind of longing that made your chest ache because you couldn't have someone.

I had never seen that color around Luca when he was with me.

For five years, I had believed his love was real. Now I knew it had all been an act.

Their quiet whispers reached me through the darkness. I dug my nails into my palm.