Chapter 5

"Come on, don't be mad. It was all my fault. I swear it'll never happen again! Tomorrow I'm flying to Northport to sign a contract. The trip will take about five days. When I get back, we'll get married. I can't wait."

I gently pulled away from Luca's arms. He patted my head and spoke gently. "Get some rest. I've got some paperwork to go through tonight, so I won't be staying."

He hurried away, clearly eager to leave. I watched him go and chuckled.

Luca didn't know it yet. There wouldn't be a next time.

The next day, I started receiving photos of Luca and Charlotte traveling around Northport together.

In every photo, the two of them were always close together.

They went on a luxury cruise, walked along a romantic beach, and dined at five-star restaurants. They went everywhere together.

They kissed under the fireworks, played together in the ocean, and Luca even took her to a church.

She wore a wedding gown. He knelt in front of her. The diamond on the ring was blinding.

So this was the wedding he really wanted.

"Princess," Carlo said as he came in, "I pulled the videos you asked for. Are you sure you want to watch them?"

I said nothing. I simply held out my hand.

Carlo placed the tablet in my hands. I pressed play.

Luca's car was parked outside Charlotte's apartment building. The timestamp showed that the video was from two weeks ago.

Charlotte walked out of the lobby in a sleep robe. Luca was leaning against the car when he pulled her close and wrapped his coat around her.

They kissed passionately. Then they went upstairs together.

The footage was clear even though it had been filmed from across the street.

When Luca pressed Charlotte against the car door, the streetlight cast his shadow across the pavement. There was no mistaking that it was him.

Carlo continued, "Charlotte has a family gathering on the French Riviera next Friday. Luca has booked the same flight."

The French Riviera. Next Friday.

Only nine days away. That was when Luca and I were supposed to be on our honeymoon.

So this had been his plan all along. As soon as the wedding was over, he would send me away and return to Charlotte.

My phone rang, and Luca's name lit up the screen. I didn't answer.

He called a second time. Then a third and a fourth. Finally, he stopped. About ten minutes later, he sent me a text. "Where are you now? Don't forget to try on the dress before the wedding. I had it sent to the house."

The screen lit up again. This time, it was a message from Charlotte. "I picked a champagne-colored wedding gown. Luca says it suits you. Oh, and I chose the wedding photo for you two. This one. Do you like it?"

In the photo, Luca stood in front of a flower wall, but a bouquet covered most of my face.

I forwarded the photo to Luca. He replied, "The composition looks good. Leave the flowers. Everyone knows what you look like anyway."

Of course he didn't care that the flowers covered my face. Everyone already knew he was marrying an orphan.

What I looked like didn't matter. All that mattered to him was keeping his promise to his father.

Fine. Then I would bring the perfect image he had worked so hard to build crashing down!

Over the next three days, I handled everything I needed to do.

First, I canceled all the wedding arrangements.

Then I had all my belongings packed and taken away. Soon, there was nothing left to show that I had ever lived there.

I set the videos to be sent automatically.

On the wedding day, one copy would be sent to the press and another to Luca.

When everything was ready, the motorcade was already waiting at the front gate. Dozens of Bentleys with the Rosso family crest were lined up outside.

Bodyguards stood in two rows, bowing their heads as I approached.

I walked toward them and slowly raised my chin.