Chapter 2

Ted's been busy with his Mafia business these past few days and completely forgot he promised to celebrate my birthday with me.

But it doesn't matter, because I have no feelings for him anymore.

He finally remembered—and decided to make it up to me.

Instead of tickets, Ted claimed he’d pulled some strings to arrange a private appearance by my favorite star. Someone I’d admired for years. In his world, calling in favors was second nature, but even so, getting that close to someone so high-profile wasn’t easy—not even for the heir of a Mafia family whose name quietly opened doors across Europe.

I had tried before and failed. So when he mentioned it casually, as if it were nothing, and invited me to go with him, I agreed without hesitation.

On the night of the event, I arrived early and waited outside the opera house.

And waited.

The Parisian streetlights reflected off the wet pavement, the glow blurring under a fine drizzle that slowly soaked through my coat. The city felt hushed, heavy—like it was holding its breath.

Then my phone buzzed.

It wasn’t a message from Ted.

It was an Instagram post from Anja.

She’d uploaded a photo flaunting two VIP passes to the Paris Opera.

Her caption read:

“Even though I don’t really understand it, it’s so nice having my loved ones with me.”

The photo didn’t show any faces—just two figures seated side by side.

At first glance, it could’ve been anyone.

But then I saw it.

The edge of a dark coat sleeve, slightly turned up. The distinctive stitching at the cuff—clean, sharp, unmistakable.

I knew that coat.

I’d had it custom-made for Ted years ago, commissioned through a private tailor who worked exclusively for families like ours. The fabric, the cut, even the barely visible inner lining—it was something no one else would have.

My chest tightened.

There was no mistaking it.

Ted.

Ice-cold rain clung to my hair and slid down my neck, seeping into my clothes, chilling me to the bone.

But the cold in my chest was far worse.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it was my mother.

She told me the wedding was set for two weeks from now.

All the major Mafia families have been contacted, and they have all pledged to attend the wedding. I can also bring up any other ideas I may have.

“No need. Let’s keep it as planned.”

In our world, postponing a wedding was never just personal.

It was a statement—one that affected alliances, reputations, and balance. I was done complicating things.

The storm intensified, and I was so cold that I shivered and almost fainted.

Finally, Ted called.

His voice was casual, almost distracted, like he was checking something off a list.

“Why aren’t you home yet?”

I kept my voice level, drained of emotion.

"Have you forgotten what you promised me?"

There was a short pause—brief, careless. The kind that meant he was searching his memory.

There was a brief silence on the line.

“Oh—wait.” His voice shifted, sharper now, as if something had just occurred to him.

“Today. We were supposed to meet today.”

He let out a low breath.

“I’m sorry. I completely forgot.”

“I had something come up this afternoon, but I should’ve called. That’s my fault.”

He hesitated, then added quickly, almost too quickly,

“Are you still there? I can come now. Or we can reschedule—tomorrow, this weekend. Anywhere you want.”

I listened quietly.

“I figured,” I said at last. My tone was even, unbothered. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not,” he said at once. “I shouldn’t have—”

“Really,” I interrupted gently. “I’ll head home on my own in a bit. You don’t need to rush.”

Another pause.

“At least let me pick you up,” he insisted, his voice lowered. “It’s late.”

“There’s no need,” I replied. “I’ll be fine.”

He didn’t speak for a second, as if searching for the right words.

“…All right,” he said finally. “Text me when you get home.”

“I will.”

When the call ended, I didn’t feel disappointed.

I’d expected this outcome from the moment I’d dialed his number.

And when you’ve already imagined the ending,

it doesn’t hurt nearly as much when it arrives.

Only moments later, Anja updated her Instagram again.

“He didn’t want me getting sick in this weather, so he made me hot chocolate and insisted I stay warm. A man who actually takes care of you is irresistible. ”

The photo shows Ted's back, and you can tell he's working very hard to make hot chocolate.

I stared at the screen for a second, then turned it off, because I didn't care anymore.

The night in the rain left me exhausted and shaken, my body worn down by stress and lack of sleep rather than illness.

The doctor called it acute fatigue—borderline collapse—and advised rest and distance from unnecessary stimulation.

I used that as an excuse to move out of the master bedroom, telling Ted I needed space and quiet

For once, Ted set aside matters within the family—meetings, negotiations, the constant stream of obligations that came with his position—and stayed behind, clearly intending to take care of me.

But I didn’t need his concern anymore.

Not this version of it.

“I just need some quiet,” I said calmly. “I’ve been overstimulated. Too many people, too much noise. I’ll be fine on my own. You should go deal with your responsibilities.”

He frowned, watching me in silence, as though trying to find the place where things had shifted.

“You used to want me around the most when things got rough,” he said slowly. “What changed?”

I lowered my head, hiding everything in my eyes, and forced a small, polite smile.

“I used to be a child, I didn’t understand anything, but now I understand you.”

A flicker of disbelief crossed his face, because I was always so clingy to him.

“Really?”

“I’m fine,” I answered calmly. “Really, you can go now.”

He hesitated for a moment, then remembered Anya was waiting for him.

“Okay,” he said, “call me if anything happens.”

After he closed the door, I let out a long sigh of relief, preparing to get some rest.

When I woke up, my phone was lit up; it was another text message from my mother.

The wedding plans were finally finalized

She also sent over a dozen wedding design proposals—each a meticulously planned vision.

I scrolled through the designs absently, tapping to enlarge a few. Seating arrangements, security layouts, floral symbolism—everything had already been planned down to the smallest detail.

I was so absorbed that I didn’t hear Ted come in until he suddenly snatched the phone from my hand and tossed it onto the bed.

“What are you doing looking at wedding designs?” he asked, his brows drawing together.

There was a sharpness there—but beneath it, something else.

A flicker of tension. Of alarm.

For a split second, I thought he knew.

That he’d realized I was planning a wedding of my own—one that had nothing to do with him.

My fingers hovered above the screen. I was just about to speak when he exhaled slowly, as if steadying himself.

“Kari,” he said, lowering his voice, “you know how things are right now.”

His gaze didn’t quite meet mine.

“I just stepped into the Don. The family’s watching every move I make.”

He paused, choosing his words carefully. “This year… it’s not realistic.”

There it was.

Not a refusal.

Just a postponement wrapped in reason.

“I’m not saying no,” he added quickly, as if afraid I’d misunderstand. “I just need time. You understand that, don’t you?”

I smiled—thin, careful.

“It’s not mine,” I said. “A friend’s wedding. She asked me to help her look.”

He stilled.

Then, visibly, his shoulders relaxed.

“Oh.” A breath escaped him, one he clearly hadn’t meant to let out.

“I thought…”

He stopped himself, then gave a quiet laugh, as if embarrassed by his own reaction.

“Good,” he said. “I didn’t want you worrying. Or feeling pressured.”

His tone softened, almost tender.

“Next year,” he promised, meeting my eyes at last. “I’ll give you a wedding everyone will envy. Something worthy of you.”

I nodded.

But as he spoke, all I could hear was the relief in his voice—not because he’d reassured me,but because he’d realized he still had time to keep lying.