Chapter 3

Tania’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling. "Shane, did I do something wrong? Lila just snapped at me so badly..."

Before I could say a word, Shane’s face hardened. He turned on me with a glare. "Tania spent four months preparing that wedding dress for you. She stayed up late countless nights to coordinate with designers. And this is how you repay her? If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t even have a dress. Apologize!"

The disdain in his eyes made me want to laugh, bitter and hollow.

When I had asked him about the dress, he’d brushed me off, saying not to bother him because he was busy taking Tania to Bali to "cheer her up".

Of course, she was important. When she said she was heartbroken, he spent the whole night consoling her. On my birthday, he rented out a theater to watch a romantic movie with her. When I collapsed with a fever from overwork, he told me to drink more warm water and immediately turned to rush Tania to a private hospital for a tiny scrape.

This was my wedding. I had handled everything I was supposed to, but because of Tania’s constant presence, all credit suddenly went to her.

Even Shane’s relatives saw me as useless, dismissing me as the bride who lifted not a finger.

The dress and his suit were both untouched in the guest room closet. He hadn’t spared them a glance, but now he demanded I apologize to Tania.

Disappointment carved itself deeper into me. My face darkened.

Shane sneered. "So you won’t apologize? Fine. Then the wedding’s off. When you apologize to Tania, that’s when we’ll marry."

My clenched hands slowly loosened. I looked him straight in the eye. "Alright."

Then, I turned and began to pack my things.

Ryan Lane had told me that the bougainvillea in Grandma Mae’s courtyard was blooming again. I wanted to see it as soon as possible. It was the very plant she and I had planted together before my parents took me to Eastbourne city.

In the living room, Shane tried to soothe Tania, but irritation simmered under his skin. His eyes flicked toward the guest room as he quietly sent a message to his assistant, Mark Sullivan.

The reply came quickly. "Mr. Dawson, Miss Quinn has rescheduled her flight with Dawson Airlines. But I don’t have clearance to check the new details. You’ll need to look it up yourself."

Relief eased his features. He typed back a curt: "No need."

As I zipped the last of my luggage, a message from Shane lit up my phone. "Since you’re going to marry me, you’ll have to learn to control your temper. Tania is doing everything for you. How could you hurt her feelings? Anyway, there’s a family lunch at noon. I’ll bring Tania over first and send the driver for you later. Just apologize to her and let’s move on. Tomorrow’s the wedding, so don’t ruin everyone’s mood."

It was the Dawson family lunch, and he was bringing her as his date.

When the driver knocked at my door, I glanced at my suitcase one last time.

So be it.

He had once proposed to me in front of everyone. Now I would return the gesture by breaking the engagement in front of them all. It was an apt beginning and an end.

I arrived at the Dawson estate to find Tania glowing in the center of the room, surrounded by relatives showering her with praise.

"Lila, over here!" she called, teetering over in stilettos. She was dressed in a red evening gown, identical to the one I had chosen as my own dress for the toast.

My teeth sank into my lip. At that exact moment, Shane descended the staircase. His eyes landed on her, widening in awe. "Tania, you look stunning!"

Her cheeks flushed. "Shane, don’t tease me... Lila’s right here." She turned to me quickly, smiling sweetly. "Lila, I’m sorry about this morning at Shane’s place. I feel awful for causing you both to argue."

Shane’s gaze never left her. His eyes sparkled as if she were the only woman in the world. He even reached up, carefully plucking a stray false lash from under her eye.

The scene drew laughter and teasing from the crowd.

Mr. Timothy Dawson, his father, sighed in regret.