Chapter 1

Lorenzo Greco finally accepted me on the night of my 25th birthday.

The next day, fireworks lit up the sky the whole night, and roses piled everywhere. It was an extravagant display of love that sent shockwaves through Northern Darvent.

I deliberately set aside the family business and rushed back just to see it. However, the fireworks bloomed into his assistant's name, Elena Lagioia.

…

I had barely stepped through the door when my mamma, Rochelle Coppola, called. She said angrily, "Your papa and I knew long ago he was not a good man. What kind of man lets a girl chase him for ten years, only to cheat right before the wedding?

"Don't be upset, amore. There are plenty of good men in this world."

I smiled bitterly, surprised by how calm I sounded.

"You and Papa went to Southern Darvent to meet my arranged match, didn't you? If everything is satisfactory, then finalize it as soon as possible."

Mamma fell silent, startled by my decisiveness, then tried to coax me into slowing down. However, how could I make it in time for Lorenzo's wedding if I slowed down?

Did Lorenzo think that I, Cinzia Messina, would marry no one but him? And that I would foolishly wait for him?

I had already wasted ten years of my life. He had saved me when I was kidnapped at 15 years old, and now, I was 25 years old.

When Lorenzo's deal went wrong, I covered the losses with my family's transport routes.

When his assignments were challenging, I volunteered to take the lead.

When a traitor attacked him with a knife, I stepped up and took the blow for him. The scar still rested on my chest, 1.2 inches from my heart. And yet, the man I had loved and chased for a decade left me devastated.

"Dominic is a great man. Shouldn't you at least meet him before deciding?"

"It's alright. I agree. Schedule the wedding as soon as possible."

"What wedding? What schedule?" Lorenzo's voice suddenly came from behind me. The scent of roses was unmistakable.

I hung up the phone, lying without a flinch, "My cousin is remarried. We were just talking about when to visit her."

Lorenzo's tense shoulders relaxed. Why was he anxious? Was he worried I'd force him into marriage by holding a wedding?

After all, I'd done far too many reckless things while chasing him. I'd confessed my feelings more than ten times. But that wouldn't happen anymore.

Lorenzo held out the flowers he had been hiding behind his back. "This is for you. To celebrate us officially being together."

Seeing my lack of response, he continued, "Why are you so quiet? Are you too happy to speak?"

I lowered my gaze to the cloying pink roses in my arms. How could he celebrate with me while being engaged to another woman?

"I hate pink roses."

Lorenzo was taken aback by my reaction. After all, in the past, I would have been happy just to receive a tissue from him.

"You don't like it? You told me last week this was your favorite kind."

Last week, I had been a fool, knowing nothing. However, when I checked Elena's social media today, I realized that Lorenzo had also given her bouquets of flowers, and I only received it as a byproduct or alongside her orders.

Every gift he gave me, Elena had one, too. He had even learned how to send flowers only after Elena

became his personal assistant a year ago.

Moreover, I was slightly allergic to pollen. I didn't actually like flowers. I had only ever been thrilled because the man I loved had finally gotten it. Even if my body suffered, my heart was overjoyed.

I had forgotten that Lorenzo had known me for so long. If he had just paid the slightest attention, he would have noticed that every time I walked past the gates of his estate, the pollen from the flowers would make me sneeze uncontrollably.

I suddenly realized how pointless it all was. "It's nothing. I just don't like it anymore."

Just like I didn't like you anymore.