Chapter 3

I thought the encounter at the jewelry preview would be the last time I saw Luca before I left.

But that night, he called me on video.

I looked at the screen for a moment, then switched it to audio.

A few seconds passed before Luca’s voice came through.

“Why won’t you turn on the camera?”

“I’m tired.”

He seemed unprepared for such a plain answer. After a short silence, his tone lowered.

“Are you still angry about today?”

“No.”

“Elena, Dante and the others were out of line. I’ve warned them. No one will speak about you that way again.”

I gave a faint hum.

Luca did not sound relieved. If anything, he seemed more anxious to make it right.

“I know what I said at the showroom sounded wrong,” Luca said after a moment. “I didn’t mean you were waiting because I ordered you to.”

I said nothing.

His voice lowered.

“I meant you trusted me. You stayed because you believed I would make it right. Because you knew I loved you.”

That was worse.

Because Luca still thought love could explain everything.

He thought every ruined wedding could be softened by the fact that he always came back.

He thought my waiting was proof that I trusted him.

But I had not waited because I was strong.

I had waited because every time I tried to leave, he came back with red eyes, trembling hands, and promises that sounded too painful to doubt.

I had waited because I loved him.

And now he had turned that love into something everyone in the room could laugh at.

“Elena?” he called softly.

I lowered my eyes.

“So you called just to say this?”

Luca’s breathing paused.

“No.”

“The day after tomorrow is the seventh anniversary of the day we fell in love. I booked the private theater by the sea. You once said you wanted to hear an opera there.” He paused. “No family business this time. No one else. Just us. Elena, give me one more chance.”

The name of that theater made me still.

I had mentioned it more than once. I had even looked up the seats and ticket prices, imagining that one day he would take my hand and sit with me in the second-floor box until the final curtain fell.

Then the weddings kept falling apart, and those small wishes were put away until even I stopped remembering them.

The line went quiet.

Luca did not rush me. He only waited.

I looked out at the darkening window and, after a long while, said, “All right.”

His breathing eased.

Then Celeste’s voice came faintly from somewhere on his end.

“Luca, can you come here for a second? I can’t find my medicine.”

Luca did not answer at once.

I heard the scrape of a chair, then Celeste called him again, softer this time, helpless enough to sound frightened.

“I’m having trouble breathing. Can you please not go too far? I’m scared.”

There was a brief rustle through the phone, as if someone had risen too quickly, or as if Celeste had caught his sleeve.

Soon Luca lowered his voice and said to me, “Elena, don’t misunderstand. She’s just unwell. I’ll check on her and come right back.”

My fingers rested against the edge of the screen.

Why Celeste was with him at this hour, why there was never anyone else around when she needed help—those were questions I no longer asked.

I only said, “Go.”

Luca’s breath caught.

“Wait for me. I’ll be right back, and we’ll finish talking.”

“Mm.”

I ended the call.

Just then, Mia pushed open the door and lifted her car keys.

“There’s a new jazz bar downstairs. Want to go?”

I turned my phone face down on the table and stood, taking her arm.

“Let’s go.”

By the time Luca called back, the jazz set had already begun.

I let the phone ring itself out in my bag.