ซ่งหลิง เป็นคู่หมั้นของรัชทายาทช่างยากลำบากยิ่งนัก

AUTUMN 

They say graduation was supposed to be the beginning of everything—careers, dreams, freedom. For me, it meant jumping on a plane to Italy right after my mother dropped a bomb: she got remarried. Again. Without telling me.

“Oh its nothing. We didn’t hold a wedding. We just signed the marriage documents.” She had said. As if that was supposed to explained why she didn’t give me a headups before the whole thing. 

Back then, I used to think my family was perfect—until one evening when a heated argument shattered everything. That night ended in silence… and eventually, divorce.

We were never poor. My father was a retired police officer, and my mother owned a boutique in town. I had what I needed—clothes, food, a roof over my head. But what we lacked was peace.

Even as a teenager, I saw the cracks in their marriage. The arguments were constant. My mother blamed him for not doing enough. He blamed her for never being satisfied.

I don’t hate my father for leaving. I still love them both, in my own way.

But the thought of her marrying someone else—a complete stranger—without even telling me? That’s a different kind of betrayal. One I haven’t figured out how to swallow yet.

"What can I get you?" A female voice chirped and I looked up to find a blonde girl holding a notepad. I gave her a shy smile going through the menu.

Giving my order, I went through my phone, when a message came in. I stared at the strange number with a bland face. I did not need a name to know who it was. 

Abel, my ex boyfriend, had been persistent since I called our relationship off. We met three years ago. He was charming in the kind of the way. A year older, pre-law and dangerously smooth. He helped me carry a box of books on the first day of the semester, and by the end of the week, we were inseparable. 

I had caught him cheating two months before our graduation—balls deep in his colleague, as fate would have it. No apologies. Just a shrug, like I was overreacting for catching him in bed with someone who wore the same company. I ended it right there. Walked out without looking back. 

And when my Mom called to fly over to Italy to eet her new husband—my stepfather . I needed distance. And this trip gave me exactly that. 

But Abel? He didn’t take no for an answer. He called. Texted. Showed up at my apartment with flowers and promises I didn’t ask for. 

"Autumn, honey. Please, I beg you. Give me a chance to explain." A hiss left my lips. I placed the phone face down on the table. My appetite shrunk and I spent the next two hours trying to force down a plate of pasta. 

With an empty plate in front of me, I got up heading to the bathroom with my bag. Retouching my makeup, my phone buzzed again and I looked to find my mother calling this time.  

The urge to roll my eyes filled me and I ignored the call. Walking out, my hands moved over the phone screen as I tried to send her a text when I hit a hard surface. 

I had barely looked up when a hand grabbed me by the arm slamming me against the wall. My face grazed the wall and I let out a small gasp. 

“What the fuck?” I tried to pry my hands off his grip but it barely bulged. My eyes scanned the restaurant waiting for someone to intervene but they all focused on something else. 

"Lasciala andare, " A male voice muttered in Italian, a language I had no knowledge in. Slowly the stranger let go of my hand and I turned, my temper rising. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the man standing in front of me. He looked ethereal. 

He stood tall with a towering height of about 6’5. His night black hair fell to his neck, framing his chiseled features in a way that's both rugged and captivating. 

But it's his eyes that truly set him apart – piercing gray, like a winter sky, cold and unyielding. There was an aura about him, a sense of anger and coldness. It made me feel like I was walking on thin ice.

He raised an eyebrow for a moment, his face painted with disgust. “What are you looking at?" He muttered and I blinked repeatedly, suddenly recalling he had just held me against the wall. 

“What the hell is wrong with you," my voice filled the room and it went dead silent. I felt stupid and small under his gaze but he didn't need to know that. His jaw clenched and he took a step closer but someone held his arm and I turned to find the man. 

Unlike the rude one he looked short with a feminine face.He gestured towards the door. Glancing at the man in front of me I clenched the arm of my bag walking out of the restaurant. 

Something was definitely weird but I didn't have the time to find out. I had one plan; to visit my mother and head back home.

Taking a short stop at my hotel room I changed into a fresh dress, fixing my curls and reapplying a bit of mascara and lip balm, forcing myself to look less…exhausted instead to look as formal. According to my mother, her husband was on the wealthy side and his house proved her point. 

The cab stopped in front of my mother’s new home. Or rather, her new home.

Not a house. This was a mansion. The exteriors alone screamed money and power with the tall pillars and lush gardens. 

I gripped my clutch tight walking into the mansion. The guards seemed to be expecting someone as they moved away, letting me in. The mansion had a strange feel to it and I found myself looking behind me countless times.   

A housekeeper greeted me at the door and led me through the foyer, where light spilled softly from a chandelier above. I followed the sound of voices and clinking cutlery until I reached the dining room. 

Mom stood when she saw me, "Autumn!" She beamed, sweeping me into a tight hug. She smelled like expensive perfume and red wine. I looked at my outfit and suddenly felt a bit insecure. She engulfed me in a warm hug. Despite having a strange relationship I had missed those. "You look so beautiful. I've missed you so much."

“You look….different too,” I said pulling back, forcing a smile. She laughed lightly and gestured to the man seated beside her. “And this is the reason why. Meet Mateo, my husband.” 

The man rose from his seat with an easy smile. His hair was swept to one side, warm gray eyes and a charisma that seem natural.

"Autumn,” He said with a nod. “Its an honor to finally meet you. Your Mother talks a you about you all the time.”

I gave him a polite smile and a handsake. “Thanks for having me.”

He waved a hand. “Of course. We’re glad you came.” He spared his wristwatch a glance after takinh his seat back. “I wonder if my son is going to make it tonight,”

I blinked. “You have a son?”

Mom hadn’t mentioned anything about a stepsibling. Before I could ask more, Mateo’s eyes glanced behind me towards the entrance. “Oh—there he is,” he said casually. “Right on time,”

I turned. And my breath caught in my throat seeing a familiar face. The stranger I had bumped into earlier at the restaurant. The one with the smug expression and stormy eyes. The one who didn’t offer an apology. He stood tall dressed in all black, his eyes locking with mine the moment I faced him. 

Apparently, the rude man standing few miles away from me was my new stepbrother….