جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 9

My phone lit up with a message from the hotel's event manager."Ms. Cartani, Mr. Kingsley just asked us to change the bride's name to Serena. Are you sure you want to cancel your wedding arrangements?""Yes, I'm sure," I texted back. Then I looked up at the man in front of me, who was still trying to explain himself.He frowned, as if he couldn't make sense of how calm I was."Flora, I know you're upset. But this time, Serena's mother is dying."Her last wish is to see Serena in a wedding dress. This is life and death, Flora."His jaw was tight. His tone left no room for argument.The first time, he'd pushed back my dress fitting so he could walk Serena through creating a PowerPoint presentation.The second time was Serena's graduation. He said it was a once-in-a-lifetime event he couldn't miss, so he postponed our engagement party.The third time, Serena called him in tears. She said someone was following her and she was too scared to go out alone. He rushed to her side. By the time h

Alan and I rushed back to the office.Helen's eyes were red. She looked lost.The whole bridal studio was silent, and everyone's eyes turned toward us.Their pitying looks felt like a slap in the face.As soon as Serena saw Alan, tears spilled down her cheeks."Alan, I didn't mean to. I didn't know the dress was so fragile."Alan hurried over to steady her. Looking heartbroken, he wiped away her tears and murmured soothing words.The dress I'd designed myself had been torn in two. It lay on the couch like a rag.Pinned to Serena's veil was the brooch my grandmother had passed down to me.It was the only keepsake my parents had left me. In the last century, an English duchess whose husband was the sixth to hold his title had given it to our family.Not long ago, Alan had taken it to get the old, worn clasp repaired.I never expected to see it pinned so brazenly to Serena's veil."My parents left that to me. Who gave her permission to wear it?" I nearly screamed.Serena looked scared and

Alan's POV:Ethan sounded panicked, his voice high and sharp. "Someone just drained our project funding. All of it."Alan froze, sure he'd heard wrong."What do you mean? Don't we have reserve funds?""Everything's been liquidated! And..."Several of New York's biggest banks just froze all our credit lines at once. Our partners are lining up to cancel their contracts and demand payment," Ethan continued after a pause, struggling to get the words out.The phone began to shake in Alan's hand."Who did this?""It... it was the Rydell family. They came after us directly."Alan's mind went blank.The Rydells were one of North America's most powerful families. His company was nothing compared to them.He couldn't think of a single time he'd crossed them. He forced himself to stay calm."Contact someone in the Rydell family right now. Find out what's going on. And sell the company's real estate immediately to keep us afloat."Ethan sounded even more hopeless."All the company's real estate is

Flora's POV:That morning, I was heading to the cemetery for my regular visit to my parents' graves.Vittorio had picked up their favorite roses and taken care of everything ahead of time.He always remembered what mattered to me.As the car passed through the iron gates, a disheveled man ran from the side of the road and threw himself in front of us.It was Alan.He looked terrible. Dark circles ringed his red eyes. The once-confident young entrepreneur was a wreck.He pounded on the window and shouted my name. "Flora, I'm sorry. I was wrong!"I glanced out the window, unmoved, and told the driver to keep going.I never expected him to follow us all the way there.I was laying flowers for my parents when Alan suddenly appeared and grabbed my arm hard."Flora!" His voice was hoarse, his eyes red, as he begged, "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I was a jerk, and I hurt you. Give me one more chance, okay?"I yanked my arm away and stepped back."Alan, we were over a long time ago."His face went

Flora's POV:It was Serena."I followed you here. I knew you'd come." Serena stood at a distance, her face bitter and her voice breaking. "Alan, she's getting engaged to someone else. Why are you still begging her?"I'm the one who grew up with you. Why can't you just look at me?"All the regret and anger Alan had been bottling up for days exploded at once.He snapped, "Shut up!"Your mom only had mild pneumonia. There was never any last wish. Why did you lie to me?"You planned all of it. You used my sympathy to drive Flora and me apart."Serena sank onto the floor, staring at him in disbelief."I just love you. I just wanted to be with you..."Alan cut her off with a shout. "But all I ever felt for you was pity and guilt."Serena went pale and slumped where she sat.Alan didn't spare her another glance. He grabbed the hem of my dress. "Flora, you heard that! I never loved her! You're the only one I've ever loved! Please, trust me one more time, okay?"I stepped out of his reach. "Tha