ra

were rarely at the manor, their nights spent at his city apartment,

t was no longer my home. I made a point of

rty felt less like a celebra

d breathed Dante Moretti. I put on a dress he would hav

crowded room almost

eart gave a pathetic little flutter before I ruthlessly crushed it. My gaze snapped away,

heard whispers about the Moretti-Gallo eng

ng that made the blo

king to her friend, her voic

someone he doesn't care what she do

esn't

, they were a key, unlocking the fi

er included me. And mine, finally,

as

ression unreadable. He opened his mouth to speak, but before a single word could escape, S

ng everywhere for you," she coo

enuine, so tender, it stole the air from my lungs. He kissed her forehead, a gesture so intim

ed her up into his arms, a full prin

ing blurre

ttered to the friend beside me, blinking f

e retreating couple, her

d to look at you like that," she sighed

to my own ears. "We were kids. We can't be tied

iar sight of Dante's black sedan was waiting at

for her. But the moment his eyes landed on me, his

snapped, his voice sharp

placating hand on his arm, but his e

from me, he automatically snapped open a large black umbrella,

other rainy nights when that sam

arted walking down the street,

d keep his delicate roses, the ones that wilted without his pr

ery dress, every shirt, every pair of shoes he had ever bought for me. I packed th

glowed in the dark, rain-streaked room. I navigated to t

New York

chase." The screen refreshed,

s just a f