After I Proposed Breaking Off The Engagement, Don Regretted It Chapter 04

Over the years, I kept dreaming about my eighteenth birthday.

My stepmother set me up. She tried to deliver me to some old man’s bed.

The one who saved me was a guest at my party and a member of the Ferrante family. We’d never met before.

Everyone else just watched. He was the only one who stepped in. He wrestled a knife away from someone and almost got his palm sliced open.

His hand was a bloody mess. I bandaged it with shaking hands, terrified. My tears splashed onto the crooked bandage I’d just tied.

“At the party, I heard you like watching fireworks?” But instead of talking about what happened, he said, “You haven’t gotten your birthday gift yet, right? Okay, start counting down… 5, 4, 3…”

The countdown ended. Right on time, fireworks exploded outside the window.

I was completely frozen. And he, like a knight, kissed my index finger and said, “Don’t cry, my princess. Marlowe. Happy birthday.”

His smile back then was exactly the same as the smile on his face right now.

So many years had passed, but time had left no marks on him. If anything, it had only added depth and charm to his features.

For the five years I’d been engaged to Silas, this was how he’d always treated me.

He loved my devotion. He loved that I adored him. He loved how I put him at the center of my world.

But he never truly loved me back.

He treated me like a starving dog. Give a little affection, wait for me to come closer — then pull his hand away and watch me keep waiting.

When I stepped back, he gave me hope.

When I came close, he shut the door.

He never cared what that kind of pulling and pushing did to a person’s heart.

To him, it was just a game.

To me, every time hurt like someone slowly taking my bones apart, piece by piece.

Silas smiled easily, confident I wouldn’t refuse.

“I promised you. I’d never miss your birthday.”

I opened my mouth to answer. His phone rang. Ivy’s voice came through, crying.

“Baby, I fell off the prop shelf. My leg hurts so bad…”

Silas left a little too quickly.

With nothing but an offhand “Wait for me.”

I’d waited five years. I never got Silas to learn how to love me.

Now I was done waiting.

After dealing with work, I got home right at dinner time.

The moment I opened the door, the smell of roasted chiles, cilantro, tortillas, and slow-braised beef drifted out of the kitchen.

The table was covered with dishes I’d grown up eating.

Caius stood beside the table, wearing a dark apron. It looked almost comical stretched across his broad shoulders, but somehow, I couldn’t look away.

“I heard your mother was Mexican,” he said. “I found someone to teach me a few dishes. They might not be authentic, though.”

He handed me a fork.

“Try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll find something else next time.”

Caius Romano, the man who dared to show up late to family meetings and talk back to his elders, had stood in a kitchen just to learn my mother’s food.

I took a bite.

It was a little too salty.

But when I swallowed, my throat tightened.

“It’s really good.”

Caius’s eyes lit up immediately.

After dinner, he covered my eyes from behind.

“There’s a birthday gift, too.”

Over the years, the Ferrante family’s power had grown. And Silas’s gifts had grown more expensive — jewelry, sports cars, private islands, art galleries. I’d had it all. I’d long since passed the age where gifts could impress me.

But when Caius let go, I froze.

Under the light, deep green gems rested quietly on black velvet.

A necklace. Earrings. Bracelet. Ring. Brooch. Hair combs. And that emerald pendant — the one I’d thought I’d never see again.

My mother’s collection.

After she died, my stepmother sold them behind my back. The set got broken up, piece by piece, into different auctions and private collections.

Even I had given up on putting them back together.

But now, every piece was right in front of me.

Caius fumbled to wipe my tears. “Marlowe, don’t cry.” His panicked look made me laugh through my tears.

I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Thank you.”

The next second — he stole my breath.

He pushed me down onto the couch. I was like a small boat caught in the sea, rising, falling, spinning, no longer in control.

I didn’t know how long passed. Then a wave crashed over me. My toes curled. My mind went blank.

At the same moment, outside the huge 28th-floor window, a magnificent burst of blue fireworks exploded into the night.

My phone kept vibrating on the nightstand. I didn’t have time to check it.

Of course, I didn’t see the dozens of missed calls from Silas.

Or the messages he’d just sent.

[Here’s your favorite fireworks. Stop being mad at me.]

[I’m already on the 28th floor. I know you’re inside. Open the door. I have other surprises for you. Pick up the phone.]

[Marlowe? Are you really that angry?]

[Still hiding from me? Fine. I’ll open the door myself.]

Caius kissed my trembling eyelids — carefully, preciously.

Then, the sound of someone keying in the passcode at the door.

My whole body went stiff.

A second later — the keypad beeped again.

“Incorrect password.”