My other friends gathered around and warmly welcomed me back as well.
“You’re late to your own party! You’re going to have to drink three glasses of wine to make up for that.”
Smiling, I looked at Tim. He was standing nervously beside me. It was his first time meeting my old friends, and he didn’t know if they would like him. However, once I gently grasped his hand, his shoulders relaxed.
“Allow me to make the introductions. This is Tim, an old college junior… and also my fiance.”
As soon as I got those words out, everyone was in an uproar.
“Your fiance? You spent the last two years busy with your research and with your new man?”
“When are you getting married? I want to be your bridesmaid!”
An icy voice cut through everyone’s cheers and exclaims. “If he’s your
fiance, what about me?
My chest tightened as I whipped my head around. A pale–faced Dante was standing in the doorway. His eyes were fixed on my hand, which was clasped with Tim’s. Dressed in black, he looked like the grim reaper.
Being the only heir, he was now in charge of the largest mafia family in Manhorne.
We had broken up two years ago, after Isobel got pregnant with his baby. He said he owed her because he thought she’d saved his life, but I didn’t believe in such methods of repaying a debt of gratitude. Later on, I left and removed every trace of him from my life.
He never thought I’d really leave him and fall in love with someone else. But now, he was witnessing it with his own eyes.
Tim put his arm around my waist possessively, and I didn’t stop him.
Dante fixed his piercing stare on me. “This is all a lie, isn’t it, Nina? You hired someone just to piss me off, right?”
Brows furrowing slightly, I coolly replied, “We broke up two years ago.”
Linda couldn’t take it anymore either. She curtly said, “You’re the one who let go of Nina, Dante. Why are you still pestering her now?”
However, as if he hadn’t heard a single word, Dante approached me. He stubbornly said, “I’ve cut off all ties with Isobel. The baby’s gone too. As long as you’re still here, I can save our relationship.”
I looked at Dante. The face that once stirred my heart now inspired nothing more than exhaustion
a sense of unfamiliarity.
“But I don’t love you anymore,” I replied.
