After he left, staying in Eldoria felt pointless. So I flew back too.
I wanted to surprise him. I even brought his favorite almond cookies.
Straight from the airport, I went to his luxury apartment.
The moment I pushed open the door, something felt wrong.
A woman's perfume hung in the air—but not the rose scent I wore.
I picked up the lace leopard-print nightgown draped over the sofa.
A chill shot through me.
I clenched my teeth until my jaw ached, fighting the urge to rip it to shreds.
"You know." Alex stopped the car and looked at me, calm as ever.
I didn't want to deal with him. I kept my eyes closed.
"I know you're not asleep. Her name is Mia Summers. She's my arranged marriage partner." He pushed my shoulder, irritated. "But the one I love most is still you. She's just a tool for my family."
My heart went cold. I opened my eyes and smiled—sharp, mocking.
"Is that so?"
The night he flew back, I called him.
A woman answered. I heard heavy breathing in the background.
He must have changed my contact name, because she sounded confused: "It's so late—why's the delivery guy calling?"
I hung up.
I laughed bitterly. So that's what I am to him. A delivery girl.
Alex walked me downstairs, then insisted on coming up to sit for a while.
"Vivienne, I miss you so much."
The moment he stepped inside, his arms wrapped around me from behind.
His lips found my neck. My stomach turned.
His kisses trailed lower—he loved it when I was compliant.
I shoved him off hard. "You're disgusting."
He froze, then smiled like I was being cute. Throwing a tantrum.
He stroked my hair, gazing down at me. "Relax. Whatever I give you will be better than what Mia gets."
He pulled a red gift box from his bag.
A necklace. The limited-edition one I'd stumbled across online months ago.
I'd mentioned offhand that I loved it. He'd smiled and tapped my nose. "If my Vivienne wants it, I'll get it for her."
He set the box on the coffee table and reached for my clothes.
The kiss marks on my waist flashed through my mind. I twisted out of his grip.
Impatience flickered across his face. "What do you want from me?"
When I didn't answer, he tossed my shirt on the floor and headed for the bathroom.
"Never know what's good for you," he muttered.
I stared at the necklace and laughed bitterly.
In the photo Alex Gilbert had sent me—the one of Mia and Alex together—she'd been wearing this exact piece.
One of a kind. The only one in the world.