Page 66 of Broken Destiny

Another thing that constantly bothered me was how she didn’t like Cooper. He had to be kept in a different room whenever she was around, as if he were an inconvenience instead of family. That bothered me, just like the fact that she didn’t like children.

Recently, she had been dropping by less frequently with the wedding date getting closer, something I found myself grateful for.

“Hi, honey!” she said brightly. “How was your day?”

“Good, it was good,” I replied, avoiding her eyes as I sat down on the edge of the bed with my back facing her. “How was yours?”

“I had a good meeting today,” Tatiana said. “Plus, the organic skin clay mask line got approved.”

My fiancée was a successful businesswoman with a make-up and skincare company that had earned her recognition and awards.

“That’s great,” I said. “I’m gonna take a shower.”

“Can we go out for dinner then?”

I wanted to be alone tonight.

I wanted silence.

I wanted space wide enough to breathe.

“I already ate,” I said, keeping my tone neutral, “but why don’t you ask Martina to prepare you something?”

Before I could stand, Tatiana came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my torso. Her embrace was warm, yet my body reacted with stiffness.

“You okay?” she asked softly. “You’ve been different lately. Is everything all right?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, jerking my head back.

“From the time you’ve come back from your bachelor party, you seem so distant and distracted. Did something happen there?” she said, moving around to face me until our eyes met.

Her eyes searched my face.

How could I tell her that I had come face-to-face with my past? How could I explain that the woman I had once loved—the woman who had shattered my trust and left scars across my family—was now standing across conference tables from me, speaking calmly about business as if history had never happened? What would she think of me if she knew the truth?

“Did you find someone else?” Tatiana asked, giggling lightly.

“No,” I said, letting out a short laugh. “I didn’t.”

I leaned forward and kissed her, hoping the gesture would close the conversation the way a door shuts against a cold wind.

“That’s all I need to know, then,” she said, smiling after kissing me back. “Don’t forget we meet the florists tomorrow. Now let me show you what you’ve missed. Hold on.”

She slipped away and ran toward the closet.

Minutes later, she emerged wearing leopard print lingerie and began walking toward me with slow, deliberate steps, her hips swaying gently with each stride.

God help me!

“Hi,Caleb. Nice to see you again. Jiya asked me to take over the meeting today,” Liam informed me.

“Oh, great.” I shook his hand and took a seat across the table from him.

I knew she was furious with what I had said. The truth was bitter, after all. I hadn’t expected her to skip the meeting, though. I had always known her to be disciplined, composed, and fiercely committed to her responsibilities. Part of me had assumed she would show up regardless of her anger, because professionalism had always been her armour. Seeing Liam instead of her felt like a silent confirmation that my words had crossed a line I shouldn’t have touched… even if it had been justified.

“So, she said you guys have started working on the marketing plan for the project, is that right?” Liam asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “I believe you have an in-house photographer who takes site pictures, right?”