Page 106 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

“You’re free to refuse,” Sandrine replies calmly. “But in that case, you won’t be allowed to attend the meeting.”

Bianca hesitates.

Her gaze shifts toward me.

She’s looking for a sign, an approval, or some form of complicity.

I don’t look up from my laptop.

After a few seconds, she finally places her phone in the case.

“What’s going on, Dante?” she asks as she approaches.

“Something serious,” I reply without interrupting the email I’m typing. “I’d rather wait until everyone’s here before explaining.”

She nods slowly, patient and alert.

To preserve the fragile balance of our little performance, I ask the question any man in my position would ask:

“How are you holding up?”

The question seems to catch her off guard.

She blinks once.

Then her expression hardens almost imperceptibly.

“How do you think I’m doing, Dante? You canceled our wedding forty-eight hours before the ceremony.”

She plays her role well.

I glance away slightly.

“I never meant to hurt you.”

If she knew what was coming, the canceled wedding would be the least of her concerns.

Luc enters the room and cuts the exchange short.

The other directors follow soon after.

I sense the awkwardness the moment they notice Bianca sitting beside me.

By now, everyone already knows the wedding is off.

The smiles are strained.

I don’t care.

Once everyone is seated, Sandrine closes the door behind her and leaves us alone.

The silence grows heavy.

I take a moment to study every person around the table before I begin.

“I gathered you here because we’ve just suffered an extremely serious attack.”

I turn toward Luc.