Page 81 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

In the car, neither of us speaks.

She turns her face toward the window, and despite myself, my chest tightens when I see tears sliding down her cheeks.

And I hate being the man who put them there.

22. Wedding Canceled

Valeria

I arrive at the office Thursday morning at eight-thirty, hoping to speak to Dante before his day begins.

I’m still standing in the lobby when they walk through the entrance side by side.

Jealousy twists through my gut.

Fuck... it hurts.

We walked through those doors together hundreds of times.

Now he walks through them with her.

I wipe every trace of emotion from my face as they approach me.

Dante is unreadable.

Bianca, on the other hand, hides nothing anymore. Her gaze drips with hatred. She’s stopped pretending to be the caring friend.

The mask has fallen.

I brace myself to face them together, but to my surprise, Dante turns to her instead.

“Have a good day, Bianca.”

She looks at him as though he just slapped her.

For a split second, something flashes across her face: helplessness, rage... maybe even pain.

Then she swallows whatever she was about to say, turns on her heel, and storms away.

Without sparing her another glance, Dante asks me,

“You were waiting for me?”

“Yes. I need to talk to you.”

He studies me, as though trying to decipher my real intentions.

Then he nods, his voice neutral.

“Come with me.”

Inside the elevator, several employees greet us before stepping aside to make room.

I can feel their curiosity settling on us, but what I notice most is his presence beside me.

His warmth only inches away.

His silence, heavier than any words.