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My knees feel weak. “You can’t do that! You’re engaged to my sister. You can’t just swap us like… like items!”

“Well, not yet,” he says, almost conversationally. “The engagement party is tonight, and things are going to change. Get ready, fiancée. I’ll see you soon.”

“Roman, wait—”

The line goes dead.

I stare at the phone. One second. Two. An entire minute slips by while my brain refuses to catch up with what just happened.

What was that?

I blink hard, slowly lift my head and look around my room. The curtains sway gently in the morning breeze. Golden sunlight spills across the hardwood floor.

Downstairs, I can hear distant laughter, clinking dishes, and workers preparing for Audrey’s engagement party.

Everything is exactly as it should be. I’m wide awake.

Then why does none of this make any sense? How does Roman even know about me and Luca? The only person who knows is Audrey, and I trust her with my life. She would never tell anyone.

And why does Roman have Luca? Why did he say Luca cheated on me? Why did he say Luca was leaving Rome? Why did Luca sound like that?

Questions crash into one another until I feel dizzy.

“No…” There has to be an explanation.

I immediately tap Luca’s contact and hit call.

The call doesn’t even ring. A message flashes across my screen: Call Failed.

Frowning, I try again. Nothing. And again, nothing. My stomach sinks as realization slowly dawns. I’ve been blocked.

What is happening? Has Roman lost his mind? Is he mentally unstable? Why would he suddenly say he doesn’t want to marry Audrey anymore, and he wants me instead?

I don’t even know the man. The alliance was made with my sister, not me.

I start pacing, my bare feet wearing a path across the rug. What if he tells my father about Luca? The thought makes my stomach twist painfully. Father would be furious. Things could go very, very wrong.

After a few minutes of spiraling thoughts, I throw on some clothes and head downstairs. I find Audrey in the kitchen, talking with one of the staff members amid the chaos of preparations.

“Aurora?” She turns, concern flashing across her face the moment she sees me.

“We need to talk. Now.”

Audrey excuses herself from the staff and comes to my side. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

I glance around at the bustling maids and workers. “Not here. Upstairs. Your room.”

I grab her hand and we rush back upstairs together. The second we’re inside her bedroom and the door is closed, Audrey spins toward me.

“You’re scaring me. What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

I take a deep breath. “First… promise me you’re not going to get pissed at me.”

Audrey’s brows furrow. “Get pissed at you? Why would I get pissed? What did you do?”

“Just promise.”

“Okay, fine. I promise. What is it?”