Chapter 22 " Cruise tickets . The good ones . Bahamas , maybe Santorini . Get the keys to that red convertible she once looked at . And I'm writing a letter . You seal it with wax . I want it to look like royalty handed it down . " He gave a soft breath like he was about to ask why now , but he shut his mouth and just nodded . Smart man . He didn't need to know the dreams had started . That her laughter haunted my fucking sleep . That sometimes I'd hear Cleo crying in the hallway and wake up gripping my chest . Two days later , Mico came back . Didn't look me in the eye . " She didn't open anything , " he said . " She didn't even touch the necklace . " My hands curled into fists on the marble counter . " Send more . Double it . She's just being prideful . She wants me to grovel . " Mico hesitated , then gave a slow nod . " Alright , boss . " He sent more . Even the photo from that first beach trip with Cleo , the one where I was carrying her on my shoulders and Therese was laughing behind me in that sundress . He had it framed in silver and sent it personally . It came back in a box with one thing different … a thick red line drawn across my face . Clean . Precise . Like she'd done it without even blinking . I didn't speak for a whole minute . Mico stood there , shifting uncomfortably , like he was afraid I'd throw the box at his head . I didn't . I just turned and poured myself a drink . Two nights later , I was scrolling mindlessly on my phone , bottle in hand , when I saw it . " Save the Date : Ephraim and Therese . September 3. * The Lambert family seal was stamped across the announcement like a fucking slap . Therese was smiling . That same soft smile she used to give me after sex or when Cleo took her first steps . And the comments were blowing up . Hundreds of shares . Thousands of likes . I stared at the screen until my thumb trembled . " She wouldn't … She fucking wouldn't ! " I muttered , pouring more whiskey into the glass . " She still loves me . Calderon bloodline should be mine . Therese should be mine . She's only doing this to hurt me . " I dialed Mico . It rang once before he picked up . " Boss ? " " Is it real ? " I asked . My voice was too calm and I hated it . " The post . The wedding . Is it a Chanese 31 All 48 X He was quiet for a moment . " I saw the prenup signed . She's really marrying him , boss . No bluff . It's real ." I didn't say anything . That was the night I stopped going home . The glass mansion felt like a graveyard . Every time I walked past Cleo's room , I wanted to tear my skin off . Ruby kept calling . Crying . Begging . Leaving voicemails like " Baby , please come home . I miss you . I'm scared you'll do something stupid . You need me . " I didn't answer . I stayed in the penthouse . Bottles stacked untouched on the bar . Frames of Therese scattered on the coffee table . Sometimes I'd fall asleep on the floor , shirt half - open , phone in hand , watching old videos of her . She was always laughing . Or walking away . Or holding someone else's hand . And I hated how it still broke me . Because I should've been the one holding her hand . I should've never let her go . But now , someone else would be waiting at that altar . And I was just the fucking ghost she erased ** THERESE'S POV The black velvet hugged my body like second skin , and the slit ran high enough to make even the most seasoned heiresses glance twice . The gown wasn't loud , but it screamed power in silence . Hundred million pesos of hand - stitched legacy from Paris . No necklace , no statement earrings . Just a pair of diamond studs and a look that said I no longer owed anyone softness . Ephraim's arm was warm under mine as we stepped out of the car . Cameras exploded the second my heel touched the pavement . Flashes . Gasps . Murmurs . " Is that , Therese Calderon ? " " That gown is worth a hundred million ! " " She looks like she owns the damn city . " " She does . " I didn't smile . I didn't need to . I walked like I belonged there because I did . And I held Ephraim's arm tighter , not for balance , but for anchor . He leaned down , his lips brushing my temple as we walked up the grand steps of the gala hall . " Let him see what he lost , " he murmured . I didn't reply . I didn't have to . Inside , the hall glittered like something out of a monarchy's coronation . Chandeliers , string quartets , clinking glasses . The richest of the rich . Politicians , media magnates , oil heirs . He left Me for Dead Now He Reas Me for Mercy 1/4 64.4 % 22:13 Sun , Aug 10 - 48 % X He nodded slowly . " And ? " Chapter 22 " Cruise tickets . The good ones . Bahamas , maybe Santorini . Get the keys to that red convertible she once looked at . And I'm writing a letter . You seal it with wax . I want it to look like royalty handed it down . " He gave a soft breath like he was about to ask why now , but he shut his mouth and just nodded . Smart man . He didn't need to know the dreams had started . That her laughter haunted my fucking sleep . That sometimes I'd hear Cleo crying in the hallway and wake up gripping my chest . Two days later , Mico came back . Didn't look me in the eye . " She didn't open anything ," he said . " She didn't even touch the necklace ." My hands curled into fists on the marble counter . " Send more . Double it . She's just being prideful . She wants me to grovel . " Mico hesitated , then gave a slow nod . " Alright , boss ." He sent more . Even the photo from that first beach trip with Cleo , the one where I was carrying her on my shoulders and Therese was laughing behind me in that sundress . He had it framed in silver and sent it personally . It came back in a box with one thing different … a thick red line drawn across my face . Clean . Precise . Like she'd done it without even blinking . I didn't speak for a whole minute . Mico stood there , shifting uncomfortably , like he was afraid I'd throw the box at his head . I didn't . I just turned and poured myself a drink . Two nights later , I was scrolling mindlessly on my phone , bottle in hand , when I saw it . " Save the Date : Ephraim and Therese . September 3. " The Lambert family seal was stamped across the announcement like a fucking slap . Therese was smiling . That same soft smile she used to give me after sex or when Cleo took her first steps . And the comments were blowing up . Hundreds of shares . Thousands of likes . I stared at the screen until my thumb trembled . " She wouldn't … She fucking wouldn't ! " I muttered , pouring more whiskey into the glass . " She still loves me . Calderon bloodline should be mine . Therese should be mine . She's only doing this to hurt me . " I dialed Mico . It rang once before he picked up . " Boss ? " " Is it real ? " I asked . My voice was too calm and I hated it . " The post . The wedding . Is it a ahaw ? " He Left Me for Dead , Now He Beas Me for Mercy 1/4 64.4 % 11102 48 % OX He was quiet for a moment . " I saw the prenup signed . She's really marrying him , boss . No bluff . It's real . " I didn't say anything . That was the night I stopped going home . The glass mansion felt like a graveyard . Every time I walked past Cleo's room , I wanted to tear my skin off . Ruby kept calling . Crying . Begging . Leaving voicemails like " Baby , please come home . I miss you . I'm scared you'll do something stupid . You need me . " I didn't answer . I stayed in the penthouse . Bottles stacked untouched on the bar . Frames of Therese scattered on the coffee table . Sometimes I'd fall asleep on the floor , shirt half - open , phone in hand , watching old videos of her . She was always laughing . Or walking away . Or holding someone else's hand . And I hated how it still broke me . Because I should've been the one holding her hand . I should've never let her go . But now , someone else would be waiting at that altar . And I was just the fucking ghost she erased ** THERESE'S POV The black velvet hugged my body like second skin , and the slit ran high enough to make even the most seasoned heiresses glance twice . The gown wasn't loud , but it screamed power in silence . Hundred million pesos of hand - stitched legacy from Paris . No necklace , no statement earrings . Just a pair of diamond studs and a look that said I no longer owed anyone softness . Ephraim's arm was warm under mine as we stepped out of the car . Cameras exploded the second my heel touched the pavement . Flashes . Gasps . Murmurs . " Is that , Therese Calderon ? " " That gown is worth a hundred million ! " " She looks like she owns the damn city . " " She does ." I didn't smile . I didn't need to . I walked like I belonged there because I did . And I held Ephraim's arm tighter , not for balance , but for anchor . He leaned down , his lips brushing my temple as we walked up the grand steps of the gala hall . " Let him see what he lost , " he murmured . I didn't reply . I didn't have to . Inside , the hall glittered like something out of a monarchy's coronation . Chandeliers , string Chapter 22 2/4 65.2 % 22:14 Sun , Aug 10 \ 48 % X quartets , clinking glasses . The richest of the rich . Politicians , media magnates , oil heirs , turned their heads the moment we entered . " Therese . " " She's glowing . " " After everything , I'd be in a clinic . But look at her . " "She rose higher . " I greeted them all with nods and poised little smiles . One older woman , Senator Alonzo's wife , held my hand and said , " You've shown such grace , dear . After all that betrayal . Strength looks good on you . " I smiled back . " The past no longer matters . What I have now , that's what counts . " Ephraim looked at me when I said that , and I knew he heard the weight in it . He reached for a glass of champagne and handed it to me . Then the air changed . 11 H 4 A 11 A hush rolled through the crowd like a cold gust . People turned . I turned . Torren Massaro walked in like he owned the place , wearing a suit too sharp and a smirk too forced . Ruby clung to his arm in a blood - red dress that belonged on a different kind of runway . Her curls were perfect , and her lipstick matched her claws . People started whispering immediately . " Mr. Massaro brought his mistress . " " Yikes . I feel the tension already ." " Do you think the two men will fight ? " " Please let them fight . " 4 Torren's eyes locked on me like a curse . He didn't blink . Didn't even try to hide it . Ruby leaned into him , whispering something , but he barely moved . His hand didn't even tighten around hers . I didn't flinch . I stood straighter . Ephraim moved subtly closer , his fingers brushing mine before sliding around my waist . Then he kissed me . Right there , under the lights , in front of everyone , Ephraim kissed me . Not rushed . Not theatrical . Just firm , intentional , and real . I kissed him back because I meant it . I saw Torren's jaw clench . Ruby's hand slid off his arm like she just realized she was holding a mannequin . Then Ephraim turned , not breaking eye contact with Torren . His voice wasn't loud , but it carried through the murmurs . Chapter 22 3/4 65.9 % 22 . Sun , Aug WITH an 48 % X " Stop sending those useless things to my bride , " he said , smooth and calm like he wasn't talking about a man who once swore to protect me . The whispers grew louder . Phones were being pulled out . Torren looked like he'd swallowed glass . I thought he might say something , but Ephraim didn't give him the chance . " You can't compete with what I give her , " he added . " You never could . " I didn't speak . I didn't need to . I just curled my fingers tighter around Ephraim's arm and tilted my head high . Torren could watch me from a distance now .