My Fiancé's 'Girl' Gave Me a Buzzcut. I Gave Her a Subpoena for Their Wedding. novel Chapter 20

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

I flew back to Italy and took over the family business.

Dad retired. Spent his days gardening, feeding birds. Looked like any regular old guy.

Every now and then he’d ask: “Still hate him?”

I’d shake my head. “Nope.”

“Hating someone’s exhausting. I don’t have the energy.”

“Do you miss him?”

I laughed. “Dad. Seriously?”

He sighed. “I just think you’re wound too tight.”

“Three years now. Haven’t seen you really smile once.”

“Haven’t seen you get close to anyone either.”

I set down my paperwork and looked at him: “I’m fine on my own.”

“Got my work. Got money. Got family.”

“Don’t need some guy complicating things.”

Dad opened his mouth to say more. I cut him off: “Is next week’s trip to the States locked in?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I need to prep.”

I got up and left his study.

At the door, I heard him murmur: “That baby would’ve been three by now…”

I stopped.

Didn’t turn around. Just kept walking.

The hallway stretched forever. Portraits of past family heads lined the walls.

At the end-my mother’s portrait.

She died in childbirth. Hemorrhaged delivering me. Didn’t make it.

Dad never remarried.

I used to not get it. Now I do.

Some wounds last forever.

32.59%

Chapter 12

Some pain even time can’t touch.

My phone buzzed.

My assistant: “Miss, Ethan’s in Italy.”

“He’s outside the estate. Says he needs to see you.”

“No.”

“He’s on his knees. Says he won’t leave until you talk to him.”

I walked to the window. Pulled back the curtain.

Outside the gates, Ethan was kneeling on the pavement. Holding up a sign.

It read: “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please just see me once.”

I stared for a minute. Let the curtain drop.

“Let him kneel.”

“When it gets dark, throw him out.”

My assistant hesitated:

“Miss, isn’t that a bit-”

“Do it.”

Hung up.

I sat on the couch. Closed my eyes.

But my mind drifted back-years ago.

First time we met. In a library.

I was carrying a stack of books, crashed right into him. Books everywhere,

He helped me pick them up, grinning:

“Wow, you really love reading, huh?”

Sunlight streamed through the window, hitting his face just right.

Soft. Clean.

It was all fake. Every bit of it.

So why does it still hurt?

Three months later, Ethan died on the streets of Italy.

I was in the middle of signing an international merger when the news came in.

Huge His Mistress’s Rabu-Fuck It His Billionaire Rival Dragged Me to Bed Instead

32.8%

Chapter 12

Didn’t stop writing. Just closed the file and nodded at my assistant: “Got it.”

Sunlight poured through the window, hitting my left hand. My ring finger was bare.

My world now-just the crown.

No weaknesses left.

♡ (0)

(0)

33.1%