Chapter2

Ethan stared at the ring in his hand like he didn't understand what it was. A few seconds passed before he sighed.

"Come on, Bella. This isn't you."

He dropped the ring into his pocket. With his other hand, the way he'd done a thousand times before, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"You've always been the reasonable one." He leaned in and lowered his voice. "Half of New York fashion is in this room. Don't make a scene. I've bet everything on Chloe—I'm going to make her the next Catherine Laurent. Do this for me. Just let it go, okay?"

The next Catherine Laurent?

By shredding one of Catherine's own dresses?

I looked at him, and for the first time, his face felt like a stranger's.

"Your career?" My voice shot up. "What about me, Ethan? This is our engagement party! Mine! Did you ever stop to think about how I feel right now?"

He frowned, like I was the one being unreasonable. That's when I understood: to him, my feelings didn't even register.

Before Ethan could answer, Chloe exploded.

"Hey, princess!"

She nudged Ethan aside and planted herself in front of me.

"I said sorry. What else do you want? You Upper East Side girls are all the same—one little thing and the whole world has to revolve around you. It's just a dress! I'll pay for it! Did you really have to humiliate Ethan in front of everyone?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Great. Three million dollars. Cash or wire?"

Her face went red.

"That's extortion! I have a hundred grand in student loans, did you know that? Bullying a girl who just got out of school—is that fun for you? People like you have never worried about rent a day in your lives!"

She whirled toward Ethan, tears appearing right on cue.

"Ethan! I turned down offers from three major houses to come work for you, and I did not sign up for this! If you can't handle her, I'm gone tomorrow!"

She huddled in his jacket, chin trembling, the picture of a girl trying so hard not to cry. Brilliant performance.

Ethan panicked.

"Hey, hey. Nobody's making you leave." His voice went low and soothing. "This is on me, okay? After the party, I'll take you to that sushi place you love. Make it up to you."

He pulled out his phone with one hand and tapped a few times.

My phone lit up. A wire transfer: three million dollars. The memo was one word: Happy?

Finally, he actually looked at me. His eyes were cold, like I was a problem he needed to manage.

"There's your money. Can we be done with this circus now? Mrs. Holloway is waiting. I don't have time for this."

Out of habit, his hand reached for me—then stopped halfway and settled on Chloe's waist instead.

"Let's go."

Chloe gave me a sugary smile. As she brushed past, she deliberately stepped on the hem trailing behind me.

Another rip. My whole body was shaking. I wanted to scream. I wanted to slap her across the face. But I bit down on my lip, hard.

Not here. You are not falling apart in front of them.

She walked off on Ethan's arm, making no effort to keep her voice down.

"Seriously, Ethan, are you sure you want to marry her? She's such a control freak. You'll have to ask permission to breathe."

She glanced back and wiggled her fingers at me. Bye-bye.

I closed my eyes.

Suddenly, a suit jacket settled over my bare shoulders. It smelled faintly of cedar.

I turned. It was the man from the bar. Tall, sharp features, gray eyes that watched me quietly.

"Miss Hart." His voice was low. "We met once, at your mother's funeral. Dante Castellano."

Castellano. Something stirred in my chest. That name had been tied to my grandfather's family—the Morettis—for decades.

"Do you need help?" He asked it calmly, but his jaw was tight. "Honestly, I'd very much like to throw that man out a window."

I almost laughed. Then my eyes filled up again.

"Thank you." I pulled his jacket tighter. "But I want to handle this myself."

The corner of his mouth twitched. He stepped back. "Anytime."

I took out my phone and made a call.

"Margaret, it's me. Bella."

"Sweetheart! I just pulled up downstairs. I was going to ask how your father's doing."

"The party's off. Long story." I took a deep breath. "Maggie, I need a favor."

"For you? Anything."

"In a little while, Ethan's going to bring a girl over to meet you…"