“The psychologist said this could help Luna recover.”
I froze.
I never imagined Pietro could go this far for Luna; he’d rather stage a fake wedding with her than meet my parents.
After a few seconds of silence, I nodded. “Let’s break up.”
“Do whatever you want.”
A look of surprise crossed Pietro’s face before he suddenly stood up.
“Gaia! I’m not asking for your opinion. I’m telling you!”
“Don’t try to use breaking up to threaten me! No matter what, I’ll go through with the wedding with Luna!”
His gaze was cold, like he was lecturing a criminal. I knew then that saying anything more was useless.
When he saw me staying quiet, Pietro grew even more forceful. “We’ll hold the wedding here, in this house.”
“But don’t worry, it’s just for show. It won’t be real.”
Not only was he marrying someone else, but he even wanted to use the home I had bought as their wedding venue.
It was the ultimate humiliation.
Right now, I have neither the energy nor the will to argue with Pietro. Just then, Pietro got a call from Luna.
“Brother Pietro, my head hurts a little.”
Luna’s voice was soft, almost like a kitten’s.
Pietro once said he disliked that kind of tone, yet now his face was full of patience.
“Luna, be good and wait a while. I’ll be back soon.”
His voice was softer than ever. After saying that, he rushed out, not even glancing my way.
A short while later, Pietro’s Instagram background photo changed, from one of us together to a new one of him and Luna sitting side by side, watching the meteor shower.
Luna’s background was the same.
Both of their bios read. [In this cold autumn full of falling leaves, you are the ray of sunlight that warms my life.]
Compared to that, I was nothing more than a fool living beneath their shadow. A heavy sense of shame rose in my chest.
I hurried back to my room to pack my things, but before I could finish, a call came from Pietro’s mother.
“Gaia, come to the office quickly. There’s a work matter only you can handle.”
I agreed.
Partly because Pietro’s mother had always treated me kindly, and I wanted to say a proper goodbye. And also because I needed to take back my grandfather’s keepsake.
When I arrived at the company, Rebecca handed me a bottle of yogurt with a smile. “Your favorite mango flavor.”
A faint warmth spread in my chest.
“By the way, I heard from Pietro that you two will be having a wedding in seven days. You should invite your parents over soon so we can all have a meal together.”
Rebecca went on. I froze, realizing Pietro had hidden the truth and planned to act first, explain later.
Just as I was about to tell her the truth, Rebecca added, “Even after you two get married, don’t be harsh with Luna. You must take good care of her.”
In that moment, all the words I wanted to say stayed trapped in my throat. I lowered my head, finished the work matter, and then went straight to Pietro’s office.
Before my grandfather passed, he left me a sapphire pendant meant to ward off evil. I had worn it since I was little and treasured it deeply. When Pietro once mentioned that the company’s feng shui wasn’t good, I gave him the pendant to keep there for luck.
Now, it was time for me to take it back.
When I opened the safe, I was shocked to find the sapphire pendant missing. Just as confusion crossed my mind, the office door opened.
Luna stepped in, and hanging at her waist was a sapphire pendant, which was the one my grandfather had left me.
I never thought Pietro would give away my grandfather’s keepsake so easily.
“The sapphire pendant belongs to me. Return it.”
I frowned as I spoke.
“Sure.”
Luna nodded, took off the pendant, and pretended to toss it to me, but instead, she threw it hard to the floor.
The sapphire pendant shattered into pieces.
