The chatter around the table was lively, but my focus drifted as I swirled the wine in my glass. A hand clapped Xander’s shoulder, pulling him into a conversation in Italian.
“So, Xander,” Marco said, smirking, “when are you tying the knot with Elise Reid? Everyone knows she’s the perfect choice for the Winfield family.”
My grip on the glass tightened. I kept my expression neutral, staring at the candlelight flickering against the polished wood of the table.
Xander’s tone was light, lazy as he replied in Italian. “The wedding’s already planned. Three weeks from now.”
Another voice chimed in, “And Blair? What’s going to happen to her? You can’t marry her with that status difference, can you?”
“She’s…different,” Xander said, his words dripping with affection as his gaze briefly flicked to me. “Marriage to Elise is just for the family. Blair’s the one I care about.”
Their laughter spread like wildfire around the table, and I tried my best to pretend I was busy with my phone.
“Care about her? Xander, you’re too soft!” one teased. “You’ve spoiled her so much, she probably thinks you’ll marry her when she couldn’t even understand us now.”
Another voice added, “It’s cute, really. The poor girl has no idea what’s happening.”
I sat still, fighting the heat rising in my cheeks. None of them knew the truth. Not Xander. Not his friends.
I wasn’t the naive, penniless girl they believed I was. I wasn’t the helpless dreamer clinging to a wealthy man’s coattails.
They thought I didn't understand Italian. However, I'd been learning five different languages since I was little and it included Italian.
I was Blair Gallo—daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Europe.
But I’d spent years hiding that fact, choosing to live independently, to build a life without the shadow of my family’s wealth hanging over me. Xander never questioned it, or maybe he just didn’t care enough to dig deeper.
I had even planned to tell him the truth soon. To introduce him to my family, to show him the life I’d walked away from to be with him.
But now…
Now, I felt like the punchline of a joke I didn’t sign up for.
As the dinner stretched on, their jokes and taunts faded into the background, though they echoed in my head like a cruel refrain. By the time dessert was served, I couldn’t stomach it. The laughter grated on my nerves, and the wine that once felt like comfort now tasted sour.
I excused myself, slipping away from the table and into the quiet of the hallway. My fingers trembled as I pulled my phone from my purse.
The screen lit up, my parents’ number staring back at me like a lifeline I wasn’t ready to grab before tonight.
I hesitated for only a moment before pressing the call button.
“Blair?” My mother’s voice was soft, surprised. “Is everything okay?”
I exhaled. “Mom. Dad. I’ve made up my mind. I’m ready to come home and take over the business.”
There was silence on the other end before my father spoke, “Finally! We’ve been waiting for you to return, sweetheart. Does this mean you’ve told your boyfriend the truth?”
“No,” I replied. “I’ll break up with him.”
My mother’s concern was immediate. “Are you sure? You’ve been with him for so long.”
“Yes,” I said firmly, though the crack in my heart begged to disagree. “I’ll end things here in a week.”
We exchanged a few more words before hanging up. The hallway felt colder, emptier as I slipped the phone back into my purse.
Returning to the table, I plastered on the same calm smile I always wore around them. Xander looked up, his lazy grin returning as I settled into the seat beside him.
“What took you so long, babe?” he asked casually, leaning closer.
“Just some work stuff,” I replied, faking a smile.
The laughter around the table resumed, their taunts continuing as if I wasn’t even there.
But I heard every word. And I understood every single one.
And soon, they’d all understand exactly who they had underestimated.
