Selina's POV
Waffles were already set on two plates placed at opposite ends of the long dining table. I walked over and took the seat farthest from him, while Lorenzo settled at the other end, the distance between us feeling deliberate rather than coincidental.
He studied me for a moment before speaking.
“Why did you change the passcode on your iPad?” he asked, his gaze fixed on me.
The tablet had been a gift from him on my twenty-fifth birthday. He was the one who had chosen the original password, insisting that couples shouldn’t keep secrets from each other. I had changed it only after I found out he had been going on late-night drives with Francesca.
And yet—he was only noticing now.
“There’s no particular reason,” I replied calmly, continuing to eat.
His brows pulled together, irritation flashing across his face. His tone cooled as he said, “There’s an alliance gala tonight. You’ve always talked about attending one of these events with me. Do you want to come as my date?”
The question caught me off guard.
Ever since Francesca became his underboss, she had been the one accompanying him to every syndicate gathering. I had been relegated to attending with acquaintances or not at all. So why now?
Still, if I refused, he might start asking questions—and I wasn’t ready for him to know I was leaving.
I rose from my chair without meeting his eyes.
“Fine,” I said simply.
---
The alliance event was being held inside City Hall, an extravagant affair filled with powerful families and guarded smiles. I sat beside Lorenzo at a reserved table, surrounded by people whose names and faces meant nothing to me.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked, noticing my lack of enthusiasm.
I nodded without looking at him.
Being his date felt nothing like I had once imagined. I didn’t recognize the wives of the other dons, and Lorenzo hadn’t spoken to me once since we arrived.
“Are you—” he began.
“Lorenzo!”
The voice cut him off.
We turned to see Francesca hurrying toward us, her dress perfectly tailored—my work, I noted bitterly.
She wrapped her arms around him without hesitation.
“You look incredible,” he said openly, his eyes roaming over her.
She smiled and laced her fingers through his. “Thank you.”
Then she noticed me.
“Oh—Selina,” she said, releasing his hand abruptly. “I’m sorry. We’re just… used to being close.”
Before I could respond, Lorenzo spoke instead.
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” he said to her gently.
At that moment, Don Aiden approached, pulling Lorenzo into conversation.
Suddenly, someone shouted from across the hall.
“Attack!”
Panic erupted.
People scattered, voices overlapping in fear.
Lorenzo reacted instantly—by grabbing Francesca’s hand.
“Stay with me,” he said, pulling her toward a side exit.
He didn’t reach for me.
Didn’t even look back.
Moments later, Don Aiden’s voice rang out.
“Everyone, calm down. There’s no threat. A child mistook shadows in the garden for intruders.”
The chaos slowly died down.
I watched Lorenzo reenter the hall with Francesca at his side, then glanced at my phone.
My flight was early in the morning.
I left quietly, took a cab back to the mansion, and prepared for the last night I would ever spend there.
---
The next morning, I was already seated on the plane when a sharp wave of pain hit my chest.
Then his voice—panicked, confused—rang through my thoughts.
“Selina,” Lorenzo demanded. “Why does it feel like everything between us is tearing apart? Why are you leaving? Where are you going?”
