Once was enough for me to humble myself for love; I’m done making that mistake.


    “Hayden, you seem to be forgetting something–we’re enemies. I let you go a long time ago.


    Whoever you marry? Doesn’t matter to me. I’ll even send a wedding gift if you want.”


    I forced a smile. “No need to worry. I’m not clinging to you. When I decide to move on, I don’t look


    back. Jace and I were together for ten years, and once I was done, I was done. With you? We


    barelysted a few months.”


    I took a breath, feeling my voice steady out. “And let’s not forget–your dad caused my parents‘


    deaths. Sure, I don’t hold that against you, but I can’t act like it didn’t happen. My parents would


    never forgive me.”


    “And the Drago family… they’re my enemies too. Just because I haven’t acted yet doesn’t mean


    I’ve forgotten. I… I just…” I trailed off, my throat tight, feeling like I’d already said too much. But that


    ache in my chest wouldn’t quit.


    I added, “Look, Hayden. With everything between us, how could I still love you? So don’t worry I’m


    not here to ruin your life. If I wanted revenge, I’d find a better way. I won’t mess with your love or


    your marriage. I really do wish you happiness. Both of you.”


    I looked up at the sky. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll swear it right here under the moon.”


    I raised my hand, forcing a smile even as tears slipped down my cheeks.


    I caught the flicker of pain in Hayden’s eyes.


    So, he wasn’tpletely unaffected. Did my words get to him, or… was there still something left


    between


    us?


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    The thought was ridiculous. He was about to marry someone else. There couldn’t be anything left.


    The thought was ridiculous, of course. He was about to marry someone else. There couldn’t be any


    feelings left.


    “I swear, if I ever interfere with Hayden Hart and-”


    “Enough!” Hayden cut me off, his voice sharp. He turned and walked away, not looking back.


    My hand fell slowly, exhaustion washing over me.


    I stood there, frozen, until I felt someone drape a warm jacket over my shoulders.


    This time, I didn’t resist Wayne’s help. He’d already sent the cab away and silently took it upon


    himself to bring me home.


    ***


    News of the Hart and Drago family alliance was everywhere. Hayden and Yara were trending


    nonstop, with Yara’s aplishments stered across the inte, turning her into some kind of


    role model.


    But buried under all those headlines, there was one werd local news story–a guy had been rushed


    to the hospital after getting a billiard ball stuck somewhere it definitely didn’t belong.


    Curious, I clicked on it. And there he was: Bruno, the guy who’d harassed mest night.


    It didn’t take a genius to guess someone had paid him back for me. But who?


    Hayden was about to be married, so it couldn’t have been him. So… Wayne?


    Wayne had dropped me offst night, silent and serious, even leaving his jacket behind. I arranged


    to get it dry–cleaned and returned.


    Not two secondster, Lena called, her voice full of fire. “Can you believe Hayden? He’s really


    doing this alliance thing. If he’s marrying someone else, then you should be out there meeting new


    people too!”


    I cringed, remembering myst disaster of a blind date and quickly shut that idea down.


    Lena tried to pep–talk me, sticking with me


    I


    window, stretched, and made up my mi the line for ages. When we finally hung up, I nced out


    the


    I booked a ticket to Houston.


    I wasn’t running away from Hayden’s engagement. I just didn’t want to miss Steve’sst match.


    But right after booking, my phone buzzed with a message from Yuna on social. I opened it to find a


    close- up of a ne ticket. I zoomed in, squinting at the details, then froze.


    Yuna was also flying to Houston… on the exact same flight as me.