Chapter 6
I didn’t let him finish. “You’ve misunderstood. I’m not angry, and I don’t need any compensation. The only thing you need to
understand is that we’re over.”
With that, I ended the call and handed the phone back to Mr. Harris.
“If that number calls again,” I told him, “just block it.”
After signing the closing documents, I was handed the keys to my new condo – the cool metal weight in my palm feeling more real than any promise Zachary had ever made. I snapped a quick photo for keepsake before heading out to meet a friend.
We ended up at our favorite speakeasy-style bar, laughing over espresso martinis until my phone showed 10pm. When I finally
got home, Cooper was already scratching at the door – guess I was on dog duty.
But the moment I pushed through the lobby’s glass doors, a tall, familiar figure blocked my path.
Zachary, looking like he’d just rushed straight from the airport.
“Lily-”
I tightened the leash and took a half-step back, my expression hardening. “Don’t come any closer.”
Ignoring my warning, he frowned and stepped forward anyway.
He barely glanced at the barking Cooper, advancing until my shoulders hit the wall, his face shadowed under the harsh lobby lights.
“We need to talk,” he said, voice low. “I don’t want any misunderstandings between us.”
I pressed my lips together. “There’s nothing left to say.”
He braced an arm against the wall, caging me in. “Lily, did you forget we’re supposed to be getting married? You think you can just drop a breakup on me and walk away? What the hell am I to you?”
I didn’t bother answering. Twice, I tried shoving him back, but he didn’t budge. The dog’s frenzied barks echoed through the hallway, triggering the motion-activated lights on every floor.
With neighbors starting to peek out their doors, I had no choice but to relent-I couldn’t risk my parents hearing the
commotion.
Thirty minutes later, we sat across from each other in a 24-hour diner. Zachary returned from the counter with two black
Americanos-one no sugar, extra ice-and slid it toward me.
“See?” he said. “I do remember how you take your coffee.”
I almost laughed.
Everyone who knew me-my parents, my friends—knew I hated bitter drinks. The only reason we ever stocked black coffee at home was because he liked it. And the extra ice? That was my sad attempt at diluting the bitterness.
He’d grown oddly talkative in the two days since I’d last seen him. Without waiting for a response, he barreled on.
“About your birthday-I messed up. I got the date mixed up with work deadlines. I thought it was next month.” He pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “But I already had your gift picked out.”
When I made no move to take it, his jaw tightened. He flipped the lid open himself, revealing a pair of dazzling crystal earrings -expensive, flawless.
Chapter 6
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Two years ago, he’d offhandedly promised to buy me “something formal” for galas. Now, here they were.
Too late.
“Aren’t you going to try them on?” he asked.
