Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 34243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
His jaw clenched. “Don’t make the mistake of interfering.”
“The thought never crossed my mind.”
“And you really think I’d believe that?”
But they had only reached the end of the aisle, and Joy rose on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I love you, son. Always.”
She turned to walk away to her seat in the front row, and he whipped his gaze away the moment he saw her shoulders start to shake.
Nothing. Had. To. Change.
Not even when it had his own mother crying.
The live orchestra in the gallery above began to play. Canon in D. And that...that was the next cue. The beginning of everything. Six years in the making. And then it would be finally over.
Behind him, he heard the crowd gasp, and because he knew the program by heart, it meant she had finally stepped out.
Tiara.
Another moment passed, the music swelling, and then their host with the perfect voice-over baritone began his spiel from somewhere unseen above the room.
“The beauty of second chances isn’t always about renewed beginnings and rewriting the past. Sometimes, your second chance with one person is to simply say ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’.”
Another round of gasps erupts, but Arkane didn’t turn his back...even though he knew. By this time, everyone knew, Tiara included.
“And with another person, it’s hello again.”
There was another girl in this park, also from his past, and also wanting a second chance with him.
A side door at the front of the room opened, and the orchestra shifted into something warmer, more playful. He didn’t recognise the piece, but he didn’t have to. The music alone told the audience what was about to happen.
Arkane slowly turned around.
Mirabella.
Tall while she wasn’t. Lustrous midnight-black hair where hers were like the rays of the sun. And glamorous and confident when she had always been awkward, even at her spunkiest—
He kept his gaze on Mirabella even as the music faded, and the crowd...
He could feel them starting to grow uneasy as they realized that this was not a prank.
Just like he could feel her watching him even when not once did he spare her a glance.
Mirabella started walking toward him even though it wasn’t part of the script. She met him halfway, her rose-colored lips curving in a smile—
“Mi amor.”
A sickening sense of déjà vu gripped his chest as she reached for his face. But it was as if his whole world had become a blur. All he knew was that this had happened before. But his entire mind was lost in darkness, and he just couldn’t remember—
Mirabella was reaching up for his face.
When did this last happen?
And it was only when her lips touched his—
That the darkness, having already done its job, reveled in giving way to light.
Because now that everything was clear, darkness had much reason to rejoice, with Arkane finally remembering when it was too late—
No fuck no
He hadn’t meant things to get this far.
I just wanted to hurt her a little.
Shame her a little.
Make her cry a little.
But when he turned around—
No no no no no no no no no
Mirabella cried out in protest when he walked away, her hand still half-raised toward where his face had been.
He didn’t give a damn.
Because this time, all he had eyes for—
Tiara.
She remained where she was standing at the head of the aisle. Beautiful. Smiling. Crying. And it hurt so, so, damn much because the moment he came close—
No no no no no no no no no
This close, he could see the truth in her eyes.
“You knew,” he said hoarsely. “You knew—”
“That you might want to make me pay?”
Why was she talking to him like he hadn’t done anything wrong?
And why, dammit?
Why was she still here?
“You should’ve just fucking left—”
“I wanted to.” And this time, her smile had started to wobble. “But I couldn’t.” Because her lip had started to tremble. “Not until I get to tell you—”
“That I’m an asshole?”
“That I understand. All this, it m-made me understand—” Her voice broke. “Just how much I hurt you that—”
His fists clenched against his sides. “Shut up.” Because hearing her talk about that night—it just made him relive the pain.
“I love you so much,” Tiara choked out. “I love you, Arkane, but this—”
“Just fucking leave,” Arkane snarled.
Because as unbelievable as it was—
He was the one who had planned to shame her, and yet, here she was, making him feel like she was about to break his heart all over again.
“You’re like a p-prince, do you know? I told you that y-yesterday, remember?”
Was she now going to butter him up before kicking him in the balls?
“It’s not because you’re rich and hot, but b-because you’re noble—”
“I just tried to fucking shame you,” he gritted out. “So stop pretending—”
“I know about her, Arkane.”
He whitened.
“I know why you guys broke up.”
I’m sorry, Ark. I didn’t tell you until it was done. I knew you’d try to stop me, and I couldn’t afford it. I still have my whole life ahead of me.