The concern in his voice made my chest warm. After Blair’s calculated cruelty, his genuine care felt like medicine.
‘I’m okay. I don’t want to ruin everyone else’s evening.”
His hand squeezed mine under the table. ‘I’m sorry about that. Blair’s behavior was completely unacceptable.”
‘She’s your sister. She’s probably just… protective.”
“That wasn’t protection. That was an attack.” His jaw tightened. “And it won’t happen again.”
The conversation gradually resumed around us, but I could tell everyone was rattled.
Caelan leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Want to make a run for it? These light bulbs are way too bright anyway.”
Despite everything, I found myself smiling. “Light bulbs?”
All these people.” He gestured subtly around the table. “Getting in the way of my quality time with my fianc?e.”
‘Your poor ego. Must be terrible having friends who actually want to spend time with you.”
“Exhausting.” His lips quirked upward. “I much prefer intimate company.”
Heat flooded my cheeks at the way he said ‘intimate. Memories of the forest clearing crashed back without warning.
“You’re blushing again. His voice carried quiet amusement.
“It’s the wine.”
“You haven’t touched your wine.”
“Then it’s your insufferable personality making my blood pressure spike.”
He laughed, the sound rich and genuine. “Much more likely.”
The easy banter helped settle my nerves. Blair’s poison words felt less sharp when Caelan looked at me like I was the only person who mattered.
‘Actually,” he said, his expression growing more serious. I have some good news about your mother’s necklace.”
My heart stuttered. “What kind of news?”
‘I’ve already scheduled a time with the restoration specialist. Just give me the necklace, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
I pressed my free hand to my mouth, trying to hold back the emotion threatening to spill over.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Hey. His fingers tilted my chin up gently. “What did I tell you about thanking me?”
“That you want to hear something else instead.”
‘Exactly. Though I’ll settle for you not crying at my dinner party.” His thumb brushed away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. “People will think I’m a terrible host.”
I laughed through the moisture in my eyes. “Can’t have that. Your reputation would never recover.”
“Precisely. Kings have been dethroned for less.”
The overwhelming gratitude was slowly being replaced by something else. Something harder and colder.
Everyone at Crawford Manor was asleep when I returned. I closed my bedroom door and reached for my purse.
From my purse, I pulled out a sleek black phone. My fingers hovered over the screen for several seconds. Then my jaw set with determination.
The number I dialed was memorized, not saved in contacts.
The call connected on the second ring. No greeting came from the other end, just expectant breathing.
I lowered my voice to barely above a whisper. “You can start spreading the information now. Remember – don’t make it obvious. Let it look like natural leakage.”
“Understood.”
The line went dead.
I stared at the black screen, both hands wrapped around the device like it might disappear. My reflection looked back from the darkened glass – amber eyes shadowed with something that might have been regret.
Rising slowly, I moved to my vanity table. The bottom drawer opened with a soft scrape. I wrapped the phone in a silk scarf and tucked it deep behind my jewelry box, hidden where no casual search would find it.
My personal phone erupted in shrill ringing.
The sudden noise made me jump. In the quiet room, it sounded like an air raid siren. I grabbed it quickly, checking the screen.
Unknown number.
I frowned at the display for a few heartbeats before answering.
“Hello?”
Dead silence. Not even static – just the faint sound of someone breathing.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” My voice carried growing impatience. “If this is a prank call, I’m hanging up.”
Still nothing.
‘I’m serious. Last chance. I moved the phone away from my ear.
“Sable…” The voice that finally spoke was low, hoarse, broken. “It’s me.”
Every muscle in my body went rigid. My grip tightened until my knuckles went white.
“What do you want?”
Darrell’s voice cracked like he’d been crying. “Why did you block me? Three years together, and you can just… just cut me off like that?”
A bitter laugh escaped my throat. “Cut you off? Is that what you call it when someone refuses to be your backup plan?”
I know I messed up.” His words tumbled out in a desperate rush. “I’m sorry, God, I’m so sorry. I never should have let you see me with Camila. I should have handled it better.”
“Better? My voice dropped to something deadly quiet. “You mean you should have cheated behind my back? What do you think you are, some kind of king with a harem?”
# # @ 3 4 7
The word ‘king’ made me freeze. Did Caelan have other women? I blinked, startled by how my thoughts had wandered to him.
“It wasn’t like that!” Darrell’s protest bordered on a shout. “I never wanted to hurt you. I was just… confused. Lost.”
‘Confused for three years? Or just confused the moment she walked back into your life?”
“Please.” His voice broke completely. “Tell me where you are. We can meet, talk this through. I can explain everything.”
My tone turned dangerously calm. “We formally rejected each other, Darrell. Emotionally, legally, spiritually – we have no connection left. Do you understand what that means?”
“NO!” His roar made me pull the phone away from my ear. “I don’t accept it! I’ll never accept it!”
The call ended with a decisive tap. My finger moved automatically to block the number.
I laughed, the sound sharp as breaking glass. “Whether you accept it or not, we’re finished. Stop wasting both our time.”
Darrell’s POV
I stared at my phone’s screen until the words ‘Call Ended” blurred together. The device felt impossibly heavy in my hands.
How can she sound so cold? Like I’m some stranger who means nothing to her.
For days, I’d been waiting for her to crack. To call crying, begging me to take her back. To realize leaving me was the biggest mistake of her life.
But my phone stayed silent. My messages bounced back undelivered. She’d erased me completely.
I miss her. The admission hit like a physical blow. Christ, I miss everything about her.
I collapsed face-first into the pillow, shoulders shaking. My voice came out muffled, broken. “Come back… please, Sable, just come back…”
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