Chapter 6

• [Lucia’s POV]
• “Lucia, come downstairs already. We need to pick out your wedding dress…”
• Mom was calling from downstairs, but I didn’t want to move an inch.
• I just stared blankly at the photo on the table—that was the only picture Jason and I had together. Blue skies, white clouds, our smiles shining bright. Everything looked so perfect back then, but now…
• Just thinking about that letter made tears spill down my cheeks.
• My Jason… How crushed and disappointed would he be when he sees that letter?
• Could he even stay strong and keep going?
• I’m sorry, Jason. I’m really sorry!
• I don’t want to hurt you, but this is the only way I can protect you!
• Even if you never forgive me, it’s okay. I just want you to live well. I’ll love you forever…
• “Lucia…”
• Mom was suddenly by my side.
• She gently wiped my tears away, glanced at the photo of Jason and me, then sighed. “You need to forget him. You almost lost your life for him more than once. Now you’re forced to marry someone you don’t love, someone you even hate. You’ve already given too much for him…”
• She carefully laid the photo flat on the table. “He’s never coming back. Mark will never let you see him. My poor girl, just give it up…”
• “No! Mom! I love him… I love him…”
• I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears poured out as I clung to her, sobbing uncontrollably.
• Suddenly, the phone rang.
• It was Mark.
• I didn’t want to answer, but I had no choice.
• “Lucia, haven’t you picked out your wedding dress yet? The wedding’s tomorrow night.”
• Mark’s voice was sharp with blame. “You know I love you. I admire your loyalty in love, but don’t waste that quality in the wrong place. Jason…”
• “I promised you I’d take care of him, even help get him out early. But only if you behave, only if you satisfy me. You don’t want him rotting away on Devil’s Island forever, do you?”
• Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!!!
• I wanted to curse Mark out so badly.
• This guy was even worse than Helena and the others!
• I’d never met someone so cold-blooded, so obsessed with power and profit that he didn’t even care about family feelings!
• But I was powerless. I didn’t dare fight back—doing so would only bring bigger disasters to Jason and my family.
• “I get it. I’ll go.”
• I felt like a soulless zombie as I stepped out with my mom onto the busiest shopping street in Nuremberg.
• The crowd was thick, cars buzzing by nonstop, but none of it mattered to me. My heart had died the moment I wrote that letter to Jason.
• Wait a second—what did I just see!?
• My eyes locked through the shop window onto the street outside. There he was—tall and straight, that familiar face, those clear, pure eyes I see in my dreams every single night!
• I rubbed my eyes hard and looked again.
• It was real!
• My Jason!
• He was back!
• Jason just stood there in front of me, just like I’d dreamed a thousand times.
• “Lucia, are you okay?”
• He asked softly, his voice just like it used to be.
• Tears welled up instantly, and I almost lost control, ready to throw myself into Jason’s arms.
• God knows how long I’d been waiting for this moment.
• But then my mom rushed over, cutting between us and pushing Jason away.
• She warned him, “Don’t bother Lucia anymore. You two are done. Lucia’s about to marry your brother in a meta wedding tomorrow night!”
• Mom pointed toward the door. “Go away, Jason! It’s better for both of you!”
• It hit me right away—Jason’s sudden return had to be because of Mark.
• If I broke our deal and got back with Jason, Mark would find a way to shove Jason back into that hellhole.
• Just thinking about it made my chest tighten.
• The worst pain in the world is having the one you love right there, but not being able to hold him. Not even being able to say, “I love you.”
• “Jason, my mom’s right. You should leave.”
• When those cold words slipped out of my mouth, I heard my own heart shatter.
• I turned my face away, bit my lip, lifted my chin, fighting with everything I had not to let the tears fall or let myself cry out loud.
• “That wedding dress is beautiful. I think it suits you.”
• Jason pointed at a wedding dress hanging on the wall.
• Yeah, I admit it—he really knew my taste. I loved that dress. But…
• This isn’t the wedding I want!
• “If you like it, then pick that one.”
• Jason went on, “Because tomorrow will be our wedding.”
• Please, Jason, just stop!
• No matter how wide I opened my eyes or how high I held my head, the tears wouldn’t stop—they spilled down my cheeks.
• Jason, stop painting those perfect futures for us that’ll never happen. It just breaks my heart even more!
• “I know you don’t believe me, but Lucia…”
• Jason gently brushed my cheek, and warmth spread through me. “Tomorrow, I’m gonna surprise you. Then you’ll see—you won’t have to put up with any crap ever again.”