“I swear to you—I didn’t know this ring existed until this moment.”
The word came out softer than I intended.
My throat tightened.
“Just... believe me.”
A beat.
My voice cracked. “Just once.”
Vincenzo didn’t move.
His eyes locked onto the ring in my hand.
Then—
Slowly—
His gaze lifted.
Up.
To me.
And what I saw there made my stomach drop.
Betrayal.
Sharp. Undeniable.
Like a blade driven straight through something vital.
“I gave you money, clothes, cars, access to everything I own.”
Each word landed heavier than the last.
“And you went after the one thing that actually matters to me.”
My breath hitched.
No—
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head slightly. “Vincenzo, I—”
But he wasn’t finished.
His throat worked as if swallowing something bitter.
“You must have overheard me talking about it.”
A step forward.
Closer.
“Or someone fed you the information.”
His eyes sharpened.
