She placed the card back into my hand.
For a second, I just stared at it.
All this time, I saw him as the villain. But standing here, watching her walk away from me, I saw it clearly. I had been the villain in her story all along. I wanted to be the hero who saved her, the one she ran to. But I couldn’t pull her out of the fire if I had nothing solid to offer once she got out. So, I let her go.
I watched her return to the table, and watched the way she smiled. He lifted a glass of champagne, made sure everyone heard the news. Aurelia Vale would be a Grant now.
I couldn’t look at her anymore. I turned and walked outside.
The night air hit my face. I leaned against the wall, lit a cigarette, and dragged the smoke into my lungs. I looked in front of me, to all the cars that kept pulling up, and only one of them was familiar.
Dasha came out of the car.
She lifted a brow as she approached, her fur coat trailing behind her.
“Why the sour smile?” she asked with her Russian accent. “You heard the news.”
I nodded, taking another drag, holding the smoke in.
“If you can’t make her happy,” she said, watching me closely, “let someone else do it.”
“He won’t make her happy,” I exhaled into her face. “Babushka.”
A laugh slipped out of me.
She leaned closer, tongue clicking, then caught my ear between her fingers and twisted. “Your mother isBabushka.I’m in my prime.”
I let out a low laugh. “Whatever you say.”
She smiled as she released me. “Did you find the woman I asked you to find?”
“I did,” I said, dragging in another smoke before letting it curl from my lips. “She got married in New York. She has two kids, and one grandchild.”
She nodded. “Is she happy?”
I nodded, blowing the smoke straight at her again.
Her eyes narrowed. “Do that again and you will hang from that balcony by your balls.”
I smirked, but it faded quickly. “She could have been happier.”
Her gaze shifted past me. I followed it. Aurelia stepped out through the main entrance with Daniel at her side.
“She could be happier too,” she said.
I clicked my tongue. “I didn’t have ten reasons she wanted.”
Her eyes rolled, then her palm cracked against the back of my head. “Idiot,” she muttered in Russian. “Give her at least one.”
I looked back at Aurelia. Her parents were already seated in the back of the car. Daniel reached for the door, holding it open for her.
Something in my chest tightened, and my tongue formed the words.
“Stop!” I shouted.
She stepped away from the car.
“You asked for ten reasons,” I said, locking my eyes on hers as I moved closer, “but I can give you just one.”
