"It's been called off." He said it matter-of-factly, no explanation attached.
My heart jumped, but I didn't dare believe it too quickly.
"When did you call it off?" I pressed.
"Today." Enzo picked up his knife and fork, went back to cutting his steak. Wouldn't meet my eyes. "Just now, actually."
I froze. I hadn't expected Enzo to move that fast. We'd only made things official yesterday, and today he'd already rushed out to break his engagement.
Something sweet bloomed in my chest, but I pushed it down. "So when can I leave?" Until I got a straight answer, I couldn't shake the unease that'd been sitting at the bottom of my stomach.
Enzo looked up at me, mouth quirking like he was dealing with a kid who asked too many questions.
"It takes time, Chloe. My wife is the center of attention for everyone in the family. After finding out the heir broke off anarranged political marriage, you think those fossils are going to welcome a woman who danced in a strip club with open arms?"
The words stabbed through my chest. I knew he was right, but hearing the truth from his mouth made it hurt worse.
I took a deep breath, swallowed my anger, and kept going. "So I just have to stay locked up here?"
"I'm keeping you here because I don't want anyone to hurt you." Enzo set down his silverware, leaned back in his chair, and stretched his long legs under the table. "The family needs time. My brother Julian's been looking for dirt on me. I'm worried he'll come after you. Until this gets sorted out, you're safest here."
His tone left no room for argument. He had it all figured out, everything neat and tidy—except he hadn't asked me what I wanted.
"So how long do I wait?" My voice rose without meaning to. "A month? Two months? A year?"
Enzo's eyebrow twitched—one of his few visible reactions. He stood up, walked around the table, and stopped in front of me. I had to crane my neck to look at him, and my neck started aching, but I didn't back down.
"Until the day I marry you."
My brain short-circuited for about three seconds. "What did you say?"
"I said you only have to wait until I marry you. During this time, you just need to stay put, don't go out, don't let anyone know you exist. Everything else? I'll handle it. All you have to do is wait to marry me."
Marry him. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. My eyes burned first.
Damn it. I hated how easily I cried, especially since getting pregnant. My emotions were even harder to control now.
"Why are you crying?" Enzo's voice dropped low, carried an unfamiliar gentleness. "I didn't yell at you."
"I'm not crying." I wiped my eyes, nose already stinging. "Don't flatter yourself."
Enzo sighed and stood up from the table, walked over, and opened his arms.
"This is our first official day together. You planning to spend it crying?"
I buried my face in his chest. The second I did, his arms tightened, pulled me completely against him.
In that moment, I felt like every hardship I'd endured, every hurt I'd suffered—it was all worth it. I finally had someone who was truly mine. Someone who said he'd marry me.
A real home.
I pressed my face into his shirt, felt his heartbeat. Steady. Strong. Just like everything about him. My hands clutched his shirt without meaning to, like if I let go, he'd disappear.
"Enzo."
"Yeah?"
"If you're lying to me, I'll kill you."
