I gave Adrian Vale eight years of my life.

Eight years of waiting,forgiving,and pretending it did not hurt every time he chose his pride,his career,or his childhood friend over me.He always said he loved me.He always said marriage was only a matter of time.But somehow,that time never came.

At my best friend’s wedding,when the bouquet finally landed in my arms,I gave him one last chance.One sentence was all I needed.

Instead,Adrian took the bouquet from me and handed it to another woman.

He thought I would cool down,come back,and wait for him like I always had.

But he forgot one thing.

I was Elena Moretti,and when a Moretti woman stops waiting,she does not look back.

Sophia's wedding was held at a private riverside estate on the Upper East Side.White roses filled the glass-domed hall,silver candelabras glowed along the tables.The guests were politicians,lawyers,bankers,and old family men who could make a dock go silent with one look.

Everyone knew I was Elena Moretti,the only daughter of the Moretti family.

Everyone also knew I had spent eight years going against my family for Adrian Vale,a man with no blood ties to our world.He was a regional operations manager at a Manhattan logistics company,proud,sharp,and desperate to prove he could climb without the Moretti name.I used to love that pride.For him,I packed away the edge of a mafia princess,moved into a modest downtown apartment,and waited for his promotion,his stock options,and his perfect timing.

I waited for eight years.

When the bouquet toss began,Sophia looked at me through the crowd.We had made a promise at fifteen:whoever married first,the other's wedding could not be more than one week later.For that childish,sacred promise,she had postponed her own wedding five times.

Every time,Adrian had a reason.A merger.A promotion.Claire needing help after moving to New York.Claire's sick mother.His fear of being called the man who married into the Morettis.The fifth time,he stroked my hair and said,"Elena,wait a little longer.Once I get the vice president seat,I will give you the wedding you deserve."

So Sophia waited too.Today was the sixth time,and the last.

The bouquet flew toward me,white roses and silver vines cutting a perfect arc through the air.Then a hand shot out from the side and caught the edge first.

Claire Bennett.

Adrian's childhood friend from Queens.Three months ago,he had brought her into his company as a brand coordinator,then started taking her to dinners,parties,and rooms where outsiders were never supposed to stand.

Claire touched the bouquet,let go as if burned,and the flowers bounced into my arms.The hall went quiet,then exploded.

"Adrian!What are you waiting for?"

"Eight years,man.Get on one knee!"

"Marry her!A Moretti princess does not wait forever!"

His friends shoved him toward me.Adrian looked handsome in his dark gray tuxedo,wearing that helpless half smile I knew too well.He wore it whenever I wanted an answer,as if I were throwing some harmless little fit.

I held the bouquet and looked up at him.Just say one sentence,I thought.Say,"Elena,I will marry you."No ring,no knee,no grand scene.If he said it,I would call my father that night and refuse next week's Moretti-Valenti alliance.

I was giving him one last chance.

For a moment,something softened in Adrian's eyes.Then he looked past me to Claire,who stood at the edge of the bridesmaids with pale cheeks and trembling lips,like a girl who had made an innocent mistake.

Adrian sighed and took the bouquet from my hands.

"Claire caught it first."He turned and handed the flowers to her."Do not embarrass her."

Then he patted my head."Be good.Next time."

The laughter died.The spotlight moved with the bouquet and landed on Claire's shy,glowing face.

Sophia's expression turned cold.I caught her wrist before she could raise her hand."Elena,she did that on purpose.She knew the bouquet was meant for you."

"Sophia,"I said softly,"it is your wedding."

Adrian stood at the edge of the crowd,calm and unaware,as if he had only smoothed over a tiny awkward moment.He did not realize that in front of everyone,he had put me behind Claire.

I looked at him and felt strangely calm.

He did not know there would be no next time.

My wedding was next week.

For the rest of the reception,I sat at the head table under looks of pity,curiosity,and careful silence.Not one Moretti elder spoke.We did not fight in front of outsiders.But I knew that by morning,Adrian Vale would be crossed off several important lists.

Not because he lacked money,but because he had made a Moretti daughter look like a joke.

Adrian sat at another table with his work friends,occasionally glancing over as if a later kiss would fix everything.Claire sat beside him.She had not even been part of the bridal party until the last minute,but Adrian had brought her into the circle closest to the stage.He said she was new to the city and needed to see the world.

He always had a reason.

During the toast,Sophia hugged me and hissed,"If he says next time again,I will have Nolan throw him into the Hudson."

I patted her back."Do not dirty your dress for me."

After the guests left,Adrian finally came over."Let's go home?"He took my clutch and reached for my shoulder.I stepped aside.His hand froze,then dropped like nothing had happened.

"I drank,"he said."Call the driver."

The black Bentley rolled into the night.In the dark window,I saw my made-up face and the tiredness under my eyes.Adrian answered work messages for a while,then said,"Do not take tonight too seriously."

I did not look at him.

"Claire touched the bouquet first.Everyone saw it.She gets nervous.If I had not given it back,people would say she stole your spotlight."

"So you gave her the spotlight."

His brow tightened."Elena,do not do this.I grew up with Claire.She is not whatever you are imagining.She has no one in New York but me.I can take care of her and still love you."

I had heard every version of that speech.Just work.Just a friend.She is pitiful.You are overthinking.

He reached over and rubbed the back of my neck,the way he always did when he wanted me to calm down."Our wedding will happen.Once my promotion is set and the East Coast warehouse line is locked,I will properly ask your father.I will give you all the white roses you want."

"Sophia postponed her wedding five times for me."

His hand paused."That was her choice."

I turned to him.

He seemed to hear how ugly that sounded and softened his tone."A promise you made as teenagers should not hold our lives hostage.You are not an ordinary girl,Elena.A Moretti wedding takes planning.We cannot be reckless."

"Every time,you are the one who changes the plan."

"Because plans change.Can you stop turning everything into proof that I am not choosing you?"

A month earlier,Sophia had pulled me into a fitting room and put me in the champagne bridesmaid dress she had designed for me.Tiny pearls circled the waist.She looked at me in the mirror,eyes bright."When you marry,I will make you an even better dress.One week at most,remember?"

Adrian had been on the sofa,answering messages.He looked up once and said,"Nice,"then returned to Claire's texts.

The car stopped outside our apartment.Adrian leaned over to kiss me,assuming the conversation was over.I pressed my palm to his chest.

"I am tired."

He studied me,then smiled."Being a bridesmaid is exhausting.Sleep early."

His phone rang.Claire's name lit the screen.Before he could explain,I said,"Answer it."

Claire's voice drifted through,soft but clear."Adrian,I cannot get a car.It is so late here.I am scared."

He was silent for two seconds."I will pick you up."

After hanging up,he said,"She is not safe alone.I will be quick."

"Okay."

He waited,probably expecting me to tell him to be careful or ask if he really had to go.I only opened the door and got out.

The river wind was cold.I pulled my wrap around my shoulders and walked into the building without looking back.

The apartment was silent.

I had bought it five years ago.The deed was in my name,but Adrian and I had chosen almost everything together.Back then,he was just a supervisor,not a regional manager,and he stubbornly insisted on paying for half the furniture."This is our home,"he had said."It cannot all come from you."

I had loved him so much for that.

Now I understood that many of the things he gave me were not expensive.They were just enough to keep me trapped.

I stopped at the empty room we had once called the nursery.Adrian had laughed that I was thinking too far ahead,but he still helped me pick the cream paint and assemble the little wooden rocking horse.Now there was no child,only dust and boxes.

Inside the bottom box were old cards,photos from Coney Island,a graduation boutonniere,and a cheap silver ring.Years ago,under a streetlamp in Queens,Adrian had slipped it onto my finger and said,"When I can afford it,I will buy you a real one.Wait for me."

So I waited.I waited through my father's anger,through the family lawyers'marriage proposals,through every promotion Adrian earned while still saying it was not the right time.

The front door opened.Adrian came in quietly,carrying cold night air and the faint gardenia scent of Claire's perfume.He stopped at the nursery door.

"Still awake?"

"Yes."

"Feeling nostalgic?"

I closed the ring box."Did you get her home?"

"Yes.She lives far out.It really is hard to get a car at night."

"I see."

He came closer and reached to help me up.I stood by myself,my legs numb from crouching.When I swayed,he reached again,and I stepped away.

The air went still.

"Adrian,"I said.

"Yeah?"

"We should break up."

He stared for two seconds,then gave a tired laugh."Still mad about the bouquet?Elena,do not be petty.You know who is in my heart.Claire and I grew up together.She is family.If you keep treating an old friend like an enemy,you are only hurting yourself.Wash up and sleep.I have an early meeting.We can talk after you calm down."

I watched his back."Next Saturday,I am getting married."

His hand stopped on the doorknob."What did you say?"

"The hotel is booked,the dress is chosen,and the guest list is done."

He looked at me as if I had lost my mind."Marriage is not a toy you use to provoke me.Did Sophia say something?Or did your father finally find some family prince to make me bow?"

I did not explain,because half of it was true.My father had given me one final deadline:Sophia's wedding day.If Adrian gave me a clear promise,the Morettis would wait.Instead,he handed the bouquet to Claire.

"Adrian,"I said,"I want a home."

He frowned."Do we not have one?"

I looked at the empty nursery."I want a home where I do not come after everyone else.A home not held together by next time,later,and wait a little longer."

His expression hardened."Are you that desperate to get married?"

"Yes.I want to marry a man who chooses me."