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."

That night,Adrian did not return to the bedroom.He stayed on the sofa,pacing more than sleeping.Through the door,I heard his lighter click and his low voice on the phone.

"She is just angry."

"No,she cannot really marry someone else."

"I know her.Eight years.She will not let go."

My phone lit up with Sophia's message.

[Are you asleep?I am still furious.Claire knew that bouquet was yours.]

Another came right after.

[And Adrian.If he says next time again,I swear I will throw champagne in his face.]

I typed,[You postponed your wedding five times for me.]

She replied,[Because I wanted to.]

Then,after a pause:[But this time,I do not want to tell you to wait.Elena,if you choose to leave,I will clear the road.]

My eyes burned.Everyone said a Moretti daughter did not need protection.Sophia was the only one who still treated me like a girl who could hurt,get tired,and cry in the dark.

I wrote back,[When have I ever broken a promise to you,babe?]

At three in the morning,the family lawyer arrived downstairs.Nico,my older brother,sat in the car,black sleeves rolled up,a stack of documents beside him.He saw me and asked nothing,only draped his jacket over my shoulders.

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"The apartment?"

"Sell it."

He raised a brow."You loved that place for five years."

I looked at the keys in my palm."I loved it because I thought it would be a home."

Nico was quiet for a moment,then ruffled my hair.In the Moretti family,softness was something we hid from enemies.But right then,he was only my brother.

"All right,"he said."I will handle it.Do not look back."

The next day,Adrian moved into his emergency apartment near the office and sent me one message.

[When you figure yourself out,I will come back.]

I did not reply.

He thought it was a cold war.He thought a few days away would make me lower my head first,swallow my hurt first,and go back to folding his shirts like nothing had happened.

This time,I gave him no step to stand on.

I listed the apartment,moved my share out of the joint account,mailed his spare key back to his office,and deleted his friends one by one.Finally,in the empty living room,I texted my father.

[I accept the Valenti marriage.]

His answer came fast.

[Good.]

The Morettis did not waste time asking why someone finally woke up.They gave you a road,a car,and enough power to leave.