Chapter 10
Declan Mortimer came with me to choose a bridal gown, but really, he was dating his phone.
I asked, “How about this one?”
He answered lazily, “Looks nice.“\
“And this?”
“It’s fine. It suits your skin tone.“}
I set the gown down, my fingers brushing over its heavy folds. It looked more suited for a window than a wedding.
And so I didn’t ask again.”
It wasn’t until a message popped up on his phone–an emoji of a tearful kitten sent by his secretary–that he suddenly stood up and briskly walked out without hesitation.
Only then did I open my lips to calmly remind him, “Come home early tonight. I have some really good news to tell
-B
It was four in the morning when Declan finally came home.
you.”
Stumbling and reeking of alcohol, he climbed on top of me, his hands burning hot, his voice dripping with false tenderness.
“Reigne…”
I switched on the bedside lamp.
And in a flash, the affection in his eyes vanished, replaced by a flicker of disgust.
After an awkward pause, he grabbed a pillow and pressed it over my face, seeming resigned as he prepared to kiss me.
But then i said, “I’m on my period.“}
His shoulders instantly relaxed. With a sigh of relief, he got up and headed straight for the bathroom.
As soon as he left, his phone buzzed on the nightstand.”
It was a message from Reigne Kimberly.
[Dex, thanks for stepping in and shielding me from those awful guys and their drinks tonight. I promise, I won’t take side jobs at the bar anymore. From now on, I will be your one and only secretary forever!]}
Ten years ago, when I confessed to him in front of everyone, Declan–fully aware of my alcohol allergy–pointed lazily to a full bottle of whiskey.
“If you can down that in one go,” he said nonchalantly, “I’ll consider accepting you.“”
Now, as i gently touched the area where I’d lost half my stomach from that stunt, I reached behind the pillow and pulled out a wedding invitation I had prepared long ago.
I got up, sat on the couch, and waited quietly.
Less than ten minutes later, he stepped out of the shower.
The floral scent clinging to him was instantly familiar–it was the same one from the scented candle Reigne gave me last
time.
Before I could even speak, he casually reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a gift box, and tossed it at me like he was throwing scraps to a homeless person.
Inside was a pair of dark, blood–red ruby earrings–clearly expensive.
But just one look and I could tell they were repurposed from the ruby necklace he had gifted Reigne last month.
Seeing me shut the box, Declan sneered and raised a brow.
“What? Not happy unless I put them on you myself?“!
“Declan,” I said. “We’ve been childhood friends for fifteen years. You really don’t know I don’t have pierced ears?“N
Maybe it was the softness of my tone that caught him off guard, because for once, instead of getting impatient, he tried to coax me while replying to Reigne on his phone.
He clicked his tongue. “What’s the big deal? I’ll take you to get them pierced tomorrow. Simple as that.”
There was a time when just hearing that would’ve made me leap into his arms without hesitation.
Even when he looked stone–cold, even when his ears flushed red with embarrassment, I’d still smother him in kisses until!
reached a hundred &
But now, I ignored the arms he instinctively opened and calmly handed him the invitation.N
“Congratulations, Declan. The groom’s been changed. You don’t have to marry me anymore.”
“Huh? Congratulations for what?”
8:36 PM
He was too busy flirting with Reigne to even register what I’d said.\
It wasn’t until I told him to open the invitation and check the groom’s name that his phone rang again.”
At this hour, there was no need to guess who it was.
Sure enough, it was Reigne. Her voice was soft and coy through the receiver.”
“Dex… I just saw this super scary video… It really, really freaked me out…”
The second he heard her whimper, Declan tossed the invitation aside and rushed downstairs without another word.
Within seconds, I heard the roar of his sports car tearing out of the driveway.
Grabbing my phone, I thought for a second about calling him.”
But all I got was a busy tone.
Right. I had almost forgotten.
On the day of our engagement, just so I wouldn’t interrupt him attending a class reunion with Reigne, he had already blocked me.<
8:36 PM d
