Chapter 7
+ 5 Points
Their days in Milan were a whirlwind of champagne, laughter, and lavish celebration. Logan remained constantly by Lauren’s side–posing for photos, raising glasses in toasts, and attending elegant dinners with his son Enzo, Enzo’s wife Sofia, and Oliver. Milan shimmered around them like a dream. For Lauren, it truly was.
As planned, their symbolic wedding unfolded on a rooftop with a stunning view of the Palazzo Mezzanotte. Lauren wore an off–white gown, kissed Logan’s cheek, and clutched his hand as applause rang out. There were no legal documents–Logan was still married to Penelope, or so he believed. But Lauren didn’t mind. She had waited her whole life for this moment.
That night, as they dined beneath golden chandeliers and soft lights, Logan found himself adrift in thought. The wine he sipped held no taste. Lauren, glowing across the table, chattered about floral arrangements, menus, and her next Instagram post.
+ 5 Points
Yet something inside him remained unsettled.
He thought back to when he first loved her -years ago, in their twenties. She had been driven, ambitious, constantly striving. He had proposed back then, but she declined, choosing her career over commitment.
It crushed him.
Out of pride or maybe pain, he married Penelope–gentle, calm, dependable. Being with Penelope meant Lauren would always stay close. And for a while, that was enough.
Until it wasn’t.
The affair began quietly. Lauren slipped into his life like mist–late–night calls, hidden touches, fleeting moments that Penelope never questioned.
Or maybe she did. Maybe that’s why she left. Maybe she had always known.
+ 5 Points
Logan hadn’t stopped thinking about that.
The morning after their rooftop ceremony, Lauren clung to his arm as they strolled down Via Dante, pointing at boutiques.
“Let’s shop, she said brightly. “I want a necklace–something special.‘
Ha
“Alright, Logan murmured.
Inside a luxury store, Lauren was drawn to the sparkling displays while Logan wandered off. A simple, elegant gold necklace caught his eye–something timeless, something Penelope would have loved.
He asked a clerk to wrap it.
Lauren returned with a smile. “Oh, thank you. Is that for me?”
Logan hesitated.
“Logan?” she pressed.
“No” he said. “It’s not for
you!”
+ 5 Points
Her smile dropped. “Then who?”
“For Penelope,” he replied.
Her expression hardened. “You’re joking!”
“I’m not.”
“You’re buying your wife a necklace? After everything we’ve shared?”
“She deserves something” he said quietly.
“For what–abandoning you? Ruining the trip?”
Logan’s voice lowered. “She didn’t ruin anything. She just left. Maybe she needed space. Maybe she just needed to be okay… before we returned.”
Lauren crossed her arms. “And you think a necklace will fix that?”
+ 5 Points
“It’s the least I can do,” he muttered. “She was never supposed to find out about us. None of this was.”
“You’re unbelievable, Lauren spat. “Still thinking about her? After I gave up everything to be with you?”
Logan frowned. “I said I’ll get you something else.”
“I don’t want anything else!” she snapped.
“Fine,” he said coldly. “But this is for Penelope.”
He turned and walked out, leaving Lauren fuming alone in the boutique.
The chilly air outside hit him hard. Clutching the necklace box, he felt the weight of
everything pressing down. Regret? Shame? Loss?
His fingers hovered over his phone. He
No answer.
+ 5 Points
Another try–straight to voicemail.
His hand trembled. He stared at her name on the screen, feeling a heavy knot tighten in his chest.
She was really gone.
He had expected anger, silence–but not absence. Penelope had always waited. Always endured.
But not this time.
He began walking fast, aimless. The city blurred past–cars honking, tourists laughing -but all he heard were his thoughts.
She knew.
She must have always known. Maybe that’s why she finally left.
Still, he couldn’t accept it.
Points
At the hotel, he returned to their suite and started packing. Minutes later, Lauren stormed in.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“I’m going home.”
“To her?” she snapped.
“I need to know if she’s okay, he replied.
“You don’t
ven know where she is!”
“Exactly. That’s what scares me.”
“You’re seriously leaving?”
“I have to.”
She stared at him–angry, wounded, stunned. “You don’t love me.”
“I don’t even know what love means anymore,” he said quietly. “But I know I can’t
+ 5 Points
Lauren’s voice cracked. “You said you always loved me.”
“I thought I did, he confessed. “But Penelope… she gave me twenty years. She gave me everything. And I gave her nothing.”
He zipped his suitcase and walked out.
At the airport, he booked the first available flight.
ただ
As the plane lifted off, his mind spiraled with memories–Penelope’s laugh, Enzo’s birth, the promises he once made, her soft voice in the dark saying, “I’ll always wait.”
But she hadn’t.
And that terrified him more than anything.
What if her goodbye was final?
