23

Elise

GIAN and I were both frozen under the balcony as we listened, and when I heard about the engagement, I turned to him, shocked.

I had a hunch that there was something wrong—but nothing could have prepared me for this.

Engagement?

My boyfriend was engaged to another woman?! Since when? Why had no one told me? How come Gian didn’t know?

There was no doubt in my mind that he would tell me right away had he known, and that he would move heaven and earth to protect me from it.

“I don’t care what the guests think,” I heard Brandon grumble. “Why did we have to do this here? Why not abroad? Why here”

“Why not? You don’t want your provincial lover to know?”

“Ignorant,” I repeated sarcastically in a low voice to Gian. “Or stupid. Why did she have to make it sound so cute? And, excuse me, we’re not lovers!”

Gian ssh-ed me and I pouted. He was listening more avidly than me!

“Lisette, you don’t know anything about her.”

“Because she’s a nobody! Not one who matters knows her.”

My spine went mo