The One He Left Became The One He Couldn’t Have Chapter 19
Adrian got drunk at another friend gathering.
When he came out of the bathroom.
He caught Mia on the phone.
“Ahhhhh baby, I’m heading to Boston tomorrow.”
“We agreed, I’m your one and only maid of honor.”
“Oh, did you handpick the groomsmen?”
“Wait? You got me seven groomsmen?”
“God, Gianna! I love you so much, baby!”
Adrian stood in the long, empty hallway.
Mia’s joyful voice echoing in his ears.
But in the end, all that remained was that single name. Gianna.
He figured he was really drunk.
Otherwise how could he be hearing something so absurd?
Right. He was really drunk.
That was why he was hallucinating.
Or maybe he just missed Gianna.
And misheard someone else’s name as hers.
Adrian stumbled forward. “Mia.”
Mia, just off the call, jumped. “Adrian?”
“Who were you just talking to?”
Adrian’s gaze locked onto Mia’s eyes.
“I heard you say you’re going to a wedding in Boston. And I heard Gianna’s name.”
His handsome face had twisted into something barely recognizable.
Those eyes, usually so charming and flirtatious, were now bloodshot.
He smiled, but the smile was cold. Twisted.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to Gianna’s wedding.”
Mia had been startled at first.
But now she’d caught up.
Well, well. How the tables turn.
All those years she’d been furious and heartbroken on Gianna’s behalf.
Right now, she felt nothing but satisfaction.
The great Valentino heir, finally getting his?
Wasn’t he so fond of playing with people’s hearts?
So fond of watching people who loved him twist in the wind?
Seemed like he’d have plenty of chances to taste that himself from now on.
But Mia wouldn’t tell him the truth.
Gianna said not to tell, so she wouldn’t.
She wasn’t stupid enough to let Adrian find out and fly to Boston to wreak havoc.
This was her dearest friend’s happiest day ever.
No way in hell would she let this walking disaster of a man ruin it.
“You misheard.”
“I am going to a wedding in Boston.”
“And Gianna will be there too.”
“But it’s an old classmate getting married.”
Adrian didn’t look convinced. “I’ve never heard of Gianna having any close classmates in Boston.”
Mia smiled. “Adrian, have you ever truly cared about Gianna? Ever actually tried to understand her?”
“Have you ever considered her feelings? Put yourself in her shoes, even once?”
“Adrian, you haven’t. Ever.”
“You have no idea how wonderful our Gianna is.”
“And you never deserved even a fraction of the love she gave you all these years.”
Mia turned and walked away.
Adrian watched her go.
And his heart began to ache, faint and unfamiliar.
He didn’t even know why it hurt.
He just suddenly needed, with a fierce desperation.
To see Gianna.
Even just once.
But the next day, Adrian received a massive crate shipped from Boston.
And the reason it arrived so fast.
Was that Matteo had arranged for the Ricci family’s logistics company to fly it to New York via express air freight.
I was in the middle of a tense, excited wedding rehearsal.
I knew nothing about any of it.