The One He Left Became The One He Couldn’t Have Chapter 10
When Adrian reached the front gate.
Gianna wasn’t there.
But her pink vintage Beetle sat quietly at the curb.
Standing beside it was her best friend, Mia.
Adrian’s steps halted.
Something tugged faintly in his chest, pulling downward.
That’s when it hit him.
Gianna had given this car to Mia before leaving New York.
Mia saw him and walked straight over.
Adrian noticed the white envelope in her hand.
Mia’s face held no expression. She got right to it. “Gianna asked me to give you and Summer this. A congratulatory gift.”
Adrian didn’t reach for it.
Mia frowned. “There’s one more thing.”
“Go on.”
“Gianna left in a hurry. She never got the chance to see you.”
“She called you a few times. You never picked up.”
“So she couldn’t ask for it back.”
“For your birthday a while back, she gave you an antique brooch.”
“It was her mother’s love token to her father.”
A mocking edge crept into Mia’s smile.
“Gianna said that brooch was meant for her future husband.”
“Keeping it with you now is completely inappropriate.”
“Could Mr. Valentino give me the brooch? I’ll take it to her when I visit Boston.”
Adrian’s gaze dropped.
To the glint of deep blue against his chest.
When he’d dressed this morning, he’d chosen this sapphire brooch without thinking.
It didn’t even match his suit.
But he hadn’t swapped it out.
Now, looking at it, it only stung.
Meant for her future husband?
Adrian couldn’t explain why the image of Gianna someday marrying someone else.
Sharing a bed with a husband.
Stirred a visceral discomfort in his gut.
She loved him so much.
How could she marry another man?
She didn’t even come herself.
Sent Mia to demand the brooch back.
Clever.
Because yes, the move had definitely rattled him.