The One He Left Became The One He Couldn’t Have Chapter 16
My wedding preparations kicked into high gear.
But the Ricci family never revealed the bride’s identity to the public.
I’d just arrived in Boston. I didn’t want attention.
And also, things between Adrian and me weren’t fully settled.
When Adrian exiled me to the Boston branch.
He’d probably already decided I wouldn’t come back to New York.
So when the household staff packed my things ahead of time.
Nearly all my belongings were bundled off to Boston.
Including every gift Adrian had given me over ten years.
Among them was an extremely expensive pink diamond ring.
Adrian gave it to me on my eighteenth birthday.
I had once treasured it like it was sacred.
Every time my heart broke in the past.
Seeing that ring would lift my spirits instantly.
Because a ring always carries an extra layer of meaning, more than other jewelry.
But now, I’d slowly come to understand.
When a person never loved you.
Or when his feelings were never pure.
Even if you had a marriage contract between you.
It was nothing but empty air.
Let alone these material things.
When I sorted through everything Adrian had given me, piece by piece.
My heart stayed eerily still. Not a ripple.
By the end, the jewelry box was empty.
And my heart felt lighter than it had in years.
As I was packing everything up for shipping.
A few texts came through on my phone.
From the staff at the stables.
My pony was sick.
Lethargic. Refusing to eat.
The photos turned my eyes red instantly.
The staff said she was probably missing me.
I used to visit every few days.
But this time, I hadn’t shown.
I called immediately to check in.
“Miss Gianna, Mr. Valentino happens to be here. Let him speak to you.”
I froze. Adrian’s voice was already in my ear, clear and sharp.
“Gianna. When we got this pony, you made promises. Have you forgotten?”
Of course I hadn’t forgotten.
Every Valentino child had their own pet.
But the one rule was that you chose your pet and you took responsibility. You saw it through.
No abandoning it halfway.
“But you’re the one who decided six months ago to ship me off to Boston.”
“Gianna.”
Adrian’s voice went cold.
“Since when do you listen?”
“Weren’t you always the queen of kicking and screaming?”
“Uncle and Aunt adore you. One tear from you and they’d never let you go.”
“When it comes down to it, you don’t really care that much about your pony, either.”
In that instant, something inside Adrian’s chest lurched.
He suddenly heard the words beneath his own words.
Gianna didn’t really care that much about him, either.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have actually gone to Boston.
Wouldn’t have been so indifferent when she heard about his engagement.
Wouldn’t have failed to show on the engagement day.
Wouldn’t have demanded back the brooch she’d given with her own hands.