Page 38

“Let’s make a deal, Krystal.”

She blinked, lifting her eyes to meet his, confused. “I’m just a poor woman now,” she murmured. “What could I possibly offer someone like you?”

Lorenzo’s jaw flexed. He leaned in just a little more, his voice quieter now. Softer.

“I don’t want Grandpa to know we’re getting divorced,” he said. “He’s too old to deal with that kind of stress.”

He looked down at her lips for a beat, clearly struggling to keep himself composed. She saw his throat tremble as he swallowed hard, his breath shaky as he looked back into her eyes.

“Keep pretending. Just continue being Mrs. Moretti for the world,” he said. “I’ll give you everything you need. All the money you need. And if there’s anything else—”

“Lorenzo,” she cut him off gently. “I didn’t even take the hundred million when you offered it. What could I possibly want from you now?”

She reached up and tried to pull his hand away from her neck, but it didn’t move. Instead, it slid to the side of her throat, his fingers rubbing slowly, absently, like he couldn’t stop touching her.

“I’m not that young anymore, Mr. Moretti,” she said softly. “I want to live my life. I want to fall in love. It’s unfair of you to ask me to keep pretending.”

At her words, his fingers gripped tighter, his whole body freezing. His eyes darkened, his voice filled with disbelief.

“You’re looking for a man?!”

Chapter 9 Intoxicated

She stared at him, biting back her irritation.

‘Seriously?’ she thought. ‘Out of everything I just said, that’s what he chooses to focus on?’ She exhaled slowly, trying not to lose patience. ‘Forget it. It doesn’t matter what he thinks about me anymore. I’m not his wife. I don’t owe him anything.’

She nodded once, her voice calm but cutting. “If I don’t find someone new, do you expect me to stay in love with you for the rest of my life?”

Lorenzo’s gaze darkened. That burning intensity was back, but this time it was tinged with panic. The shock melted into something more restless,more anxious. His feet shifted on the ground, and for a second, he looked lost. Like her words had knocked the air out of him.

His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths. He visibly tensed up, hands clenched.

“I just want to get this over with,” she said quietly.

Her fingers curled around his wrist again, gently pulling it off her neck. This time, he let her. His fingers trembled, as if letting go physically hurt him.

That simple touch, the warmth of her skin leaving his... it burned. He hated how badly he still wanted it back.

But she stepped away, unbothered, as if it meant nothing.

She looked straight into his eyes, speaking with that soft, delicate tone that always managed to hit him harder than shouting ever could.

“Can’t we just end this with a little dignity, Lorenzo? Respectfully, and soon? We owe each other that much.”

Lorenzo was already losing the war inside him. His control was shot, his mind a storm of frustration, disbelief, and something dangerously close to heartbreak. Everything she said dug deep and left him raw.

He turned his face away from her, shoulders tensed, his entire body rigid with emotion he couldn't name or express. His whole body was stiff as hell, trying to rein it all in.

Without saying a word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette box. His fingers shook slightly as he took one out, placed it between his lips, and lit it. He inhaled deeply, eyes fixed on nothing.

When he finally looked back at her, his voice was cooler—controlled.

“I don’t have time right now. I’m busy with work,” he said. “We’ll deal with it another day.”

He took another drag from the cigarette, turned away, and added, “Get in the car. I’ll drop you home.”

Krystal felt the last of her excitement drain away. All her urgency, her emotions—it fizzled into nothing. ‘So that’s it? Afterall this, he still won’t go through with it? What the hell did I even bother dressing up for?’