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Plastered all over social media was a photo of Anya and Luca. His hand rested on her head, fingers slipping through her hair, while she leaned into him.
It looked intimate. Too intimate.
The news was everywhere—trending, shared, and speculated on across every platform.
'Luca Stanson snapped with his lady love—a rare sight. Is a wedding finally on the cards?'
'For the first time, Luca Stanson is seen with a woman. Rumors swirl—could she be his childhood sweetheart?'
‘Spotted: Billionaire Luca Stanson finally off the market? Intimate photo fuels dating rumors.’
‘The woman who tamed the untouchable Luca Stanson? Sources say she’s more than just a fling.’
‘The notoriously private, Billionaire co-owner of Carter Diamonds, Luca Stanson seen getting cozy in public!’
‘Exclusive: Luca’s romantic side exposed—never-before-seen moment captured.’
His jaw clenched tight. At that auction, she had looked at Luca like he was nobody. Like she didn’t even know who he was. But this photo—this was saying something else entirely.
His grip tightened around the phone, his blood boiling. Without thinking, he spun around and marched back to her. He shoved the phone in front of her face.
“This is what you were hiding from me?” he growled. “You don’t have a ‘friendship’ with Luca, Anya. You’re his fucking girlfriend?”
“What?” Her eyes widened, confused. She stared at the photo. “No—Dante, this was when he gave me the ring. We were talking, and he touched my head for a second. That’s it. Someone took this photo and twisted it. It’s not what it looks like—please, listen to me—”
She reached out, her hand trembling as it brushed his.
Her breath quickened as she looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. “Can youpleaselisten to me? You’re not even letting me explain. Dante, there’s nothing between me and Luca. I swear on everything.”
“I believe what I fucking see,” he gritted out, yanking his hand from her grip. He turned his back on her and stormed toward his car.
“Dante—wait!” she cried out, chasing after him.
She reached out to grab his arm, but he pulled away before she could touch him, still storming off.
Thrown off balance, she stumbled and crashed to the ground with a cry. Her leg twisted beneath her, pain shooting through her as she hit the pavement.
He didn’t look back. Not once.
He got into the car, slammed the door, and drove off.
Anya sat on the cold ground, her ankle throbbing, her dress torn at the hem. Tears streamed down her face, and she clutched her chest like it could hold her heart together.
“Why won’t you believe me?” she sobbed. “I was going to tell you everything… You didn’t even give me the chance.”
They were supposed to start a new life together.
Love.
Marriage.
And instead, he left her without a second thought.
***
Anya limped back into the Carter residence, every step sending a sharp ache through her leg. Her eyes were still wet, her heart hollow.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside. Charles, sitting in the hallway working on his laptop, looked up—and his eyes widened. His expression changed in an instant—worry replacing his usual calm.