Chapter 8 - The Offer
“Six months?” Allison repeated, her voice eerily calm.
Vanessa immediately began crying fake, theatrical tears. “Allison, I swear I never meant to hurt you! It just happened!”
Allison let out a small, broken laugh. “You had six months to stop.”
Nobody spoke. The silence was heavy and suffocating.
Luca slowly, deliberately removed his fiancée’s clutching hand from his arm.
Vanessa looked up at him, pure terror in her eyes. “Luca, please. I love you.”
He stepped away from her as if she were a disease. “Not now.”
Then, Luca did something incredible. He pulled out the heavy mahogany chair right beside his own at the head of the table. He looked down the table toward Allison.
“Come sit here, Allison,” Luca offered gently.
She shook her head, clutching her small purse. “I don't want anyone’s pity, Luca.”
His expression softened, showing a profound, rare empathy. “I'm not offering you pity.” He shot a lethal glare toward Adrian. “I'm offering you the absolute respect your husband should have shown you.”
Allison’s eyes filled with fresh tears. After a long moment, she stood up, leaving Adrian sitting alone in his shame. As Luca gently helped her into the chair beside him, Vanessa began sobbing hysterically.
“You can't do this to me!” Vanessa shrieked, her red silk gown rustling. “It’s my engagement party!”
Luca looked at her with dead, empty eyes. “Watch me.”
I thought that was the end of it. I thought Allison could finally leave that horrible dinner with some dignity and grace.
But she didn't reach for her purse. Instead, she looked directly at me.
“Emily?” Allison asked softly.
“Yes, ma'am?”
“Would you mind staying right where you are?”
I hesitated, glancing at Luca, who nodded once. “Of course, ma'am.”
Allison took a deep, shaky breath. Then she looked directly at Luca.
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“There is something else you need to know, Luca,” Allison said, her voice turning hard as steel.
👉 What massive secret is Allison hiding about her husband's presence at the party?
