A Love Left in the Rain

Synopsis

When Edward Hawthorne bought the villa for me, he let out a casual sigh. "You and Rose have the same taste. She likes the modern style too." He picked up a goblet from the kitchen island and leaned leisurely against the custom sofa, savoring the memory. Once upon a time, this villa was supposed to be our love nest. Instead, it had become the place where he and Rose Nolan rekindled their old romance. He flashed a teasing smile. "To be honest, Rose is way more captivating than you. She's got the body and the voice, and she's far more uninhibited." He hooked his arm around my waist, completely ignoring my simmering rage. "It's been ten years. Can't you get over her?" I asked. He looked me in the eyes and said, "I'm still going to marry you, of course. You are the virtuous one, after all. It's just that... girls like her are simply more captivating. They have that extra spark." He laughed with reckless abandon. "Don't look so miserable. If it bothers you that I have someone else in my heart, I'll find a way to call off the merger between our families." I pressed my lips together, humiliated. I had chased him for years, only to realize I was nothing more than a back-up plan.