Luca stood so abruptly that the tie pin fell from the tray onto the floor.
"When?"
"The afternoon of the betrothal ceremony."
It had been after she'd handed her badge to the coordinator and left the estate alone. He'd thought she was simply tired. He'd even brought her hot chocolate, believing it was enough to pick her up himself.
He looked at the nightstand. There had been a thin sheet beneath the envelope. When he'd picked up the ring, it'd fallen onto the carpet.
He bent to retrieve it. Erin's handwriting was neat, with no corrections.
Luca, the wedding is canceled. My adviser will contact you about the cottage. I don't want anything I left here. Please don't keep it for me. We're over.
She hadn't asked why. She hadn't given him a deadline to explain himself. Luca turned the pape
