Vows at Sunset

"Shane, you know better than anyone what that means to me!"

It was the last keepsake Grandma Mae had left me, apart from the old courtyard.

For a split second, his eyes flickered with hesitation, but then his face hardened. "You’re mistaken. That’s not your grandmother’s diamond."

"I’m not mistaken!" My voice shook with fury. "It was always kept with the gold bracelet, which was also hers."

"We're at the family lunch. Don’t embarrass me. Go home now."

I stared at him in disbelief. Tears spilled down my cheeks, and for the first time, Shane faltered. I had endured so many times when he put Tania before me without shedding a tear, but now, my crying unsettled him.

Just as he reached out a hand, Tania burst into tears. "Lila, I only said it looked pretty, so Shane gave it to me. Please, don’t be angry with him..."

"Tania," Shane said quickly, frowning. "I gave it to you willingly. Don’t blame yourself."

He bent down, tenderly wiping away her tears. His words struck me like thunder, and my whole body trembled.

"Shane, how could you? How could you betray Grandma Mae like this? Why give her what belonged to Grandma?"

Tania stepped forward, clutching my wrist, her sobs growing louder. "I’m sorry! It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have said I liked the necklace. Otherwise, Shane wouldn’t have melted down the bracelet and remade it for me. Lila, if you want to hit someone, hit me. You two are getting married tomorrow. You can’t fight like this!"

A sharp breath tore through my chest. Rage consumed me. Grandma Mae’s bracelet was her dowry gift to me. Now it had been destroyed and melted into the chain around Tania’s neck.

Smack!

My palm cracked across her face, leaving a red mark on her cheek. "Give it back!"

Shane’s fury exploded. His own hand struck me, the force knocking me stumbling. "You dare hit Tania over a worthless trinket? How could I ever marry a shrew like you? Apologize to her, or the engagement is over!"

The room spun as I steadied myself, the sting blazing across my face. All eyes were on me, except Shane’s. He was bent over, soothing Tania.

In that moment, regret pierced me. I never should have loved Shane. I never should have clung to the idea of marrying him. Because of my so-called decade of love, I had sacrificed everything, even Grandma Mae’s dowry gift.

I cast one last look at the diamond pendant at Tania’s throat, then clenched my fists and turned away.

Shane’s eyes followed my retreating back for only a heartbeat before he lowered his head again, murmuring softly to Tania.

Outside, Ryan’s car idled just beyond the Dawson estate.

When I slid into the passenger seat, he froze, leaning toward me to check my cheek. I pushed him away. "Drive. I don’t want to stay here another second."

His brows furrowed tightly. As his gaze swept the Dawson mansion, a flash of cold anger burned in his eyes, but he only nodded and started the car, steering us straight toward the airport.

By the time we landed in Coral Haven, night had fallen. My phone showed three messages from Shane, all sent that afternoon.

"I can’t understand why you never see things my way. Making me lose face in front of my family… how does that help you?"

"Luckily, Tania already forgave you. It’s over now. We’ve boarded. See you in Spain tomorrow."

"It’s just a bracelet and a diamond. Tomorrow I’ll buy you ten more. Isn’t that enough?"

I scrolled calmly through every word. Then, with a single tap, I blocked him everywhere, and I returned every cent of the Dawson family’s betrothal money.