Chapter 48 

Violet 

I make myself a cup of coffee in the lunch room and walk through the office to head back to my desk. “You want to go to the Indian restaurant for lunch?” Marci calls. 

“I wish,” I call back. “I’m on a budget.” 

Ugh, you’re so boring.” 

“Not as boring as the lunch I packed,” I call back. 

“Ha! Truth.” 

I walk back into my office and sit down at my desk when I hear my phone ding as a text 

comes in. I ignore it, I’ll check it at lunch. 

Another ding, then another. 

Who is frigging texting me so much? I take out my phone to see it’s Deb. 

Omfg Call Me!!!! 

I roll my eyes and dial her number; she answers first ring. “Oh my fucking god,” she gasps as if the world is collapsing. 

“Why are you being so dramatic?” 

“He’s called off the wedding.” 

“Who has?” 

“Gabriel Ferrara has called off his wedding.” 

Tapter 48 

It’s all over the news.” 

Hang on.” I instantly open Google and put in the search bar, 

Gabriel Ferrara engagement 

It seems the fairy tale is over for Gabriel Ferrara and his fiancée, Ariana Rossi. 

Sources tell us that an email was sent out this morning to the wedding guests that the 

wedding between the glamorous couple has been called off. 

Speculation is rife that Mr. Ferrara is the one who ended the 

union, as the notification to guests came from his personal email. All this only nineteen 

days before the wedding was due to take place. 

Devastated Ariana will no doubt be wiping her tears, almost snagging the world’s most eligible billionaire…so close. 

No information has been disclosed yet as to why the union ended. 

Watch this space. 

“What the fuck?” I whisper. 

“I know.” 

“Do you think he’s told her about the kids?” My eyes widen in horror at the thought. 

“He did call you the other night and was being weird.” 

“What…. You don’t think she left him because of the kids…do you?” “Maybe.” 

“If she loved him, she wouldn’t care. I mean, it was years before he met her.” I chew my thumbnail as I think out loud. “Surely not.” “Maybe she gave him an ultimatum. Them or me.” “No, she wouldn’t,” I scoff. “What makes you so sure?” 

Because I’m sure she idolizes him.” 

hapter 48 

How do you know?” 

Because all women idolize him,” I snap impatiently. “My next appointment is here, I have 

to go.” 

“I’ll call around this afternoon,” Deb says. 

“Okay.” 

“So you haven’t heard from him at all?” Deb asks. 

“Nope.” I stare out over the lake; the sun is just setting and we are in my favorite place, my jetty. 

“You have to admit this is weird, he finds out about the kids, calls you and then his engagement ends all within a week.” 

I shrug. “Maybe there was someone else?” I look over to Deb. “Surely he isn’t still a 

womanizer after all these years?” “Maybe she cheated?” Deb frowns. 

*No way.” 

“Why are you so sure?” 

“Trust me, if Gabriel were in love with you, you wouldn’t want for anything else.” 

“I hope she slept with his brother.” Deb smirks. “Maybe gangbanged both of his brothers 

and his hot driver and he walked in on them.” I giggle as I imagine the scenario. 

“So what happens in this case, would she get a payout from her prenup even though they never married?” Deb frowns. “Would she walk away with nothing or…I mean, were they living together?” 

“No idea.” I think for a moment. “If he was the one to end it, I know he would look after her.” 

“What makes you say that?” 

“He’s a good man.” 

apter 48 

He is not a good man,” Deb scoffs. “He’s a douche bag, don’t you ever forget that.” 

Oh, I know he’s a total douche. I mean he wouldn’t try and rip her off. 

Financially, his morals are strong. He looks after his people.” “Except his own kids.” Deb raises her eyebrow in a silent dare. 

“He did offer but I declined, I already told you that.” 

“Pathetic half–assed attempt, if you ask me.” 

My heart sinks. “Yeah…” I sip my wine. “It was.‘ 

My gaze rises up at the pink sky, nature is putting on a spectacular show tonight, life is such 

a contradiction. It’s hard to believe, sitting here and looking over such incredible beauty, 

that I can feel such a deep, overwhelming sadness. 

My children didn’t want his money, they need his love. 

“I’ll put that paperwork through and we will be in touch.” I shake his hand. “It was lovely to 

‘meet you, Mr. Thompson.” We stand and walk toward the door. 

“How long do loan applications usually take to process?” he asks. 

“Every case is different, but I think yours will be relatively quick, being so straightforward.” I open my office door for him to leave. 

“Fantastic. Have a good day.” He walks down the hallway and I hear raised voices coming from the reception area. 

“I am not leaving until I see her,” a woman says. 

“She is fully booked today, I’m sorry.” 

“This is of a personal matter.” 

I frown as I listen, that voice sounds familiar. What’s going on out there? 

apter 48 

walk out and my heart stops. 

It’s Elena Ferrara, Gabriel’s mother. 

T 

She turns and sees me, her chin tilts to the sky as contempt drips from her every pore. 

Fuck…she’s not happy. 

I drop my shoulders as I prepare for battle. “Are you here to see me?” 

“What do you think?” she snaps as she marches past me down the hall and into my office. 

“Who is that?” Marci whispers. 

“Just…give me ten minutes.” I practically run to my office to find Elena sitting calmly at my desk. Her dark hair is swept up in a glamorous up–style, she’s wearing a black fitted dress, nude stilettos with a matching nude Chanel bag. Her back is ramrod straight and 

everything about her screams elegance. 

I feel the blood drain out of my body, I look like total crap today and am wearing the oldest 

*shoes I own. 

Help… 

I close the door and sit down. “Hello, Mrs. Ferrara.” I fake a smile. 

She glares at me, her face emotionless and cold.