Chapter 54

It had to be the wine making me feel anxious to know where Lucius was. I grabbed my phone, lay down on my new sofa, and set my glass on the floor. I kicked off my sandals and called him. This was the first time I’d dared to call him—if it were up to him, it would never happen.

The phone rang and rang, but he didn’t answer…

Until he did. The sound of the call being picked up sent me into the clouds. Maybe it was just the alcohol. I tried to speak first, but no words came out. I didn’t know what to say.

“Who is this?”

I crashed back down to the hard ground. That wasn’t Lucius’s voice. It was a woman’s voice.

“This is Marianne. I want to talk to Lucius. Is he there?” I said, trying to sound firm.

“And who’s Marianne?” the woman questioned again.

“His... fiancée.”

My shaky response was met with laughter. The mocking laughter of this unknown woman who had answered his phone.

“Sure, of course,” she said and hung up.

My shock faded quickly. I reached out to find my glass and drained