After all, Esmeralda had loved only him, from the very start.


    She was angry that Fleming would drag Alexander into this, but what stung even more was seeing how little Fleming truly cared. Even if he suspected Alexander harbored feelings for her, it clearly didn''t matter to him. That indifference cut deeper than anything else, pricking her self-esteem until her past affection for him seemed almostughable.


    Fleming had no interest in debating the subject. He took her by the arm and led her briskly toward his car.


    He opened the door, reached inside, and retrieved a small item.


    Esmeralda nced down and recognized it instantly: the lucky charm that had gone missing-the one she''d spent an entire night hiking up a mountain to get for him. Somehow, he had found it and brought it here.


    He waved it in front of her as if expecting it to smooth everything over. "Found it. Happy now?"


    Fleming had never been the type to coax orfort. But he seemed to think this was the best he could do.


    Esmeralda stared at the charm, her mind nk. After a long moment, she tore her gaze away. "When something''s already been trampled on, finding it again just makes it feel like dragging it out of the trash. You''re ufortable, and so am I.”


    She refused to take the easy way out he''d left her. Without waiting to see his reaction, she turned and walked away.


    Fleming watched her retreat, his hand tightening reflexively around the tiny charm. Before long, his face smoothed into its usual, unreadable calm, and he got in the car.


    Esmeralda had thrown tantrums before, but every time she''d eventually act as though nothing had happened. He was convinced she wouldn''t miss their wedding. She wouldn''t let go.


    As for Lucy... Esmeralda was being unreasonable. His kindness toward Lucy was, at least in part, for Esmeralda''s sake as well.


    Back at home, Esmeralda was still troubled. She was determined to clear up everyst bit of confusion. Since her mother hadn''t returned yet, she busied herself handling some work calls while she waited.


    In the back of her mind, though, something wouldn''t let go. Fleming''s mention of Alex-it was just too ridiculous. She was sure Fleming only brought him up to divert attention from his own issues with Lucy. As far as she was concerned, Alex had always been nothing more than a good friend.


    By evening, her mother finally came home, arms full of shopping bags.


    Esmeralda got up from the couch. "Mom?"


    Her mom smiled, delighted. "Look here, I bought you a few new dresses. You can throw a coat over them-it''s perfect for this weather."


    Esmeralda wasn''t in the mood for fashion shows. She got straight to the point. “Mom,e here a minute. Did you ask Lucy to design my wedding dress?"


    Her mother was still busy


    unpacking, but turned with a puzzled expression. "Me? Of course not! How was supposed to know she does wedding dresses was Lucy''s mom. She mentioned yesterday that Lucy was really talented and suggested we let her design it. In fact, she called again today asking you to go over and talk to Lucy."


    Esmeralda''s throat tightened. A wave of difort rolled through her. Because today, Lucy had imed that Esmeralda''s mother was the one making the request! It made perfect sense that Fleming would misunderstand, that he''d me her for the whole thing.


    That one casual sentence from Lucy was at the core of today''s argument. Now Fleming probably thought she was making things hard on Lucy out of spite!


    She hadn''t done it, and she wasn''t about to take the me for something she wasn''t guilty of. She''d be damned if she let him keep thinking she was that kind of person.


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Grabbing her phone, Esmeralda marched outside, determination burning in her chest. Even if she did break off the engagement, she refused todet Lucy''s words go unchallenged. What seemed like an offhandment had hit exactly where it would hurt. Thost, making Esmeralda look like nothing but a jealous, vindictive woman.


    She needed to find Fleming andy everything out. First, so he would understand her threat to call off the wedding wasn''t just empty words. Second, to make it clear that if she was truly letting go there would be no more drama no more underhanded moves-least of all asking Lucy to design her wedding dress. She would not take the fall for


    something she didn''t do.