The Ninth Time He Left

Three years into my arranged marriage with the Valachi family heir, the one that got away came back. He left me for Julia eight times. The ninth time, he left me bleeding on the side of the road with a gunshot wound to go running to Julia, who’d called him because she felt a little dizzy. "She needs me. You get that, right, Leona?" This time, I didn't fight for him. He didn't know about the bet I’d made with Julia. The ninth time he abandoned me, I would be the one to leave for good. So on his birthday, I left a set of signed divorce papers on his desk and got on a plane. Chapter 1 After Isak's old flame, Julia, came back to town, she made a bet with me: he gets nine chances to choose between us in life-or-death situations. The one he abandons for the ninth time has to walk away. I agreed. The ninth time, a single phone call from Julia was all it took for Isak to leave me on the side of the road again. "Drive! Go!" Isak's voice was sharp, laced with a panic I'd never heard before. I clutched the gunshot wound in my stomach, blood seeping through my fingers, staining my white silk shirt. "Isak, wait for me—" Slam! The car door shut. The engine roared to life, tires screeching as the black BMW tore off without me. My husband had left me for another woman. Again. All because she claimed she felt dizzy at home—even though we had just survived a firefight, and I was bleeding out in an alley. I leaned against the cold brick wall, my hand trembling as I pulled my phone from my pocket and called my assistant, Maria, to come get me. The ninth time. I thought back to the ridiculous bet Julia had proposed a year ago. "Nine choices, Leona. Let's see who Isak really picks. The loser walks." The first time was at my mother's funeral. A rival family crashed the service and opened fire. Isak dove to shield Julia without a second thought. The second time was at his succession ceremony. A bomb went off, and his first instinct was, again, to protect Julia. The third, fourth, fifth time… Every single time, he chose her. And me? Leona Valachi. The family's Underboss. I called the shots for half the city, but for him, I played the fool and made excuses every single time. "Maybe he just panicked." "Maybe he thought I could handle myself." "Maybe he knew Julia was the one who needed protection." Bullshit maybes. Footsteps echoed in the alley. Julia appeared at the entrance, her dress spotless, her hair perfect, and that triumphant smirk I hated so much plastered on her face. "Well, look who it is. The great Leona Valachi, bleeding next to a dumpster," she said, strolling toward me. "That makes nine, Leona. Any last words?" I looked up, meeting her gaze. "I lost." I pulled a folded document from the inside of my suit jacket, one I’d had ready for a long time. "Divorce papers. I've already signed them. Take them." Julia took the papers, her smile widening. She wasn't done twisting the knife. "You know, Isak just texted me. He said he's on his way and that I should wait for him. He's completely forgotten about you." "That's enough," I said, closing my eyes. "You got what you wanted. Now go." "So, when are you gonna make good on your word?" "A month. I need time to get the Valachi family business in order." Lying in a private hospital bed after the doctor removed the bullet, my mind drifted back against my will. Three years ago, Isak was the one who proposed. Back then, my family was a bit player, and my father planned to marry me off as soon as I graduated to secure some new advantage. The Valachi family was the biggest game in town; I never dreamed I’d marry into their world. At the time, Isak had been chasing Julia. The whole city knew it. But for some reason, they never made it official, and she’d left Las Vegas. When I asked Isak why he wanted to marry me, he took my hand gently and said, "I noticed you a long time ago. The way you fought back when you were bullied, how serious you were about your studies…" I couldn't say no. Besides, I'd secretly had a crush on the cocky, handsome Isak for years. During our three-year marriage, I gave everything to the Valachi family to prove I was worthy of him. I clawed my way up to the Underboss position, thinking that one day, he would finally see me. And for a while, it felt like he was. But that all changed a year ago, the day Julia came back. Meanwhile, in Julia’s lavish apartment… Julia leaned into Isak’s arms, her eyes teary as she looked up at him. "Thank you for rushing over. It was nothing, really… but I hope Leona doesn't get the wrong idea." Isak, who had been savoring her closeness, tensed at the mention of my name but quickly relaxed. Leona was always so understanding. He’d just explain when he got back. "Your health is what's important. Leona can handle herself. She'll understand." Julia smiled, then pulled out the divorce papers I had given her. "What's this?" Isak asked, glancing at the document. "Something important that needs your signature," Julia said, deftly flipping the document to the signature page. "Leona said it's just some… power of attorney papers. For the port business." "Power of attorney?" Isak frowned. "Why didn't she give it to me herself?" "She's just been so busy lately," Julia purred, handing him a pen. "Just sign it. It's no big deal." Without a second thought, Isak signed his name. He had no idea he'd just signed away his marriage. Julia tucked the document away, a cunning smile on her lips. "Isak, darling, Leona and I have a big surprise for you. You'll find out in a month." "What surprise?" "Don't worry," she cooed. "You're going to love it." Chapter 2 When I got home, Isak was waiting on the sofa. "Leona, baby, are you okay?" he said, rushing toward me, his face a mask of worry. "Let me see the wound." He reached to lift the fresh shirt I’d changed into, but I took a step back. "It's fine. The doctor took care of it." "Don't be like that," he said, closing the distance. That familiar scent of his cologne filled my senses. "Let's go upstairs. Let me see." His hand snaked up my chest, his lips pressing against my neck. It was his go-to move. Whenever he thought I was upset, he used his body to distract me. It used to work every time. But tonight, I just felt tired. "Isak, the wound hurts," I said, gently pushing him away. "Not tonight." He froze, a guilty look clouding his face. "Leona, I'm sorry. About tonight… I shouldn't have left you. I was in such a rush, my mind went blank…" "It's fine," I said, my voice flat. "It was a normal reaction." "No, it wasn't," he insisted, pulling me into a tight hug. "You're my wife. I'm supposed to protect you. Can you forgive me?" I patted his back, my touch as impersonal as if I were comforting a stranger. "It's really fine, Isak. You're tired. Go get some rest." He stayed quiet in my arms for a long moment. I knew he was waiting for me to say something more—something sweet, forgiving, loving. I said nothing. The next morning, Isak was up earlier than usual. When I came downstairs, he was already in the kitchen. "Morning, darling," he said, smiling over his shoulder. "I made your favorite—bacon and eggs. And fresh-squeezed orange juice." The table was set with an elaborate breakfast, using the fine china from our wedding. "Thanks, but I'm not hungry," I said, walking straight to the door. "I've got business." "Leona," he called, following me. "At least have some coffee. And you need to change your bandages…" "Maria will handle it." In the car, Isak sat in the passenger seat. He had insisted on coming with me, claiming he wanted to "be there for me." As I reviewed my schedule, I saw him pull out a lighter to light a cigarette. It wasn't the one I gave him. The lighter I’d given him was a custom sterling silver piece, engraved with the Valachi family motto: "Honor Above All." It was our anniversary gift, a design I’d spent three months perfecting. The one in his hand was a cheap, plastic Lucky Strike. Julia's brand. "Where's your lighter?" I asked. Isak's hand paused. "What lighter?" "The one I gave you. The engraved one." "Oh, that one," he said, looking out the window, avoiding my eyes. "I… I must have lost it. Probably at the mall the other day." A lie. I'd seen it in his bag yesterday. "Which mall?" I pressed. "Uh… the Fashion Show Mall. Maybe I left it in a fitting room," he said, his voice tense. "Leona, why the sudden question?" "No reason," I said, looking at the cheap lighter in his hand, a bitter laugh bubbling in my chest. "Forget it. If it's gone, it's gone." Isak turned to look at me, a flash of confusion in his eyes. He seemed to want to say something, but he stayed silent. I leaned back and closed my eyes. If it's gone, it's gone. The lighter. The marriage. Him. I was done. In the Valachi family’s private club, cigar smoke hung heavy in the air. A dozen of the family's senior men sat around a long oak table, talking about next month’s shipments. Someone spoke up. "You know, Isak was crazy about Julia back in the day. All of Vegas knew he chased her for three years." "Three years and seven months, to be exact," Julia corrected, a glint in her eye. A murmur went through the room. "So why didn't you say yes?" a young mafioso asked. "Isak's a hell of a catch." Julia swirled the whiskey in her glass, ignoring the question. Instead, she changed the subject. "No matter what, Isak has always cared about me most… Actually, it was my idea for him to propose to Leona." What? I had just arrived, and her words hit me as I stood in the doorway. My hand clenched into a fist. "I told him Leona was sweet, pliable. Her family had no real power, so she'd do whatever he wanted. A perfect choice. And…" She paused. "And she wouldn't give him any trouble." Laughter erupted. I stood frozen outside the door, my heart twisting in my chest. Chapter 3 The conversation inside continued. "Julia, tell us the craziest thing Isak ever did for you." Julia’s voice was bright with excitement. "Craziest? There are too many." She started counting on her fingers. "He beat a guy to a pulp for looking at me the wrong way three years ago. And he used to wire me money from his own accounts for my 'investments.' Fifty thousand at a time, easy." A cold rage washed over me. "What else?" someone prodded. "For the past year, he's flown to New York to see me every single week," Julia said smugly. "Thursday night flight, back to Vegas Sunday morning. He told Leona he was on business, but really…" She didn't have to finish. Everyone laughed knowingly. Every Thursday. I thought about Isak's frequent "business trips." Always Thursday to Sunday. He said it was work. I never doubted him. "But the best part," Julia went on, "is that he'd bring Leona back a gift every time to cover his tracks. All those expensive watches, necklaces, bracelets… they were all guilt offerings." I thought of the drawer full of gifts that appeared out of nowhere. "I saw this and thought of you," he'd always say. "He'd even…" I'd heard enough. I pushed the door open and walked in. The room fell silent. Julia slowly turned to me, a defiant smile spreading across her face, as if she knew I’d been there all along. I scanned the faces around the table. For three years, I thought I'd earned their respect. Now, they were treating my marriage like a joke with her. Just as the silence became unbearable, the door opened again. Isak rushed in. He didn't see me with my back to the door and went straight to Julia. "Julia, the private party's about to start. I came to get you…" Then he saw me. "Leona, what are you doing here?" he asked, forcing a smile. "I thought you were at the docks today." I slowly turned to face the man I had loved for three years. "Yeah," I said, my voice terrifyingly calm. "And I thought you had business to handle today." I turned and walked out without a second glance. The air in the hallway felt clearer, but the suffocating weight on my chest remained. Three years of marriage, a calculated lie from the very beginning. "Leona, wait!" Isak's dress shoes clicked on the polished floor behind me. I didn't slow down. "Leona, let me explain…" He caught up, out of breath, reaching for my arm. I flinched away from his touch. "Explain what?" I said, stabbing the elevator button. "Your weekly trips to New York? Or the money you funneled out of our joint accounts?" The color drained from Isak's face. "I can explain. It's not what you think, I swear…" The elevator doors slid open. I stepped inside. Isak moved to follow, but Julia's voice echoed down the hall. "Isak, don't waste your time on her," she called out, strolling toward us. "Tonight's party is going to be amazing. You don't want to miss it, do you?" I looked at Isak, waiting. He hesitated, his foot hovering over the threshold. He didn't get in. "Leona, can we just talk about this tomorrow? I…" I pressed the 'door close' button. I sat in the driver's seat of my Maserati and lit a cigarette, watching the city lights blur. Neon signs flashed, cars streamed by, everyone heading somewhere. Only I had nowhere to go. I started the engine, ready to head back to my own apartment—the one that didn't smell of Isak's cologne and false affection. "Leona!" Julia's voice came from outside my window. I rolled it down and gave her an ice-cold stare. "You heard what I said in there, didn't you?" she asked, leaning on the window frame. "Isak never loved you. It's always been me." She laughed, a cruel, vicious sound. "Every time he slept with you, he was thinking of me! He told me so himself!" I shoved the car door open, ready to drag that bitch out by her hair. Just then, a horn blared. A truck, out of control, was careening toward the sidewalk. The driver was drunk. Julia was standing right in its path, oblivious. Time seemed to slow. I saw Isak burst out of the club doors. "Julia!" he screamed. The next second, he sprinted toward her, shoving her out of the way with all his strength. They both tumbled to safety. I was still standing by my open car door. The truck slammed into the Maserati. The force of the impact threw me backward. I felt my ribs crack as warm blood filled my mouth. As I lay on the ground, the last thing I saw was Isak holding Julia tight, checking her for injuries, tears in his eyes, repeating, "Are you okay? Are you okay?" No one looked at me. Even in a moment of life and death, he still didn't choose me. The wail of a siren grew closer as I faded into unconsciousness. Chapter 4 I woke up the next afternoon. The hospital room was quiet, sunlight filtering through the blinds. My left arm was in a cast, and my chest was wrapped in thick bandages. The doctor said I was lucky. No vital organs were damaged. "Ms. Leona, you're awake," a nurse said, entering the room. "Are you feeling any discomfort?" "Where's my husband?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. "Mr. Valachi was here this morning. He said there was urgent family business and to let you know he'd be back as soon as he could." Family business. That excuse again. "Ms. Leona," the doctor said, coming in. "We'll need a family member to handle the insurance paperwork…" I closed my eyes, a bone-deep exhaustion washing over me. "He's not my husband anymore," I said calmly. "We're over." Twenty more days. Then I can walk away from him. From all of this. As the words left my mouth, the door swung open. Isak rushed in, his hair a mess, still wearing last night's black shirt. His eyes were red-rimmed. "Over?" he demanded, staring at me. "What's over?" I stared at Isak, at the mask of confusion and panic on his face. The doctor and nurse quietly excused themselves, leaving us alone. "The game," I said flatly. "The one on my phone. It's over." Isak let out a breath of relief and hurried to my bedside. "Leona, you scared the hell out of me. The doctor said you were seriously hurt. I…" "Where were you last night?" I cut him off. "I told the nurse, urgent family…" "Stop lying, Isak," I said, meeting his eyes. "You smell like her perfume." He flushed but tried to cover. "Right, we were talking business at the club, you know how those meetings are…" I didn't want to hear it. The image of the crash was burned into my mind—him saving Julia without a second glance at me. "Leona, I know you're angry," Isak said, sinking into the chair beside my bed. "I want to make it up to you. What do you want? A new car? I'll buy you a Lamborghini, something better than the Maserati." "Don't need it." "Then… your arms business needs funding, right? I can move some money from the family account…" "Don't need it." Isak looked defeated. "Then tell me what you want. Jewelry? Property? What?" I just looked at him, the man I'd shared a bed with for three years. He had no idea what I really wanted. It was simple. I just wanted his heart. And that was the one thing he could never give me. "I don't want anything, Isak. Just go. I want to rest." He sat there a moment longer, looking like he wanted to argue, but he finally stood up. "Okay. You get some rest. I'll come see you tonight." The door closed, and the room was quiet again. "I was laid up in the hospital for over ten days just getting patched up. The day I got out, Isak offered to come get me. I told him no. I've had Maria handling the handover for me, on the quiet. My flight's in three days. Now there's just one last piece of business before I'm gone. I took a cab back to our downtown penthouse. The moment I walked in, the familiar decor felt suffocating. Every object was a reminder of this sham of a marriage—our photo on the living room table, his things on the vanity, the vase from our honeymoon in Italy. I started with the photos. I pulled them from their frames, one by one, looking at the girl who still believed in fairy tales. Our wedding photo, me beaming, him with a polite, distant smile. A birthday picture, my arm around his waist, his eyes looking somewhere else. Every photo told the same story of my one-sided love. I tore them to shreds and threw them in a trash bag. Next were the gifts. The Patek Philippe watch he gave me, worth a hundred grand. The necklace I gave him, which he wore once. All the presents now seemed like a cruel joke. In the nightstand, I found the love letter Isak wrote me before our wedding. On the yellowed paper, in his elegant script, he'd written: "My dearest Leona, thank you for coming into my life. I promise to love you forever, till death do us part…" A cold laugh escaped my lips. Love me forever? I tore the letter to pieces. Just as I was about to take the trash out, my phone rang. "Ms. Leona!" It was Toni, Isak's personal bodyguard. His voice was frantic. "It's the boss! He's in trouble!" My hand froze on the trash bag. "What is it?" "He's at the Calabria family's club. He got into it with Sandro. It's bad. You're the only one I could call…" The Calabrias. Our mortal enemies. Sandro was the Don's hot-headed son, one of the most dangerous men in the city. "What happened?" "They were fighting over a woman. I couldn't hear clearly, but now Sandro's issued a challenge…" A commotion erupted, and then I heard Sandro's voice. "Since we both want her, let's let fate decide!" Then Isak's voice: "Sandro, what are you doing?" "Russian Roulette!" Sandro yelled. "The loser never goes near Julia again!" The line filled with noise, then Toni's voice came back. "Ms. Leona, you have to come! He accepted!" Chapter 5 I remembered the file Maria had compiled for me. Three years ago, the reason Isak and Julia never got together was because she'd met Sandro, a man with more power than Isak. She'd left Isak for Sandro, spending three years in New York with him. The only reason she was back now was because Sandro's family wouldn't let him marry her. They'd had a huge fight, so she'd come running back to her ex, hoping Isak would marry her as a final 'fuck you' to Sandro. After a long hesitation, I grabbed my car keys, the wound in my side throbbing. I didn't know what I expected to see. Maybe I just needed to see him risk his life for another woman one last time. Maybe that would finally kill the last bit of hope I had left. Russian Roulette. The cruelest duel. One bullet in a six-shooter. They take turns until someone's dead. Sandro was arrogant and brutal. Isak wouldn't stand a chance. I had just reached the parking garage when a black Bentley blocked my path. Julia got out, that sickeningly smug smile on her face. "Leona. Where are you off to in such a hurry?" "Move, Julia," I said, trying to get to my car. "Going to save your husband?" she scoffed. "You think he needs saving?" I stopped. "What do you mean?" "When Isak accepted the challenge, do you know what he said?" Julia lit a slim cigar. "He said, 'For Julia, I'd do anything.'" "He's insane. Sandro will kill him." "Maybe," Julia said, blowing out a puff of smoke. "But that's love, Leona. Your husband is willing to die for another woman." The words stabbed me in the chest. "And you?" she continued. "You're what, still licking your wounds in a hospital?" "You fucking bitch…" I clenched my fists. "Easy, Leona. Just stating facts." Julia blocked my path. "Besides, I want to try a little experiment." She plucked my phone from my hand and dialed Isak's number before I could react. "Julia, what the—" She held a finger to her lips, putting the call on speaker. It rang a few times before he picked up. "Leona?" Isak's voice was distant, muffled by the sound of a crowd. Julia looked at me and nodded, prompting me to speak. "Isak, I heard you're at the Calabria club…" "I'm busy right now, Leona," he said, his tone impatient. "Whatever it is, we can talk when I get home." Julia leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Tell him you were attacked. That you're dying." I hesitated, but then I said it. "Isak, I was just attacked, and now…" "What?" His voice sharpened. "Are you okay?" My heart sped up. Maybe he did care. "It's bad. I might need…" "Leona, whatever's happening, you need to hang on," Isak cut me off. "But I really can't leave right now. There's something important I have to handle. Get to a hospital. I'll be there later." Julia gave me a victorious smile. "Isak, that game is dangerous, you can't…" "Leona, I told you, I'm busy!" His voice was ragged with irritation. "God, you always call at the worst possible time. I'm hanging up. We'll talk later." Click. He hung up. The air was still, the only sound the distant traffic. Julia slowly handed my phone back. "Did you hear that, Leona? Your husband thinks your life is less important than his game for me." I took the phone. It felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. "This is reality," Julia said, patting my shoulder. "Isak chose to die for me, not to live for you." I wanted to argue. I wanted to say he was just being impulsive, that he still loved me somewhere deep down. But the phone call said it all. Between "Leona is in mortal danger" and "Russian Roulette for Julia," he didn't hesitate. My hand, which had been raised to argue, fell limply to my side. I looked at Julia's triumphant face and whispered, "You win." Chapter 6 The air in the Calabria family's underground club was thick with the smell of whiskey and blood. I pushed through the crowd and saw the circle of shouting men. In the center, Isak and Sandro sat face to face, a silver revolver on the table between them. "The rules are simple," Sandro said, toying with the gun. "Six chambers, one bullet. We take turns until one of us is dead." The crowd roared. First round. Sandro put the gun to his own temple and pulled the trigger. Click. An empty chamber. He pushed the gun toward Isak, a taunting smile on his face. "Your turn." Isak's hand was shaking. He picked up the gun, hesitating before pulling the trigger. Click. Another empty chamber. The second round, third, fourth… all empty. With the crowd jeering, Isak was losing his grip. On the fifth round, Sandro looked relaxed. "Two chances left. You sure you want to keep going?" Isak took a deep breath, said nothing, and raised the gun to his own temple. Then, locking eyes with Sandro, he yelled, "I TOLD YOU, FOR JULIA, I'D DO ANYTHING!" Click. Empty. The crowd went silent. Isak opened his eyes, a wild look in them. He stared at Sandro. "Your turn. Fold, or die." For the first time, fear showed on Sandro's face. After a full minute, Sandro lowered his hands. "I fold." The room erupted. Isak had won. He looked at Julia with a sick, possessive hunger. "Julia, I did it! I did it for you!" Julia went to him, wrapping him in a hug and whispering in his ear. Isak grinned like a child who'd just been given candy. I watched it all from the shadows, feeling something inside me break for good. I slipped out of the club. On the street, I booked a one-way ticket to Montana. Finally... it's really over. It was eleven at night when I got back to the villa. I thought Isak would still be out celebrating, but he was home, waiting in the living room. "Leona, where have you been?" he asked, standing up. His face was still flushed with excitement. "Just out for a walk," I said, taking off my coat and avoiding his eyes. "You don't seem right." He moved to hug me, but I stepped aside. Isak froze. "What's wrong?" "Nothing. I'm tired." "Leona…" He tried to kiss me, his hands going to my neck. I pushed him away. A flicker of hurt crossed his face. "Leona, I know you're mad, but today I had to…" "My wounds hurt. I'm not in the mood." "I have a surprise for you tomorrow. Just give me one more chance, okay?" I didn't answer. I just walked into the bathroom. The next evening, I put on the dress he’d sent and went. I should at least give this relationship a proper ending, I thought. Isak showed up in a white suit, his hair perfectly styled, the pen I gave him for our wedding tucked in his breast pocket. He drove me to the top of the tallest skyscraper in the city. The entire roof was a private restaurant. Candles flickered, rose petals were scattered on the floor, and the city lights glittered below. "When did you plan all this?" I asked. "Yesterday," Isak said, taking my hand. "Leona, I know I've let you down, but I want you to know, you are my wife. That will never change." A sarcastic smile touched my lips. He had no idea. He pulled out my chair and poured me a glass of wine. A 1982 Lafite, my favorite. "Remember our first date, three years ago?" he asked, his eyes soft with nostalgia. "You were so nervous you could barely speak." I remembered. I still believed in fantasies back then. "I walked you back to your dorm and stood at the door for half an hour, too scared to kiss you," he laughed. "In the end, you were the one who kissed me first." As he spoke, fireworks began to explode, painting the night sky. "Surprised?" Isak asked, taking my hand. "I arranged a private fireworks show just for you." I pulled my hand away. "Isak, I need to tell you…" Chapter 7 Just as I was about to speak, the elevator doors opened. Julia stepped out, an innocent smile on her face. "Did you enjoy everything I planned for you tonight, Leona?" She planned it? I stared at Isak. He looked deeply uncomfortable. "Isak said you've been upset, so I suggested this. It looks like you're enjoying it, right?" "I booked the restaurant," Julia said, gesturing around. "The candlelight was my idea. The '82 Lafite was my choice. And the fireworks…" She paused, looking right at me. "I paid for those, too." I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. "Julia was just trying to help us make up, don't overthink it…" Isak was still trying to explain. I didn't want to hear it. I shattered my wine glass on the floor, gave Isak one last look, and turned to leave. So much for a clean break. Down on the street, I got a text from Julia: "I just wanted you to know that even your last romantic moment was a charity case from me. How does it feel, Leona? To need my pity even to feel loved?" I ignored the sting in my heart and blocked her number. The next day was Isak's birthday. I went back to the empty villa and placed the signed divorce papers in a beautiful gift box, tying it with a ribbon. As for his gifts, I'd already sold them. No point in letting good money go to waste. Toni looked at my suitcase, hesitating. "Ma'am, are you really leaving?" "Yes," I said, handing him the box. "Get this to Isak. Tell him it's his birthday present." "What if he asks where you are?" "Tell him the answer is in the box." On the way to the airport, our car passed another. Through the window, I saw Isak. He was dressed for his party, rushing home, probably to the celebration Julia had prepared. We missed each other, just like we had for the last three years. (Isak's POV) Isak got back to the villa, and Toni handed him the gift box. "Your wife left this for you. She said it was for your birthday." Isak looked at the elegant wrapping, a complicated expression on his face. But he glanced at the time, decided he was late, and took the box with him to the party without opening it. The party was in full swing. Julia was waiting for him. She saw the box in his hand and smiled, but said nothing. "Friends!" Julia took the microphone, stepping into the spotlight. "I have two big announcements tonight!" Her voice boomed through the hall. Isak stood beside her, still clutching the unopened gift, a polite smile fixed on his face. "First," Julia said, glancing at Isak, "congratulations to our handsome Isak, who has officially dissolved his marriage and is a free man again!" What? Isak's smile froze. His eyes shot down to the box in his hands, his heart starting to hammer against his ribs. A wave of whispers rippled through the crowd. "And for my second announcement," Julia said, holding up a hand to show off a massive diamond ring, "after everything we've been through, Isak and I are finally getting married!" Many of the guests were old friends. The room exploded with cheers and applause. All eyes were on Isak, waiting for him to respond. Isak's mind was blank. Leona's gift felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. He wanted to scream no, to explain it was all a mistake, to run. But with hundreds of eyes on him, with Julia’s expectant gaze burning into him, he could only manage a stiff, jerky nod. "I… I'm honored." The room erupted in another round of thunderous applause.