Black Opal’s Three Tests of True Love Chapter 03

I opened the image.

The backdrop was the Manhattan headquarters of Voss Holdings.

Leandro held a designer bag in his left hand, his right hand casually tucked into his slacks pocket, letting a stunning woman lean up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek.

I tilted my head back, blinking away the stinging warmth in my eyes.

Then I got in my car and headed toward the Voss corporate tower.

Half an hour later, I pulled into the underground parking garage.

Leandro was standing near the elevator bay, still holding the handbag that didn’t belong to me.

Just as I prepared to step out, a black Bentley rolled into the adjacent stall.

It was Alaric.

Instinctively, I ducked behind a concrete pillar.

“What happened to the traitors?” Alaric asked, shutting his car door.

“Handled,” Leandro said, his voice flat and chilling. “Their names won’t exist along the docks by nightfall.”

The two men exchanged a look and shared a low, knowing chuckle.

“Word is, you’re setting up an alliance with the Whitmore family?” Alaric asked.

“Her name is Vivienne Whitmore. Childhood acquaintance, that’s all. I don’t care for her, but she’s certainly a better fit for the Voss family than Odessa. You know the drill in our world—when you move in the underworld, we need people loyal enough even beyond the grave.”

Leandro tossed the handbag into the trunk, his tone completely detached.

Alaric seemed slightly uneasy.

“Odessa still doesn’t know that every gift you gave her was a loyalty trap, does she?”

Leandro pursed his lips.

“If she had pawned those gifts to bail out her so-called broke family, I’d at least respect her sense of responsibility. But she hoards everything in that closet. Who knows what game she’s actually playing?”

Alaric stayed quiet for a beat, then gave a reluctant nod.

“Your caution makes sense.”

“All I want is for her to return the gifts on her own. No hints, no pressure. If she passes, it proves she isn’t just lusting after Voss wealth—it proves she can handle being the lady of the Voss family while balancing her duty as a Moretti heir.”

Leandro paused, his jaw tightening.

“If she does, she’ll be the most cherished woman in New York’s underworld. But right now… it’s a mess.”

Alaric clapped him on the shoulder.

“When you break things off, don’t make it too brutal.”

“I know.”

Hidden behind the pillar, I listened as the two men I loved most discussed my future like it was a business deal.

Return the gifts?

But I’d already sold all of them. I couldn’t give them back.

Once their cars cleared the garage, I pulled out my phone and booked a one-way ticket to Paris.

A few minutes later, I pushed open the door to Leandro’s executive office.

“What’s wrong?” He glanced up from his desk, studying me. “You’re acting strange today.”

I took a slow breath.

“Are you going to marry me?”

His gaze darted away, hesitating before he forced a gentle smile.

“Of course I will.”

Another lie.

Whatever hope I’d been holding on to finally died.

He reached out and stroked my hair.

“By the way, your birthday is the day after tomorrow. I set up a party for you. There’s going to be a massive surprise.”

A surprise laying out the truth of my bloodline.

A surprise to tell me I’d failed his twisted gold-digger test.

I gave a faint nod. “Sounds great.”

They could run whatever circus they wanted.

By noon the day after tomorrow, I’d be over the Atlantic.

“I have a surprise for you, too.”

I offered a small smile, placing the key to the empty walk-in closet into his palm.

“Open it yourself on the night of my birthday. You’ll see.”

Leandro wrapped his fingers around the key, a glint of anticipation flickering in his eyes.

“Deal.”