The Gondola the Don Made for Me Chapter 02

The Gondola the Don Made for Me Chapter 02

One second. Two seconds.

I dug my fingernails hard into my palm, ready to soften the moment the awkward silence stretched on.

Julian let out a lazy chuckle and replied casually. “Next time for sure.”

His words were hollow, nothing but a meaningless brush-off.

The last flicker of love in my heart popped like a deflated balloon, leaving nothing but cold emptiness behind. Summer’s face flushed with rage, but I held her back.

After the launching ceremony, a feast was held along the dock. Passersby chatted as they watched.

“Another couple about to get married. What a magnificent wedding boat!”

“Congratulations!” someone shouted.

Sophia clung to Julian’s arm as she stood at the bow of the gondola, swaying playfully.

“Julian, I have one more birthday wish.” Her voice carried far, drawing every gaze in the crowd. “I want you to be my boyfriend for seven days!”

The crowd erupted into cheers.

“Say yes! Say yes!”

Julian laughed and ruffled her hair, agreeing without the slightest hesitation. “Alright, but only seven days.”

Not once did he glance my way. Sophia shot me a subtle sideways glance, her smile growing wider.

Friends who knew our story looked over now and then, their expressions a mix of pity, amusement and sympathy. I was nothing more than an ex now, and I clearly didn’t belong here any longer.

I turned to leave, but Julian called out to me. “Are you heading home already, Vera?”

“Yes. It’s awkward for an ex to hang around.”

He frowned. “Don’t talk nonsense. I’m just indulging a young girl’s silly wish. Let my driver take you back. I still need to see Sophia home later.”

“I’ll bring you some crab ravioli tonight, okay? Be good.”

He snatched my keys from my bag and rejoined the celebration without another thought. I stared at his retreating figure, and my eyes finally stung with tears.

When I got home, a video popped up from Sophia. In the footage, her cheeks were flushed as the crowd playfully pushed her straight into Julian’s arms.

Someone joked, “Why not just hold the wedding with Sophia too? She’s far better than Vera!”

Sophia giggled and chided them for drinking too much. Julian simply watched on with a smile, never denying a single word.

A text followed the video: [Why did you leave early, Vera? I sent you the video so you could join in the fun too!]

Strangely enough, watching all this no longer stirred any emotion inside me. I stared blankly at the gondola in the clip.

Julian used to whisper to me over and over that a wedding gondola was the most important thing for any girl in Water City, and nothing about it could be compromised. He’d talked about importing teak wood for the deck, winding my favorite white orchids along the gunwales, and letting me design the boat curtains myself.

There was a twinge of regret, yes—but only for the boat I’d dreamed of for so long, not for the man beside it.

Julian came home extremely late that night, walking in empty-handed. Our eyes met, and he paused for a moment before walking over and pulling me into his arms as usual.

“The party ran late. Still awake? Were you waiting for me?”

I didn’t return his embrace and asked quietly, “Where’s the crab ravioli you promised?”

He avoided my gaze, picked up a glass of water and took a sip.

“On the way home with Sophia, she wanted to try it, so I gave it to her.”

“You said you’re cutting back for wedding photos anyway. We can have it some other time.”

This was the third time he’d said that. I’d mentioned craving the ravioli half a month ago. He’d promised to buy it three times: the first time, Sophia called him away to help her look at an apartment. The second time, the other women of the Romano family ostracized her, and Julian rushed to defend her. Now this.

I sighed, pushing down the sorrow in my chest.

“Julian. Let’s break up.”