Chapter 14
Ives wasn’t just Alani’s old classmate–he’d been Alston’s love rival.
In college, Ives had always looked out for Alani. They’d been close, nearly becoming a couple.
Then Alston showed up.
He fell for Alani instantly and launched a relentless pursuit.
His courtship was impossible to resist. Daily roses were just the warm–up–Alston gave Alani a diamond ring every single day.
“From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were the one I’d marry. You don’t have to say yes
now, but I’ll give you a diamond ring every day until you do.”
“I know you love ‘One Thousand and One Nights,‘ so I’ll give you one thousand and one diamonds. When I reach the last one, I hope you’ll agree to marry me.”
“In our wedding day, I’ll have all those diamonds set into your dress, I think you must be the most
beautiful bride in the world!”
Under this romantic bombardment, Alani quickly fell for him.
Around the same time, Ives’s family decided to move to Paris for personal reasons.
He enrolled in a French graduate program.
Whatever might have grown between him and Alani was cut short.
Before leaving, he simply said goodbye, keeping his feelings locked away.
“Alani, if you ever visit Paris, you have to look me up. I look forward to seeing you again someday.”
“I will. You better take me somewhere nice to eat when I do!”
“Absolutely!”
Alani never knew Ives had feelings for her because he never confessed.
19:57
Child–free With Me But Let Your Mistress Pregnant? Take Your Twins and FUCK OFF
52.0%
Chapter 14
She always saw him as a good friend from college. She hadn’t come to Paris because of Ives but because her best friend Elaine lived in the city.
She’d come to Paris to clear her head and take a trip with Elaine.
After spending some time here, she planned to keep traveling, giving herself space to heal.
Since they’d all gone to the same university, Elaine stayed in touch with Ives in Paris. When Alani arrived, Elaine mentioned they could meet up with him.
That’s when Alani remembered her old promise to look him up if she ever visited Paris.
I sent him a tentative message, asking if he wanted to meet for dinner.
[Absolutely!] Ives replied within seconds.
[I promised to feed you if you ever made it to Paris, didn’t I?]
I was surprised he remembered that throwaway comment after all these years.
- 21.
They picked a time to meet, and I invited Elaine to join them.
Unfortunately, Elaine had to bail halfway through when work called with an emergency.
To me, meeting Ives was completely innocent–just two old friends catching up.
But Alston didn’t see it that way.
He’d always picked up on Ives’s feelings for Alani and harbored intense hostility toward him.
“Do you have any
idea how worried I’ve been? I’ve been losing my mind looking for you! And now I find you sneaking around with this homewrecker!”
19:57 •
