Page 161 of Broken Destiny

“What’s wrong with it?” I asked, looking down at my clothes before meeting her eyes again. “You liked this jacket before. You said you loved it.”

“Well, now I don’t. I’ll get you something better.”

“I don’t want any more gifts,” I said, shaking my head. “You’ve been buying me so many things lately—new shirts, new shoes. What’s going on?”

“I love you. That’s what’s going on. Don’t you love me too?”

I nodded and released a slow breath. “I do, but I still don’t understand why I have to be here,” I said, tapping my foot against the floor.

“Because you’re my fiancé, and you just said you loved me,” she replied, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “And you’ll get very, very lucky tonight if you behave and make this evening pleasant.”

She trailed a finger down my open collar while holding my gaze.

“Ahem!”

I turned my head and saw Harper and Jiya standing a few steps away, watching us.

I immediately got to my feet.

After shaking Harper’s hand, I watched him lean forward and kiss Tatiana on both cheeks.

I stood there awkwardly, unsure how to greet Jiya.

She looked stunning in a multi-embroidered body-con dress, and despite my best efforts, I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off her.

“Caleb... honey, are you okay?” Tatiana asked. “You seem stuck.”

My ears grew hot, and heat spread across my face. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I reached out and shook Jiya’s hand before quickly taking my seat.

The tension at the table was thick enough to feel, yet none of us acknowledged it.

I signalled the waiter and quickly placed an order for drinks, needing something—anything—to steady my nerves.

I tried not to look at her, but every time I glanced up, her honey-brown eyes—accentuated by dramatic winged liner—pulled my attention back to her.

“So, how did the two of you meet?” Tatiana asked Harper.

Oh boy. This is going to get awkward.

I ran a finger around the collar of my shirt, trying to let some air reach my skin.

“We’ve known each other for years, actually,” Harper said. “We used to date before I married Daria.”

“Oh!” Tatiana exclaimed. “That’s great that you’ve reconnected again. Isn’t that lovely?” she asked, turning to look at me.

“Yes, yes, it is,” I replied quickly.

“What do you do, if you don’t mind me asking, Jiya?” Tatiana sipped her wine.

“I own a restaurant and two cafés on Vancouver Island,” Jiya replied. “I’m also a partner in my brother-in-law’s construction and development company.”

“You’re married?” Tatiana asked, nearly choking on her drink.

“Widowed.”

My heartbeat slowed when I heard that word.

She had said it out loud for the first time in my presence, and there was a quiet ache in the way she spoke it.