Chapter 2

2

My phone buzzed on the nightstand.

It was a message from my old mentor currently living in Florence.

"Lyra, your latest work just won the International Sculpture Design Award! Are you sure you won't reconsider coming abroad?"

"I really want you to be my partner here. It would be a crime to let your talent rot in that house."

I typed back immediately.

"I'm coming to Florence as soon as I wrap things up here."

"I won't break my promise this time."

Six months ago, she had invited me to a month-long competition in Italy.

I had discussed it with Caleb, and he agreed I should go.

After I submitted my pieces, I turned down her offer to stay.

I booked the earliest flight home.

I made up a hundred excuses: the food was too rich, I missed home, I felt like an outsider.

But the truth was, I just couldn't stand being away from Caleb.

I had only been gone for a month, and he had managed to end up in the hospital because he didn't take care of himself.

In the ten years we had been together―six years of dating and four of marriage―that was the longest we had ever been apart.

My friends always asked me what kind of spell Caleb had cast on me.

They wondered why a talented artist like me was content playing the doting housewife.

I used to laugh and say, "Because he saved my life. I owe him everything."

The first time I met Caleb, I was at my lowest.

I had been falsely accused of plagiarizing a major project, and my world was ending.

I was holding a blade to my wrist in a dark studio, ready to end the pain.

He was the one who grabbed the blade, his voice shaking. "I believe you."

The knife had sliced his hand open, and blood was everywhere.

I was so terrified I dropped the weapon.

For years, I would kiss the scar on his hand with pure devotion.

He helped me find the real culprit and cleared my name with the board.

Because of him, I could walk in the sun again.

From that day on, we were inseparable.

I stayed by his side for ten years, from his days as a broke student to his position as a billionaire CEO.

I never imagined that Caleb would be the one to break his promise.

He promised me his love, but he gave it to someone else.

My mentor called me, clearly worried I'd flake out again.

Before she could speak, I said, "I'll be there in a week."

She was silent for a long moment.

"Good. I'll be waiting for you."

A few minutes later, she sent another text.

"Lyra, there is a whole new world waiting for you out there."