Chapter 9: The First Time He Was Afraid to Lose Me

Hollis didn't leave immediately.

He stood in the hallway for several seconds, staring at me as if waiting for me to take back my words.

I didn't.

Finally, he turned and walked toward the door.

My father followed him outside.

Through the window, I watched them speak briefly before Hollis got into his car.

The headlights disappeared down the road.

I thought I would feel relieved.

Instead, I felt strangely empty.

Not because I wanted him back.

Because ten years of my life had just ended in a few quiet sentences.

My mother came to stand beside me.

“Are you all right?”

I nodded.

“I will be.”

She reached for my hand.

“You don't have to be strong every second, Willa.”

I looked down at our joined hands.

“I know.”

And for the first time, I believed her.

***

Across the city, Hollis returned to the Lombardi estate.

Gianna was waiting in the drawing room.

She had changed into a silk robe and was sitting beside the fireplace, scrolling through her phone.

The moment she saw him, she smiled.

“You're back.”

She stood and walked toward him.

“Did Willa forgive me?”

Hollis stopped.

“Don't ask me about her.”

Gianna's smile faded.

“Hollis?”

He walked past her.

She followed quickly.

“I didn't mean to ruin anything. You said it was fine.”

He turned around.

“Did I?”

His voice was colder than she'd ever heard it.

Gianna froze.

“You said I could experience the wedding.”

“I said you could ride in the car.”

Her lips parted.

“But everyone was having fun.”

“You wore her dress.”

“You let me.”

“You stood beside me during the ceremony.”

“You didn't stop me.”

“You wore my signet ring.”

Gianna's eyes filled with tears.

“I thought it was only temporary.”

Hollis stared at her.

For years, whenever Gianna cried, he had immediately softened.

Tonight, he didn't.

“You knew what that ring meant.”

She lowered her eyes.

“I didn't think Willa would really leave you.”

The room went silent.

Hollis's expression changed.

“What did you say?”

Gianna looked startled by her own words.

“I just meant…”

“You didn't think she'd leave me.”

He repeated it slowly.

Gianna swallowed.

“You two have been together for ten years. I thought she loved you too much.”

Hollis looked away.

That sentence hurt more than he expected.

Because he had believed the same thing.

He had believed Willa would always stay.

***

The next morning, the Lombardi family council summoned Hollis.

Seven senior members were waiting around the long mahogany table.

His grandfather sat at the head.

A folder lay open before him.

“The Cross family's legal team has formally withdrawn Willa's company from all joint Lombardi ventures.”

Hollis frowned.

“I know.”

His grandfather pushed another document forward.

“Do you know what else she did?”

Hollis picked it up.

His eyes widened.

Willa had purchased the controlling stake in a specialty food distribution company that had supplied the Lombardi hotels for years.

She hadn't just walked away.

She had built a position strong enough that the Lombardi family would have to negotiate with her.

One of the elders scoffed.

“She was only a pastry chef.”

Hollis looked up sharply.

“Don't call her that.”

The room fell silent.

His grandfather studied him carefully.

“You seem very protective of her now.”

Hollis didn't answer.

His grandfather sighed.

“You had a decade to protect her.”

The words struck deeper than any accusation.

“If you intend to bring her back, understand something. She isn't the same woman who entered this family ten years ago.”

Hollis closed the folder.

“I know.”

“Do you?”

He looked toward the window.

“I'm beginning to.”

***

Three days later, my new contract was officially announced.

Twenty luxury hotels had signed exclusive pastry agreements with my company.

The news spread quickly through the business circles.

For the first time, my name appeared in the financial section without the words “Hollis Lombardi's fiancée” attached to it.

I stared at the article on my laptop.

Willa Cross, founder of Cross & Crumb, secures landmark hospitality partnership.

I smiled.

My mother walked in carrying a cup of tea.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

She glanced at the screen.

“Your father has already sent this article to everyone he knows.”

I laughed.

“Of course he did.”

Then my phone rang.

It was an unknown number.

I answered cautiously.

“Hello?”

A calm male voice came through.

“Ms. Cross? This is Adrian Vale.”

I straightened.

Adrian Vale was the chairman of Vale Hospitality, one of the largest hotel groups on the East Coast.

“Mr. Vale?”

“I'd like to discuss a second contract.”

My eyebrows lifted.

“Already?”

He laughed softly.

“Your wedding may have been canceled, but your business seems to be doing just fine.”

I smiled.

“It's doing better than fine.”

“Good. That's exactly what I wanted to hear.”

***

That evening, another article appeared online.

This time, it wasn't about me.

It was about Gianna.

The headline read:

ROSSI HEIRESS DENIES ROMANCE RUMORS WITH LOMBARDI HEIR.

I opened the article.

Gianna had given an interview.

She claimed the wedding incident had been misunderstood.

She said she and Hollis were “like family.”

She insisted the signet ring had only been worn as part of a harmless joke.

I almost closed the article.

Then I saw the final paragraph.

According to sources close to the Rossi family, Gianna was now being considered for a formal alliance with another powerful family.

I stared at the screen.

So that was why she was distancing herself from Hollis.

Not because she suddenly cared about my feelings.

Because she needed her own future secured.

I set my phone down.

Whatever happened between them was no longer my concern.

But someone else clearly thought differently.

A message appeared on my screen.

Hollis.

[Can we meet?]

I didn't answer.

Another message arrived.

[Just once. No family. No business. No Gianna.]

I stared at those words for a long time.

Then I typed one sentence.

[There's nothing left to discuss.]

His reply came almost immediately.

[There is for me.]

I locked my phone.

For the first time, I realized something had changed.

Hollis wasn't angry anymore.

He was afraid.

And I was no longer the woman who would comfort him whenever he was afraid.