The Man Who Always Won Lost at Love Chapter 04
I didn’t explain any further. I left the Salvi home carrying the case of whiskey.
As the elevator descended, the case weighed heavily in my hands, yet I felt lighter with every floor.
Once disappointment ran deep enough, it stopped hurting.
All that was left was exhaustion.
Then came relief.
I was relieved I hadn’t married Dante yet, relieved we hadn’t moved into the house we were supposed to share, relieved I could still walk away from this engagement.
A message from HR appeared on my phone.
HR: [Your resignation has been accepted. Wishing you all the best in what comes next.]
I stared at it for a long time before replying.
Me: [Thank you.]
Whatever came next, I knew I would be okay.
When I got to the office, I started packing up my things.
The matching mug on my desk, the pen Dante had given me, photos of the two of us from company
outings… I went through everything one by one, pulling out anything that had to do with him.
Paula watched me for a long time before finally asking, “Leona, are you really leaving for another firm, or are
you doing this because you’re angry with Dante?”
“Another firm. Westerlin Consulting.”
She visibly froze. “Seriously?”
I nodded, then tossed the matching mug into the trash.
It hit the bottom with a sharp crack, leaving a fracture across the ceramic.
Paula hesitated for a long moment before lowering her voice. “There’s something I need to tell you, but don’t tell anyone you heard it from me.”
I stopped what I was doing. “What?”
“Dante has bad–mouthed you behind your back more than once.”
I slowed what I was doing.
“Whenever your numbers beat Mireya’s, he’d say you must’ve pulled something shady to get there.”
“And…” Paula seemed reluctant to continue. “He said being mediocre was one thing, but what he hated most was someone mediocre who kept taking opportunities that should’ve gone to other people.”
I went still.
It was hard to imagine something that cruel had really come from Dante.
But whether I believed it or not didn’t matter anymore.
I gave a small smile. “It’s fine. We’re over.”
I had just picked up my box to leave when my phone buzzed three times in quick succession.
It was Dante.
I didn’t answer. I was about to block him when a text appeared.
Dante: [Come to St. Vincent Medical Center. It’s urgent. This concerns you.]
My stomach dropped.
Could it be my parents? Or had something happened to someone else?
I didn’t hesitate. I shoved the box into my car and drove straight to the hospital.
The moment I opened the door to the room, someone slapped me hard across the face.
My ears rang, and my cheek burned almost instantly.
Dante stood in front of me, the hand that had struck me still trembling slightly. “I told you to look after
Teresa. Where did you go? Look how badly her lower back is swollen! Leona, did you leave her like this on
purpose? You still play as dirty as you did ten years ago!”
All the worry that had sent me racing to the hospital suddenly felt like a joke.
Tears slipped down my face from the pain, but all I asked was, “This is what you meant when you said it
concerned me?”
Dante opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Teresa immediately pushed herself upright in the hospital bed. “Dante, what are you doing? I was the one
who refused to come to the hospital. Leona wanted to take me, and I told her no. I didn’t want to keep her
from work, and I didn’t want to interrupt your date with Mireya.”
Dante’s expression changed. “Date?”
Mireya jumped in immediately. “Mom got the wrong idea. It was just a business trip.”
Teresa brushed it off. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? You two already made a point of coming over
together. I’m only asking.”
She smiled at Dante. “So when are you planning to marry my daughter?”
The room went dead silent.
Dante looked at me, then at Mireya, his brow drawing tight. “Teresa, Mireya and I are just-”
Mireya suddenly cut him off. “Mom, stop worrying about that right now. Your back still isn’t better.”
They stood together beside the hospital bed.
And suddenly I realized that from beginning to end, I was the one who didn’t belong there.
I turned to leave, but Dante grabbed my wrist.
“Leona, I can explain.”
I turned back. “Fine. Explain it right now. In front of Teresa.”
Dante exhaled, clearly irritated. “This isn’t the place. Wait for me in the parking garage. I bought you
something. Consider it my apology for hitting you today.”
Then he added, “This is the first time I’ve ever been the one to back down. Don’t keep pushing me.”
I looked at him and nodded. “Okay.”
I agreed far too easily.
I did go down to the parking garage.
I just wasn’t going there to wait for him.
I didn’t need Dante to back down anymore.
I didn’t need his gift either.
And I couldn’t take his version of love anymore.
I got into my car, hit the gas, and drove straight out of the garage.
In the rearview mirror, I saw Dante run after me. He stood near the exit, calling me over and over.
This time, I didn’t stop.
