Chapter 2

After handling the wedding matters, I dialed the hotel manager's number once again.

"The wedding is off. Cancel the presidential suite, ocean-view villas, private butler, private chef, yacht, private cars, and all services for the wedding day."

The manager paused for a moment.

"Ms. Olsen, are you certain? According to the contract, a portion of the deposit cannot be refunded."

"I'm sure."

Immediately following, I also canceled the photography team, makeup team, and floral services.

In less than half an hour, the wedding I had personally prepared for half a year was completely canceled.

I sat quietly on my suitcase, only now realizing that my hands and feet were getting numb.

Just as I was preparing to return to the villa, Harrison called.

"Lola, have you guys arrived at the pier?"

His voice was still gentle, as if he wasn't the one who had just driven me and my parents away.

"Almost."

I responded calmly, and Harrison let out a sigh of relief.

"That's good. Let the private butler know first that Mandy is allergic to seafood, so don't have them prepare lobster or crab. She has trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds, so have the room scented with lavender aromatherapy ahead of time. Also, don't prepare milk for breakfast. She prefers oat milk."

He said a great deal in a single breath, terrified of missing any detail.

I listened quietly. Once he finished speaking, I asked a single sentence in a light voice.

"Is that all?"

The other end fell silent for a brief moment, then his voice turned cheerful.

"That's all for now. It's Mandy's first time going abroad. I'm afraid she won't be used to it, so look after her a bit more."

I suddenly felt it was ironic. Turns out, he was capable of remembering everything, but nothing concerning me.

After five years together, he didn't know that milk gave me a stomachache and that I was allergic to mangoes. He knew even less that I had to draw the curtains tightly to sleep and couldn't stand heavy perfume scents.

In the past, I always made excuses for him, feeling that he was merely busy with work and lacked the mind to remember these things.

Yet Mandy had only been acquainted with him for a month, and he remembered clear as day what she liked, what she avoided eating, and her sleep habits.

Only now did I understand that if a person truly keeps you in their heart, there is no need for reminders.

The phone rang again, another call from Harrison.

"Also, Mandy is a bit shy around strangers. Mention it to the private butler ahead of time so they're aware. In addition, arrange her parents' room in the position with the best view. It's their first time coming to Meridianna, so the experience must be excellent."

I gave a light response.

"Okay."

Hearing my response, he let out a satisfied laugh.

"You're still the sensible one. Once the wedding is over, I'll make it up to you."

The call hung up, and I remembered back to five years ago when I had just taken over the family pier. During an outing, several drunkards pestered me.

Though my bodyguards were nearby and could have arrived very quickly, Harrison didn't know that.

He rushed up without a single shred of hesitation to shield me, getting beaten until his face was black and blue.

That was the first time someone disregarded their own safety for mine. From that day on, I proactively pursued him.

To be with him, I concealed my identity as a capo of a mafia family, only saying that I managed a pier business.

His salary wasn't high, so I bore the vast majority of our dating expenses.

He wanted to achieve results in his work, so I used my network to introduce regular import-export enterprises.

I thought that to love a person meant maintaining his pride.

Only now did I realize that my constant compromises never bought his affection. In fact, it had only made him find everything more and more a matter of course.

Another message popped up, still from Harrison.

[Don't forget to have the hotel prepare welcome bouquets. Mandy likes white roses, not lilies.]

The sentence was short, yet felt like a needle, piercing through my last illusion.

I wiped my eyes and put away all my vulnerability.

From now on, I only had one identity—capo of Narshe's Olsen mafia family.

I dialed the hotel manager's phone once more.

"Don't reinstate any of the services canceled just now.

"In addition, for the rooms and all matching services freed up after the cancellation, do not allow anyone to check in under my name."

Since Harrison wanted to take care of Mandy so badly, for this trip to Meridianna, let him use his own salary of a few thousand dollars a month to take good care of her.