Chapter 3

Ghosted Him

my breathing slow at the mention of his name and, even worse, my brother’s words unsettled me. “What–what do you mean?” 

Archie chuckled. “Exactly what I said. He’s going to attend the engagement party, Arabella.” 

My stomach dropped. “I know. I heard that part, but why and how?” I asked hesitantly.

I couldn’t believe it, and I didn’t want it to be true. Alvise hadn’t returned to London in four years. Not for holidays, birthdays or reunions. And when Archie tried travelling to Russia to see him, Alvise declined.”

“I told him it wasn’t fair that I’d found out about his engagement on the news,” Archie answered, sounding quite upset.

I wasn’t surprised. Alvise had always been closed off and mysterious in a way, and nothing about him ever made sense to people like us. His parents were influential socialites who held powerful positions in the Russian government, and eyen while he was in London, people paid attention to everything he did. After he left, I realised he was an even bigger deal in Russia.