Chapter 3 03

"What's with that face, Dylan? You look miserable."

Dylan frowned even more when he heard his cousin's comment. Iverson dropped onto the seat beside him and handed him a glass of wine. Dylan shook his head slightly, like he wasn't fully there, before taking it.

"What do you want?" he asked, taking a slow sip.

Iverson let out a quiet laugh. "Do I need a reason just to sit with you? Wow. You really know how to make someone feel welcome," he said, shaking his head.

Dylan scoffed. "Then why are you here?"

"Danielle and Maurice told me to check on you. They said you looked like you needed someone to talk to."

Dylan shook his head again. Those two. "Do I really look like I need someone to talk to?" he asked, letting out a bitter laugh.

"You've been sitting there alone all night. You've looked stressed for hours," Iverson said with a yawn. "What is it? Work? That case? The one involving Senator Clemente?" He waved it off. "I already know. Even my dad's stressed because of that. He barely sleeps anymore. Mom yelled at him last night. Honestly? He really deserved some scolding from Mom."

"It's not work," Dylan said quietly. "It's not about that."

And it wasn't. Work was the one thing going right in his life. He was doing well. He's one step away from a promotion. Everything should've felt steady.

"Oh." Iverson turned to look at him properly. "Then that means it's a woman."

He wasn't even asking. He sounded completely sure.

Dylan sighed deeply, the weight in his chest pressing harder. They were so close to finally putting Senator Clemente behind bars. And he had promised Brielle they'd get married once it was over.

"What about Brielle?" Iverson asked. "Did you two fight again?"

Dylan slowly shook his head. "Surprisingly, no. She's been... fine these past few days. She hasn't been getting mad at me over my job."

"Oh." Iverson raised an eyebrow. "Then what's the problem? You should be happy. Your girlfriend's not throwing tantrums for once."

Dylan stayed quiet.

That was part of it, wasn't it? He should be relieved. Grateful, even. But instead, something felt off. Like something was wrong and he just couldn't name it.

"I promised her we'd get married after the case is done," he finally said.

Iverson blinked. "What? But didn't you say you weren't planning on getting married this year?"

Dylan inhaled sharply. "I wasn't. But she wants to. And we've been together for a long time. Maybe my mom's right... maybe it's time."

The truth was, he wasn't ready. Not even close. There were still so many things he wanted to do, things he wanted to become. Sometimes he felt like he and Brielle didn't even fully know each other yet. But he didn't want to lose her. She had already gotten angry so many times because he kept postponing marriage. If he refused again, this time she might really walk away.

"Why does it sound like you're forcing yourself?" Iverson asked.

Dylan sighed and took another drink. "It's not forcing. I'm just... not ready."

"But didn't you tell us before that Brielle doesn't want you to be a cop?" Iverson pressed. "What about that?"

Dylan nodded, his jaw tightening as he drank again. "That's part of the problem. She wants me to quit and take over Inara from Maurice. You know she's not on good terms with our cousins, right? And seriously.. What does she think of my profession? I'm doing well where I am. I don't want to take the business just because I earn less. And I'm not even interested in that life... but she keeps insisting I should just give up my job."

Iverson fell silent.

Dylan drained the rest of his glass.

"If you're really planning to marry her, and that's how she sees your career," Iverson said slowly, "then you need to think about this carefully." He looked straight at Dylan. "You should be with someone who helps you reach your dreams. You don't have to stay with someone who doesn't respect them. Love isn't just about being happy all the time. Look at our parents. Look at the kind of love they have." He paused. "Do you honestly think that's what you and Brielle have?"

Dylan rubbed his temples, frustration pounding in his head. Of course he wanted someone who understood him. Deep down, he knew Brielle didn't.

But he loved her. More than anyone.

Was he really willing to lose her over his ambitions?

He let out a long breath and stood up. "I still have time to think," he said. "I'll deal with it after the case is over."

"You need to choose wisely," Iverson called after him. "Brielle isn't the only person who could love you. What if there's someone else? Someone who understands why your job matters to you?"

Dylan didn't answer. He just exhaled sharply and walked away, ignoring the cousins who greeted him on his way to his room. He was too exhausted to pretend he was okay.

Before going to sleep, he checked his phone. No message from Brielle. Just like before.

He shook his head. Maybe she was busy.

The next morning, he woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing nonstop. Confused by the flood of messages and missed calls, he started reading them one by one.

And in an instant, his world stopped.

It felt like ice water had been poured over him. His lips trembled as he read through the messages. Some were furious at Brielle, some were trying to comfort him. There were too many to process, too many words, all colliding at once. His mind refused to catch up.

They were telling him the same thing.

A piece of news that shattered everything he thought he knew.

His girlfriend, Brielle Clarkson, was set to marry someone else.

And it wasn't him.