The Last Time I Loved Him (Autumn and Ryan)

Chapter 10

At a French winery, two men were pulling me into an argument.

One of them pointed to an old photograph of a little boy and a little girl standing hand in hand.

"Mia, this is the proof! You made a ring for me out of grass and said you'd marry me when we grew up!"

I took the magnifying glass he handed me and examined the photo carefully.

"Uh, yeah, there does seem to be something in the hand."

Jack snatched the photo album from Jacob's hands.

"This doesn't count! Look at the picture-Mia is taller than you!

Things from when you were kids don't count!"

"And I distinctly remember that she gave me one that day too! It's just that I'm not in this photo!"

I slid two four-leaf clover diamond rings onto their hands.

"All right, no more arguing. Now each of you has one!"

They beamed with excitement, holding up the rings like prized trophies.

"Did you design these yourself? Wow, they're exquisite!"

Just then, a video call from my parents came in. I shooed the them out and answered the call.

"Dad! Mom!"

They leaned so close to the camera that their faces filled the screen, hardly looking like the heads of a major corporation.

"So, have you had enough of France? When are you coming home?"

"Don't rush her. She's only been there a month. I picked out that winery myself-how do you like it?"

I held up a glass of red wine to show them. "I love it! It's amazing!"

"See? I knew she'd love the winery I chose for her!"

"No, no! She also loves seafood. Mia, Mia! Next month, go to the seafood town I picked out for you! You'll love it there!" They kissed right in front of me.

"Ugh, you two..."

"Mia, after all these years of

hardship, you deserve better. Did you hear? That Ethan -he ruined the White family's daughter so badly that she's now disabled and has to live with a catheter. And he's in prison himself now."

"Someone like that... marrying him."

It's a blessing you broke things off before Listening to this felt like

hearing the story of a stranger

heartremained utterly still, without a ripple of emotion.

"Mia, we're still sorry. We always thought you'd find a love story like ours. We never expected you'd meet someone so unworthy." "Stop bringing it up. She's already moved on."

I rocked back in my chair, casually changing the subject.

"Mom, Dad, why did you design the winery to look like a four-leaf clover?"

Mom quickly explained, "That was the Spencers idea. How could two old folks like us come up with something so creative? By the way what do you think of them? Have you decided on either of them? You're not getting any younger, you know. It's time to focus on yourself."

Their anxious concern seemed ready to spill out of the screen.

Dad gently nudged Mom and said, "I told you, don't push her. Our daughter can make her own choices."

They looked at me with such tenderness.

"Mia, just tell us who you like. Don't keep it from us."

I smiled back at them.

I knew a new chapter of my story was about to begin.