Diamond Tears | Book 2 of The Champagne Chronicles

F O U R T E E N - Chains Unbroken

Daphne walked quickly through the dim streets, her footsteps hurried as her mind spun in circles. Her paycheck—gone. It didn't make any sense. Everything she had worked for, the countless hours at the café, all of it just... vanished. And rent was due soon. The Paris trip felt like a distant dream now, a luxury she couldn't afford to think about.

The cool night air brushed her face as she made her way to the burger place where Riley was waiting. Her phone buzzed again.

Riley: "Don't worry, we'll figure it out."

But that's exactly what she did—worry. She couldn't help it. Her fingers tightened around her phone as she entered the restaurant and spotted Riley sitting at a table near the window. He smiled at her when he saw her, but the concern in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Hey," Riley said softly as she sat down across from him. "What happened?"

Daphne swallowed hard, trying to push the panic down. "I don't know. I just checked my account, and all the money's gone. The paycheck came in, but it's like it was drained the moment it hit."

Riley frowned, his brow furrowing. "That's... weird. Did you call the bank?"

"Of course I did," Daphne said, her voice a little sharper than she intended. "They said they'll investigate, but that could take days, and I don't have time for this. I need that money."

Riley reached out, his hand covering hers. "We'll figure it out, Daph. Look, let me help—"

"No," Daphne said immediately, pulling her hand away. She shook her head, frustration bubbling up inside her. "Riley, I don't want you to fix this."

"I'm not trying to 'fix' it," Riley said, his voice steady but firm. "I'm offering to help because I can. You don't have to do everything alone."

Daphne's heart pounded harder, the anxiety mixing with frustration. "You don't get it. I can't rely on you every time something goes wrong. I need to figure this out myself."

"I get that," Riley said, leaning forward, his voice calm but edged with concern. "But I'm your boyfriend, Daph. I'm supposed to be here for you. You don't have to carry this all by yourself."

"You think I want to carry it all by myself?" Daphne snapped, her emotions spiraling out of control. "I don't. But I have to. This is my life, my mess. I'm barely holding things together as it is, and now this..."

"Then let me lighten the load," Riley said, his voice rising slightly. "Why is that such a problem?"

"Because I don't want to owe you," Daphne said, her voice cracking as she stood up from the table. She couldn't sit there anymore, couldn't look at him without feeling the weight of everything crushing her. "I don't want you to fix things for me, Riley. I need to do this on my own."

Riley stared at her, his jaw tight, frustration flashing in his eyes. "I'm not your enemy, Daphne. Stop treating me like I am."

Daphne swallowed hard, tears threatening to well in her eyes, but she blinked them away. Her chest felt tight, and the room seemed too small all of a sudden. She needed space, needed to breathe.

"I need some air," she muttered, grabbing her coat.

"Daph, don't—" Riley started, but she was already moving toward the door, her head spinning with everything she couldn't control.

She stepped out into the cool night, the weight of their argument pressing down on her.

——-

The grand halls of the Grimaldi palace echoed with the quiet rustle of documents and murmured conversations. Vincent Grimaldi stood near the windows, looking out over the manicured gardens, but his mind was miles away. The deadline was approaching—Christmas. If Evian was not found by then, Vincent would be crowned king. The thought stirred a mixture of emotions within him—bitterness, ambition, and something else he couldn't quite place.