He steps forward, closing the gap between us just slightly. "I never wanted to hurt you."
My throat tightens. "Too late for that, Ace."
Something flickers across his face—regret, maybe, or just the memory of everything we lost. But I don’t care. Not anymore. Straightening my shoulders, I brush past him, my heels clicking defiantly as I stride down the hallway.
As I reach the ballroom, Corinne intercepts me, concern flickering in her eyes. "Hey, you okay?" she murmurs.
"I’m fine," I say briskly, plastering on a smile. "Where’s the birthday boy?"
She gestures toward the terrace, where Jasper leans against the railing, laughing softly as he chats with a small group—including Ace. My stomach clenches, but I force myself to exhale, to release it.
Corinne touches my arm. "Brit… do you want to leave? We can go."
I shake my head. "No. I’m staying."
Because this time, I’m not the girl who runs. Not anymore.
As the night drifts on, I watch Jasper and Corinne fall into an easy rhythm—soft glances, quiet laughter, the kind of chemistry that’s impossible to fake. And for a moment, I let myself smile. Maybe some stories get a second chance. Maybe some people do.
But as for Ace and me—
I turn away, letting the music and chatter swallow me whole, determined to write a new chapter.
One without him in it.
Chapter 27
Brittany
I feel the weight of my phone against my palm as I scroll through my Instagram feed. Luxe Beauty's latest product launch is everywhere. I smile, my fingers tapping away as I add anotherpost, another reminder of how far I’ve come since partnering with Corinne. I was just a girl trying to find her way in a city that never stops moving, and now here I am—Luxe Beauty’s brand ambassador, social media manager, influencer, all wrapped into one. It’s crazy to think about. There’s talk of a bracelet and charm line in the works. It’s still just an idea, but the potential is there. I can feel it.
As I lean back in the plush, velvet chair, my thoughts wander. The trip to England was supposed to be about work, but somehow, it’s also about so much more. Corinne’s glow is infectious. She’s stunning, and now, with her beauty empire growing, it seems like nothing can touch her. Yet, here I am, in a hotel suite in London, the weight of unfinished business looming over me.
I glance over at her, sitting on the couch, her fingers flying across her phone, the soft hum of her voice blending into the background noise. We’d just wrapped another runway show for Prada. The adrenaline was still buzzing through me. The cameras, the lights, the crowd—everything felt electric.
But then there’s Jasper.
He’s here too. He’s always here now, it seems. Jasper and Corinne are back together. I’m not sure when it happened, but it’s impossible to ignore. I know he’s here for business, a meeting with investors or some big deal, but I also know that, if we’re being real, he’s here because of her.
There’s no hiding it. I knew what it was when I saw them together, the way they looked at each other, the subtle, unspoken connection that was so evident. But maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m just a little too aware of everything happening around me.
I’m still adjusting to the reality of seeing them together again.
Corinne puts her phone down and stretches, her movements graceful as always. “Jasper’s out meeting with some investors. Ace is in town too, he’s meeting with him today.”
I stiffen.
There’s a tightness in my chest that I can’t ignore. “Ace?”
Corinne looks at me, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Yeah, Ace. I know you don’t like him, but I don’t want to hear it. Jasper’s meeting him. It’s business.”
I want to say something—anything—to make this moment feel less heavy. But the words won’t come. My mind is already spiraling.
Why does the mention of Ace make everything inside me tense? Why does it feel like a storm brews inside me every time his name is spoken? I don’t even know where to start, but I can feel it—the old wounds, the unspoken things. It’s like I’m drowning in a sea of memories I don’t want to revisit.
Corinne’s eyes soften as she watches me. “You’re not still hung up on him, are you?”
I bite my lip, my throat tight as I try to keep my composure. I don’t want to talk about Ace. Not with Corinne, not with anyone. But it’s hard to keep the past buried when it feels like it’s right there, clawing its way to the surface.
