“I know,” he breathed. “I hate me too.”
I tried to shove him away again, but he caught my wrists, his grip gentle now. “Britt, don’t go back in there.”
“Why?” My voice cracked. “So you can keep breaking me into pieces?”
His jaw flexed, his eyes raking over my face like he was memorizing it. “Because the thought of you with someone else makes me fucking insane.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “That’s not love, Ace. That’s control.”
He released my wrists, raking a hand through his hair. “I know.”
Silence stretched between us, thick with everything we couldn’t say.
“I can’t do this anymore,” I whispered, stepping back. “I can’t keep letting you wreck me.”
Ace looked like he wanted to say something — his mouth parted, his brow furrowed — but the words never came.
I turned, my legs shaking, my heart pounding in my ears. I took one step toward the restaurant — and felt his hand close around mine again.
“Brittany,” he said softly. Just my name. But it was enough to shatter me.
I spun around, my anger flaring again. “What do you want from me, Ace? You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either. You come into my life, blow it all up, and then walk away like you didn’t leave me in pieces. What the hell do you want?”
His throat worked, his eyes dark and stormy.
“I want you,” he ground out finally, his voice breaking. “But I don’t know how to want you without ruining you.”
The words punched the breath out of me.
We stood there, under the flickering streetlight, two broken people caught in the mess we’d made of each other.
And for the first time, I saw it — the cracks in his armor, the pain he kept buried under all that arrogance.
But it wasn’t enough. Not tonight. Maybe not ever.
I shook my head slowly. “You can’t keep doing this to me.”
He closed his eyes, his jaw clenched so tight it trembled.
“Goodbye, Ace,” I whispered.
I turned, walked away — and this time, he didn’t stop me.
Chapter 30
Brittany
The Present
The soft rustle of silk against skin, the quiet click of my heels on polished marble, the murmur of a hundred voices blending into a hum of anticipation - all of it wrapped around me as I stood at the center of the ballroom in downtown Los Angeles, barely breathing.
I adjusted the diamond-studded cuff on my wrist, heart racing. My jewelry line - Luné, a name I chose because it meant "moon" in French, soft and eternal - shimmered under the golden lights that swung from the chandelier. Every piece reflected light like stardust, delicate bracelets for children, bold statement necklaces for women, cufflinks for men - it was all there.
And it was mine.
"Brit, you've outdone yourself," Corinne whispered into my ear, looping her arm through mine as we watched celebrities and influencers drift from display to display. She looked radiant - chic in a white tailored jumpsuit, her blonde hair swept back, a champagne flute in hand. Jasper was close by, laughing with an actor I barely recognized.
I smiled faintly. "I almost can't believe it's real."
