Chapter 4

The moment Vera and Asher stepped away from Lucas and Camilla, the weight of their stares burned into her back. But Vera didn’t falter. 

A waiter approached with a tray of champagne flutes, and Asher plucked two, handing one to Vera.

She took it with a nod, then turned her gaze to the sprawling city lights beyond the terrace.

The cool evening air was a stark contrast to the heated tension inside.

"You knew he’d approach me," Vera said after a moment, swirling the golden liquid in her glass.

"Of course," Asher said, leaning against the railing. "Lucas Whitmore is predictable. The moment he saw you with me, he couldn’t stand it. He wanted to reassert control."

She let out a soft laugh. "And yet, he no longer has any."

Asher tilted his head. "Exactly."

They stood in comfortable silence, the noise of the gala fading behind them.

Vera took a sip of her drink, the bubbles tingling against her lips.

"Enjoying this?" Asher asked breaking the silence.

Vera turned to face him, her expression unreadable. "Wouldn’t you, if you spent years being cast aside only to finally be the one holding the cards?"

A slow smile tugged at his lips. "Fair point."

Before she could respond, a shadow loomed at the terrace entrance. Vera tensed.

Lucas.

His tie was loosened now, a sure sign of his agitation. His gaze flickered between Vera and Asher, his jaw tightening.

"Vera, can I talk to you?" His voice was lower now, the desperation barely masked. "Alone."

Vera tilted her head, studying him.

The man who had once been her entire world now looked… small.

Asher remained silent beside her, exuding the kind of quiet dominance that only made Lucas shift uncomfortably.

Vera tapped a manicured nail against her glass. "I think we already had this conversation, Lucas. There’s nothing left to say."

Lucas exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. "Vera, please."

She raised a brow. "Why? So you can tell me you made a mistake? That you didn’t mean to choose her? That you, what? Regret it?"

Lucas hesitated, and Vera saw it.

Regret. Raw and unfiltered.

But it was too late.

She stepped closer, just enough that only he could hear her next words. "You made your choice, Lucas. Now live with it."

Then she turned, looping her arm through Asher’s without a second glance.

Vera barely noticed the way the crowd parted for them as she and Asher re entered the ballroom.

The whispers were louder now, the intrigue surrounding her undeniable.

Asher guided her toward the bar.

The bartender set two fresh glasses of whiskey before them, and Asher raised his in a silent toast.

Vera mirrored him, their glasses clinking softly.

The drink burned smooth down her throat. Then, just as she set her glass down, a new presence approached.

A man Vera didn’t recognize, but judging by the way Asher’s posture subtly shifted, he was someone important.

"Donovan," the man greeted smoothly, his dark suit impeccable. "I didn’t expect to see you here with such… fascinating company."

Asher’s expression remained unreadable. "Nicholas. It’s been a while."

Nicholas turned his attention to Vera, his sharp gaze assessing. "Vera Sinclair. Your name is everywhere tonight."

Vera met his gaze without hesitation. "That tends to happen when people underestimate me."

Nicholas smiled, though there was something calculating about it. "Indeed."

Asher placed a hand on the small of Vera’s back. "What do you want, Nicholas?"

Nicholas tilted his head. "Just observing. The game is changing, after all. And Vera here seems to be playing it better than most."

Vera’s eyes narrowed slightly. She didn’t know Nicholas.

"If you’ll excuse us," Asher said smoothly, already steering Vera away.

As they walked, she turned to him. "Who is he?"

Asher exhaled slowly. "Nicholas Alden. Camilla’s cousin. And someone who doesn’t get involved unless there’s something in it for him."

Vera processed that. "So why is he suddenly interested in me?"

Asher’s lips quirked. "Because you just changed the game. And people like Nicholas? They always pay attention to the ones who disrupt the board."

Vera glanced back, catching Nicholas watching her from across the room.

Vera could still feel Nicholas's gaze on her long after she and Asher left the ballroom.

It was an unsettling feeling, knowing that she had caught the attention of someone like him.

Asher led her toward the grand staircase, away from the murmuring crowd.

The quiet hum of the music softened as they stepped into a dimly lit hallway lined with ornate paintings and antique sconces.

"Where are we going?" Vera asked, arching a brow.

Asher smirked. "Away from prying eyes. I figured you might want a moment to breathe."

She exhaled, realizing just how much tension she had been holding in her shoulders. "I suppose I should thank you."

"You could," he mused reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was intimate, unexpected.

Her breath hitched for just a second before she masked it with a smirk.

Before she could respond, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Vera turned, her amusement vanishing when she saw who was approaching.

Lucas.

Again!

His tie was now completely undone, the top buttons of his shirt loosened, his expression unreadable. But there was something in his eyes, something restless, conflicted.

"Vera," he said, voice low, urgent.

She sighed, already feeling exhaustion creeping in. "Lucas, we’ve already..."

"Just give me five minutes." His gaze flickered briefly to Asher before settling back on her. "Alone."

Asher tensed beside her, but Vera raised a hand. "It’s fine."

She wasn’t afraid of Lucas. And if this was his last attempt at closure, she would grant him that.

Asher studied her for a long moment, then exhaled sharply. "I’ll be nearby."

With that, he stepped away, leaving Vera and Lucas in the quiet hallway.

Lucas swallowed, running a hand through his hair. "You don’t owe me anything, Vera. I know that. But I need you to hear me out."

Vera folded her arms, her expression cool. "Then talk."

Lucas exhaled. "I made a mistake. A massive, unforgivable mistake. And I don’t expect you to forgive me. But Vera…" His voice grew rough, raw. "I didn't stop caring about you."

Her heart should have clenched at the confession. But now?

Now, she simply stared at him, unshaken.

"That’s the problem, Lucas," she said, her voice steady. "You only realize what you had after you lost it. And that’s not love. That’s regret."

Lucas flinched, his expression tightening. "Vera..."

She shook her head. "No. You don’t get to rewrite the past just because it doesn’t suit you anymore. You chose Camilla. You left me behind. And now that I’ve moved on, you suddenly want to fix things?" She took a step closer, her gaze unrelenting. "I’m not a backup plan, Lucas. And I never will be."

Silence stretched between them. Lucas looked as though he wanted to say something, anything, to change the inevitable.

But it was too late.

Vera turned on her heel, leaving him standing alone in the dim hallway.

Asher was waiting for her at the end of the corridor, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "Everything okay?"

She exhaled. "More than okay."