Chapter 5

~Three Years Later~

"Mommy, do we have to leave now?" The little boy beside me whined, his bottom lip protruding in a pout, his blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He turned to look back at our apartment one last time, his gaze heavy with the weight of his sadness.

I crouched to his level, brushing a soft curl from his forehead. “Jace, sweetheart,” I murmured, cupping his small face in my hands. “We’re not leaving forever. We’re just going on a trip, okay? Mommy has something important to do in New York.”

His tiny fingers clutched the hem of my coat. “But I don’t want to go. I like it here.”

I sighed, my heart squeezing. “I know, baby. But I promise, we’ll come back soon.”

He sniffled, but nodded reluctantly. I pressed a kiss to his forehead before standing and taking his hand. “Come on, our flight won’t wait for us.”

As we climbed into the sleek black car waiting outside, my phone rang. The name flashing on the screen made me smile. “Hey, Vera.”

“Hey, boss lady,” she teased, the familiar warmth in her voice soothing. “Ready for your grand return?”

I scoffed, adjusting my son’s seatbelt before sliding in beside him. “It’s not a ‘grand return.’ It’s just a business trip.”

Vera snorted. “Oh, please. You’re launching one of the biggest perfume brands in the world, in the same city you once ran from. And don’t tell me it’s not fate that your first flagship store happens to be in New York.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fate or not, I’m not looking back. That part of my life is over.”

She was quiet for a moment before sighing. “I know. Just be careful, okay? The past has a nasty habit of sneaking up when you least expect it.”

“I will,” I promised. “And I’ll see you when I get back?”

“You bet. Maybe I’ll even fly out to New York and crash your party.”

I chuckled. “I’d like that.”

As the driver pulled away from the house, I glanced at Jace, who was already dozing off against his car seat. My heart clenched as I watched him. He was my everything, the reason I survived, the reason I fought so hard.

Three years ago, I left New York a broken woman. Now, I was returning as Juliet Ryder, CEO of Jace Perfumes, one of the wealthiest self-made women in the world.

I had no intention of looking back.

——

The grand opening of Jace Perfumes was held in a luxurious venue in the heart of Manhattan, a towering glass building illuminated with golden lights. The event was a spectacle, socialites, industry leaders, and media personnel filled the space, sipping champagne and admiring the exclusive launch collection displayed in elegant glass cases.

Despite being the mastermind behind it all, no one knew me.

I had built my company quietly, letting the brand speak for itself rather than seeking personal recognition. It was safer that way. There were too many people from my past I wanted to avoid.

Dressed in an off-shoulder emerald gown that hugged my curves, my once untamed black hair now styled in soft waves, I looked every bit the powerful businesswoman the world whispered about. But to them, I was just another guest, an outsider admiring the empire they thought belonged to someone else.

I was fine with that, I had until the grand announcement to introduce myself to them.

With a glass of wine in hand, I made my way toward the balcony, seeking a moment of solitude. But before I could step outside, a familiar voice sliced through the air, sending a chill down my spine.

Laughter. Carefree, taunting.

My grip on the glass tightened as I turned, and there she was, Raya.

She stood a few feet away, laughing with another woman, her manicured fingers delicately holding a champagne flute. She looked exactly the same—Cherry red hair cascading over her shoulders, expensive designer dress clinging to her frame, a smile that masked the venom beneath.

And then her gaze landed on me.

The laughter died on her lips. For a moment, her face was frozen in shock, as if she were seeing a ghost. Then, her expression twisted into one of pure hatred. She took a step forward, eyes burning with disbelief.

“Juliet?” Raya mumbled her eyes widened slowly. “What are you doing here?”

The guest turned their gazes towards me, curious to know what the ruckus was about.

I met her gaze evenly, refusing to shrink under her scrutiny. “I wasn’t aware I needed your permission to exist.”

Her lips curled into a sneer. “Three years, Juliet. Three years of blissful silence, and now you decide to crawl back? What, did you get tired of hiding?”

The woman beside her smirked, whispering something into Raya’s ear that made her snicker. I ignored it, taking a slow sip of my wine, my expression unreadable. “I didn’t come here for you.”

Raya scoffed. “Of course you did. You always did like making a spectacle of yourself.”

The murmurs around us swelled, an ocean of speculation and hushed voices. Eyes darted between me and Raya, their curiosity sharpening the air. I knew exactly where this was going, and I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.

Raya took another step closer. "You must have some nerve showing up here," she said, her voice laced with venom. "I mean, look at you, all dressed up like you belong." Her eyes raked over my emerald gown, a mocking smirk curling her lips. "Let me guess, some rich guy took pity on you? Is that how you got in? Or did you just steal the dress and sneak past security?"

A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd. The weight of their gazes pressed against me, but I kept my chin high, meeting her eyes with an unwavering stare.

"Watch your mouth, Raya," I said, my voice smooth but laced with warning. "You have no idea who you're talking to."

She scoffed, shaking her head. "Oh, but I do. I know exactly who you are. A nobody. A washed-up rejected wife, who ran away with her tail between her legs. What, did you think coming back in a fancy dress would change anything?" Her lips curled cruelly. "Pathetic."

I took a slow sip of my wine, unbothered. "Funny," I mused, tilting my head. "If I'm so insignificant, why are you so bothered by my presence?"

Raya's eyes darkened, her grip on the glass tightening. The woman beside her snickered again, whispering something that made Raya's lips twitch with amusement. "You should be grateful I’m even talking to you. You don’t belong here, Juliet." She sneered, tilting her head. "No amount of stolen designer dresses and fake confidence will change that."

A hush fell over the crowd as a voice, sharp and poised, cut through the air.

"What is going on here?"