Chapter 7

The grand ballroom of the Cole estate sparkled under the glow of chandeliers, the polished marble reflecting the light like a scene from a dream. A string quartet played in the corner, the hum of polite conversation filling the air. Waiters weaved through the crowd, offering glasses of expensive champagne, as the city’s most influential figures mingled, oblivious to the storm brewing in my chest.

I had prepared myself for tonight, for the moment my name would be tied to Asher Cole’s in a way that would leave no room for doubt. But nothing could have prepared me for this.

Jarem.

And Lili.

Together.

Standing too close, whispering as if they shared some private secret—one they thought I wasn’t aware of.

My stomach twisted. It hadn’t even been a month since I left him, yet here they were. Did they even bother to hide whatever this was? Or did they simply assume I wouldn’t be around to see it?

They don’t know that I know.

To them, I was just the woman who had walked away.

But to me, they were nothing more than a painful reminder of my past life, a past I had no intention of repeating.

Memories I had buried clawed their way back, sharp and unrelenting.

“Relax, babe. She’s too trusting to even think about it.”

“You’re the only one I care about.”

Lies. Every word. Every touch. Every smile.

A bitter laugh threatened to escape, but I swallowed it down, keeping my expression neutral.

Before I could turn away, Jarem’s gaze snapped to mine.

His smirk was immediate. Arrogant. Bitter. As if my presence alone offended him.

“Well, well,” he drawled, making his way toward me with Lili trailing behind. “Didn’t think you’d have the guts to show your face here, Tasia.”

I tilted my head, my lips curving into something cold. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Jarem scoffed. “Because it’s a little desperate, don’t you think? Showing up here, hoping to get my attention?”

I almost laughed. “Oh, please.”

Lili stepped forward then, her expression softer. Carefully composed. “Tasia, we actually wanted to talk to you—”

I turned to her, feigning curiosity. “Did you?”

She hesitated. “I just—I wanted to explain…”

I arched a brow. “Explain what, exactly?”

A flicker of something, guilt maybe, crossed her face.

Jarem, however, rolled his eyes. “Oh, cut the act, Tasia. No one owes you an explanation. You’re the one who left, remember?”

I left you. And it was the best thing I ever did.

The words were on the tip of my tongue, but instead, I smiled.

“That’s true,” I mused. “But tell me, Jarem, isn’t it a little shameless for my best friend to end up with my ex right after I left?”

Lili stiffened beside him.

Jarem scoffed, arms crossing. “Oh, please. You don’t get to act all high and mighty. You abandoned me, Tasia. You walked away from us.”

I clenched my jaw, the weight of my past pressing down on me.

“You don’t give me any space. It’s exhausting, you know that?”

“I’m just asking you to care, Jarem.”

“Well, maybe if you weren’t so damn needy, I wouldn’t feel like running the other way.”

I exhaled sharply, forcing the memory away. “Yes, I did walk away. And yet, you two didn’t even wait a month before throwing yourselves at each other.”

Lili flinched, looking down. But Jarem only smirked. “Jealous?”

I let out a soft chuckle. “Of you? Not in this lifetime.”

Before Jarem could snap back, another voice sliced through the tension.

“If anyone’s ruining the night, it’s you.”

The deep, commanding tone sent a shiver down my spine.

Asher.

He moved beside me effortlessly, his presence sharp and suffocating. He looked like he belonged in a place like this—tailored black suit, crisp white shirt, his dark eyes locked onto Jarem with something that made the air shift.

Jarem stiffened.

Lili’s expression faltered, her lips parting slightly as she realized who he was.

Asher smirked. “What’s wrong? You were so confident a second ago.”

Jarem swallowed hard, voice suddenly less sure. “You’re—”

“Your boss,” Asher confirmed smoothly, slipping one hand into his pocket. “I was beginning to think you didn’t recognize me.”

Jarem’s face paled.

Lili froze, her fingers twitching slightly.

They had been so sure they had the upper hand. So sure they were above me.

And yet, now?

Jarem looked furious.

Lili, on the other hand, looked annoyed, worried, as if this revelation had ruined some plan she had brewing in her mind.

“Funny,” Asher mused, looking Jarem up and down. “You were so eager to insult my fiancée. I wonder if you’d like to continue that conversation.”

Jarem’s jaw tightened. “You’re engaged?”

Asher smirked. “That’s right.”

Jarem’s hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Lili forced a smile. “Tasia… you’re engaged?”

I turned to her, my own smile never wavering. “Why? Does that bother you?”

She hesitated, glancing at Jarem. Her mask was slipping. Good.

Jarem exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “You don’t even know him, Tasia.”

Asher let out a slow chuckle. “And you don’t know her.”

Jarem bristled, but for the first time tonight, he had nothing to say.

Just then, a microphone crackled to life at the front of the ballroom. One of the event organizers stepped up, tapping it lightly. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for being here tonight. We have a very special announcement to make…”

My pulse quickened.

This was it.

I could feel Jarem’s glare burning into me as the speaker continued.

“…It is with great pleasure that we formally announce the engagement of Mr. Asher Cole and Miss Anastasia Everleigh.”

Applause erupted throughout the room.

Asher turned to me, offering his arm. “Shall we?”

I placed my hand in his, letting him lead me through the crowd.

Jarem stood frozen, his expression twisted with barely concealed rage.

Lili, however, didn’t bother hiding her annoyance anymore—her lips pressed into a thin line, her fingers curling into her dress as she shot me a look that wasn’t nearly as kind as before.

There she is.

The real Lili.

And as I smiled at the guests, letting them take in the sight of me standing beside Asher Cole, I realized something.

I had won.

This time, I was the one leaving them behind.

And I wasn’t looking back.