CHAPTER 1: THE TOAST

Amelia's POV

Three years of loving Gavi Richard ended before he finished his toast. “To my beautiful fiancée, Raven Blackwood.”

The ballroom erupted in applause. I stood near the crowd, holding an empty serving tray, staring at the man who had once promised never to forget the woman who stood beside him when he had nothing. Apparently, three years had changed what he considered nothing.

Raven raised her left hand, letting the diamonds on her finger catch the light. Elegant, wealthy, and born into one of New York’s most powerful families, she looked like she belonged beside Gavi.

And he looked at her as if she were the only woman in the room. I waited for him to look at me. Just once.

Perhaps he would remember the nights I spent correcting his presentations, the money I contributed when his business struggled, or the dream we built together at my tiny dining table.

Instead, he raised his glass. “To our future.” The applause grew louder.

Earlier that evening, I had helped choose the flowers for the celebration. I had even corrected mistakes in the business presentation Gavi delivered before his announcement. The same presentation was built around an idea I had spent months developing with him.

He accepted every compliment. Not once did he mention my name. Now, he was celebrating a future that had no place for me.

Across the room, Gavi finally noticed me. He was smiling and he expected me to smile, too. So I did. If he wanted me to pretend I had never mattered, I would give him one final performance.

When the applause settled, I placed the tray on a nearby table and headed for the terrace. “Amelia.” I barely had time to breathe before Gavi followed me outside.

“Not now.” “Can you stop acting like this?” “Like what?” “Your face. You're making a scene. I looked around. The guests were too busy congratulating Raven to notice us.

“You know what I mean.”

I had spent three years of making your life easy, including swallowing my feelings whenever they inconvenienced you.

Now you announced your engagement to another woman while I was standing in the same room. You expect me to smile over it?

“Keep your voice down.” He said. He had humiliated me in front of hundreds of people, yet my reaction was His problem.

“Did you ever intend to tell me?” “Tell you what?” “That you were going to marry her.” “Raven and I make sense together. Her family understands my position. They can help take the business further.”

There it was. Not love, not even an apology. Business. “And what was I, Gavi?” He sighed. “Don't do this.”

“I helped you build that company. I stood beside you when investors wouldn't return your calls. Was I just convenient until someone better came along?”

“You helped because you wanted to.” The words silenced me. “I never promised you forever, Amelia. You decided what we were. That's not on me.”

I remembered the nights he held me and talked about our future. The apartment we planned to buy. The way he called the company our dream whenever he needed me to believe in him. Had he imagined all of that?

Gavi straightened his jacket. “Please don't ruin this evening. Raven's family is watching.” “You're worried about ruining your evening?” “I'm asking you to be mature.”

“No. You're asking me to make your betrayal comfortable for you.” “I'm done arguing.” “Then we're done talking.”

He returned to the ballroom without another word. Raven was waiting, her hand resting on his arm as guests surrounded them.

I wouldn't cry where he could see me. “That's a difficult promise to keep.” I looked around to see if anyone had noticed the scene.

I looked around. Damon Blackwood stood a few feet away, holding a glass of water. He was Raven's older brother. A billionaire whose name regularly appeared in business magazines. His calm expression made him difficult to read.

I wasn't aware I had an audience.

“You didn't,” he said, answering my unspoken thought. “Until your conversation became impossible to ignore.”

Then you heard enough to know it wasn't your business.

“You're right.” His agreement surprised me. He offered me the water, and after a moment, I accepted it. “Thank you.”

“Don't thank me yet. I may still say something you dislike.”

Despite everything, a small laugh escaped me. “Is that a warning? “An introduction.” Then his expression became serious.

“I saw you during Gavi's presentation. The investors asked questions he couldn't answer. You stepped in, explained the figures, and corrected the projections. When they applauded, he accepted the credit.”

You were watching? Nah. “I was listening. So why telling me?” Everyone in that room seems determined to pretend you were never part of what he built.”

Through the glass, Gavi laughed beside Raven, accepting congratulations. “Perhaps I allowed it,”But that doesn't mean he was right to take you for granted.”

Before I could respond, the terrace door opened. Gavi stood there, his gaze moving from Damon to the water in my hand.

“Amelia. Raven wants us together for a photograph.” “Us?” “Don't make this difficult.”

Damon set his glass aside. “She hasn't said anything, Richard. You're the one making demands.” Gavi's smile.

For the first time that evening, he looked as though someone had challenged his authority and he didn't know how to respond.

I placed the glass on the table.

“I think you've got the wrong woman for your photograph.” I walked past him, but Damon called after me. “Miss Hart.”

I turned. “Tomorrow evening, I'd like to offer you an opportunity.” What kind of opportunity? “One that could change what happens next.” “Why me?”

He looked at me, knowing fully well I wasn’t in the mood for a consoling discussion. “Because I don't believe your story with Gavi Richard should be the only story people remember about you.”

I searched his face for a hint of mockery. I found none. “What's the catch?” “Come tomorrow, and you can decide whether there is one.”

He returned to the ballroom before I could question him further. I stood alone on the terrace, listening to the laughter inside.

Gavi had made his choice. Three years of my life had ended with a toast, and the man who once promised me a future had dismissed our past as if it meant nothing.

But Damon Blackwood had just offered me an opportunity.

I didn't trust him. He was the brother of the woman Gavi had chosen over me. I couldn't understand why he wanted to get involved in my life, and I wasn't foolish enough to believe his intentions were purely kind.

Still, tomorrow evening, I intended to hear him out.

Gavi had spent three years believing I would always stand beside him, no matter what it cost me.