CHAPTER 1 – The Lie That Meant Nothing

Lena Carter paused just outside the ballroom doors, smoothing her palms over the front of her dress.

The fabric was a soft shade of blue she’d hesitated over for days, worrying it might be too much, too noticeable.

Evan had said it looked “nice enough,” which had somehow settled her nerves.

The music drifted through the doors in a low, elegant hum, mixed with laughter and clinking glasses.

She took a breath and stepped inside.

Warm light wrapped around her instantly.

Crystal chandeliers scattered gold across the polished floor, and the room buzzed with voices saying her name.

Someone handed her a glass of champagne before she could refuse.

She smiled, automatically at first, then more genuinely as coworkers approached one after another.

For once, she wasn’t invisible.

“Promotion suits you,” a colleague said, raising her glass.

Lena laughed softly, feeling her cheeks warm.

She nodded, thanked them, listened as people talked about projects she’d stayed up late fixing, details she’d caught when no one else had.

Each compliment landed carefully, like something fragile she wasn’t sure she was allowed to keep.

She glanced over her shoulder, searching.

Evan stood near the bar, phone pressed to his ear.

He caught her looking and lifted a finger in a quick one minute gesture.

She smiled and turned back to the group, telling herself it didn’t matter.

He was here.

That was enough.

Camille appeared at her side with a dramatic gasp.

“Oh my God, look at you,” she said, grabbing Lena’s hands.

Her perfume was sharp and floral, the kind that lingered.

“I told you this would happen. You always land on your feet.”

Lena laughed, squeezing her cousin’s fingers.

Camille looked perfect, as usual.

Her hair fell effortlessly over one shoulder, her red dress hugging every curve.

Lena felt a familiar flicker of comparison and pushed it away.

Camille had always shone brighter; Lena had learned to stand beside the light instead of in it.

Tonight, though, something felt different.

A server passed with a tray, and Camille plucked two drinks from it.

She pressed one into Lena’s hand, clinking glasses with a grin.

“To promotions,” Camille said.

Lena echoed the words, swallowing the champagne as it bubbled down her throat.

She didn’t notice Camille watching her over the rim of her glass.

The speeches began, short and flattering.

Lena stood near the front, fingers curled around her clutch as her manager spoke about dedication and loyalty.

She nodded when people applauded, her ears ringing slightly.

When she looked toward the bar again, Evan was gone.

Her smile faltered, just a little.

She told herself not to overthink it.

He probably stepped outside.

Or took another call.

He always took calls.

Lena excused herself quietly and moved toward the hallway.

The carpet softened her steps as she walked away from the noise.

The laughter faded, replaced by the distant hum of air conditioning.

She checked her phone.

No messages.

Her chest tightened, but she kept walking.

A laugh echoed down the corridor ahead.

Low, familiar, unmistakable.

Her steps slowed without her meaning them to.

She tilted her head, listening.

Another laugh followed, higher this time.

Female.

Intimate.

The sound crawled under her skin.

Lena stopped outside the bathroom door at the end of the hall.

Light spilled through the narrow gap between the door and the frame.

She could hear breathing now, quick and uneven.

Her fingers curled into her palm, nails biting into skin.

For a moment, she considered turning around.

She pushed the door open.

The smell hit her first.

Cologne she’d bought Evan for his birthday, mixed with Camille’s perfume.

The mirror reflected Evan’s face before she fully registered his body.

His hands were pressed against the marble vanity, knuckles white.

Camille stood behind him, her dress bunched at her hips.

Time slowed to a crawl.

Evan’s eyes widened, then narrowed, like he was calculating damage.

Camille didn’t freeze at all.

She simply reached for her lipstick from the counter.

The click of the cap echoed too loudly in the small room.

“Relax,” Evan said.

The word came out sharp, defensive.

“It was meaningless. It didn’t mean a thing.”

Lena stared at his mouth as he spoke.

She waited for the rest of the sentence, the apology, the explanation that would make this less real.

Nothing followed.

Camille leaned closer to the mirror, carefully tracing color over her lips.

She didn’t even look guilty.

“It just happened,” Camille added lightly.

Her eyes flicked to Lena’s reflection.

“Don’t act like you’ve never made a mistake.”

A sound tried to leave Lena’s throat and failed.

Her chest felt hollow, like something essential had been removed without warning.

She became acutely aware of everything at once—the hum of the lights, the cold tile beneath her shoes, the way Evan wouldn’t quite meet her eyes.

Her hands trembled, so she clasped them together.

She said nothing.

Evan stepped toward her, reaching out.

“Baby,” he said, softer now.

She flinched before he touched her, and his hand dropped.

“I didn’t plan this. It doesn’t change anything.”

Lena looked down at his shoes.

They were the ones she’d cleaned that morning because he said they looked dusty.

She thought of the way she’d ironed his shirt before leaving the apartment.

The thought made her stomach twist.

Camille snapped her compact shut and finally turned.

“You’re being dramatic,” she said, crossing her arms.

“This doesn’t have to blow up if you don’t let it.”

Her gaze slid over Lena’s dress again, assessing.

“You’re not even that upset.”

That did it.

Lena lifted her head slowly.

“I trusted you,” she said.

The words sounded thin, but they were all she had.

Evan’s jaw tightened, irritation flashing across his face.

Camille scoffed.

“Oh please,” Camille said.

“Trust doesn’t mean ownership.”

Lena took a step back.

Then another.

Her heel caught slightly on the tile, and Evan reached out again, instinctive.

She avoided him, the movement sharp and sudden.

She turned and walked out.

The hallway stretched longer than before.

The ballroom doors loomed at the end, light spilling through like nothing had changed.

Music swelled as she pushed through, laughter crashing over her.

Someone called her name, congratulating her again.

She didn’t respond.

Her hands shook as she reached the exit.

Cool air hit her face, stealing her breath.

She stumbled down the steps and didn’t stop until her feet ached.

The strap of one heel snapped, and she kicked both shoes off without thinking.

Her phone buzzed.

Once.

Twice.

Evan’s name lit up the screen.

She stared at it as she walked, the pavement cold beneath her bare feet.

The city blurred around her, lights stretching into long streaks through unshed tears.

Her phone buzzed again.

She let it vibrate until it went silent.

Lena didn’t look back.