1

I never thought that at my engagement party with Nathan Brooks—the Nathan Brooks—I’d end up meeting his first love. And just like that, my engagement party turned into a complete shit show.

Tonight was supposed to be a dream come true. Getting engaged to the man of my dreams, the one I’d been crushing on since I was sixteen.

I met him at one of his parties back then. He was already the elusive, polished Mr. Brooks of the Elite Casino. I was just a high school girl in borrowed heels, tagging along because my father worked security for him.

But from the moment I saw him, I knew I wanted him. All of him.

So I worked for it. I clawed my way up—business school, internships, long hours, longer nights. Eventually, I earned a position at his side. I became the assistant who knew everything he needed before he even asked.

I became the one he could rely on.

Six years later, I wasn’t just his assistant anymore. I was his fiancée.

As I stood under the warm lights of the ballroom now, wearing the silver-white gown Nathan had picked just for me.

Everything sparkled in perfection. The champagne, the chandeliers, the whispers of envy from the crowd.

All of it mine.

Until a woman in a flowing white dress appeared—her gown, similar to my design, too white that made her look like the spotlight of the night.

The second I saw her. I noticed she looked exactly like the woman in the photograph Nathan kept hidden in his wallet.

Chloe Reed.

Her gaze skimmed over me for a second then moved away, finally landing on Nathan. “Nathan,” she breathed, “I’ve come.”

Nathan went still. Then he smiled. Not the smooth, controlled smile I knew. This one was almost surprise mixing with utmost joy, too out of control.

“Chloe?” His voice cracked.

She stepped closer, took his hand, “I had to come. I hoped I wasn’t too late…”

And just like that, the room faded. Nathan and Chloe were in some untouchable bubble of memory and love.

People stared. I felt their pity like glass shards under my skin.

Someone else—probably Chloe’s friend—stepped forward and dropped the bomb. “Nathan, didn’t you promise to marry Chloe? Why are you throwing an engagement party for someone else?”

Nathan turned. He looked at me like he’d forgotten I was there. “I…”

“She’s been in France, getting treatment for her heart,” the friend said. “She heard about the engagement and insisted on coming back. She even made this dress herself.”

I swallowed. “Nathan?”

Nathan was actually hesitating, “Emily…” He looked torn—like he was standing on a cliff, trying to decide whether to jump.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Chloe gasped, clutching her chest like her heart couldn’t handle this whole situation. Drama queen or not, it worked.

Nathan moved instantly. “Emily, we’ll postpone our engagement party. I have to take her to the hospital—I’ll explain everything later!”

And just like that, he scooped her into his arms and ran.

Ran.

“Nathan, wait…”

But he was already gone.

Jake, Nathan’s personal guards approached, looking worried. “Miss Carter… Shall I drive you back to the mansion?”

He, seeing me not move, continued, “Don’t worry. Mr. Brooks really loved you. He was just worried about that woman. She really looked like she was about to faint.”

He loves me?

If Nathan Brooks truly loved me, he wouldn’t have left me standing here, alone at our engagement party while he ran off to save the girl he seemed never stopped loving.

…

After Nathan and Chloe left, the entire room erupted in whispers, sharp voices buzzing with gossip.

"Do you think Nathan still loves Chloe?” one woman asked, loud enough for her friends—and me—to hear. “I mean, back in the day, he was obsessed with her. She stood by him when he had nothing.”

Someone else chimed in. “And Chloe’s not just anyone—she’s Mr. Reed’s daughter. That Mr. Reed. Mafia west coast. He’d be an idiot to choose Emily over her.”

“I heard the only reason they broke up was because her dad forced her to leave for heart treatment in France,” another voice said, smug. “Nathan was just a poor kid back then. Like some tragic fairytale. But now? He’s rich. Runs a casino. It’s not a busboy-and-princess story anymore—it’s Prince Charming and his princess.”

Laughter.

“Honestly, Emily always seemed so… basic,” someone hissed.

“She probably doesn’t even care about if Nathan loved other women. She’s just after his money, obviously. I mean, wasn’t she just some desperate assistant? Her father was a guard used to work for Nathan?”

Strangers dissecting my life, my love, my family like I was a cautionary tale. Even at my own engagement party, they were rooting for someone else.

Can’t blame them. Nathan was the one, after all, made me the one for the gossip.

I turned and walked toward the backstage.

I tried to keep my chin high, but my throat was tight. A few tears broke free despite everything I told myself.

Then I glanced down at my dress—the perfect white gown—and everything snapped into place.

The way Chloe had arrived, like she never left. What Nathan and I had all felt like a cruel joke now.

I was aware of existence of Chloe Reed. But I’d also believed in myself before.

In the years I spent at Nathan’s side and the way he looked at me when we were alone. I thought I had earned his love.

Turns out, I was just holding onto borrowed time.

..

I left the party and went back to my own house. Not Nathan’s penthouse, I found that place cold and distant now.

The call came late that night.

Vivian—a table girl at the Elite casino. Also, my friend. Her voice sounded hesitant. “Emily… check social media. There’s a post. A new account.”

My stomach dropped. I opened the app. Searched. Found it.

A newly created account. One photo.

Nathan, in his tuxedo, standing beside a woman in white. Chloe.

The caption: You are mine forever.

I stared. My vision blurred. I told myself to breathe, to be rational. But it was hard.

I won’t allow myself to fall apart again.

If Nathan wanted Chloe, if that was the woman he’d carry off in front of everyone—let him have her. I was done begging for crumbs.

I opened the post, left a single comment: Perfect match.

Then I powered off my phone and went to sleep.