Semua Bab Too Late, I’m Not Yours Anymore: Bab 1 - Bab 7

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

Nathan blinked, then scoffed. “You? Fragile? Emily, I’ve seen you work through a 103-degree fever and show up to the casino at six a.m. Don’t make this about competition. Chloe’s not built like you.”That was it, wasn’t it? Nathan only saw the version I built for him—efficient, tireless, too strong.“Well,” I said, calmly, “you’re right about one thing. I am strong. And thanks to my strong, I didn’t break down when I saw you left our engagement party with another woman.”I reached into my purse and pulled out the engagement ring. The same one he slipped onto my finger with a promise he clearly never meant to keep.“I loved you, Nathan. For years. But I won’t tolerate being abandoned on one of the most important nights of my life while you play out your second-chance fantasy with someone else.”I handed him the ring. “I’m not here for drama. I’m here to end it. Congratulations on reuniting with the love of your life. Clearly, she’s the only one you’ve ever loved.”He didn’t speak right

Chloe’s voice wavered on the other end of the line. For once, she didn’t have the upper hand. I was the one in the hospital bed. I was the one Nathan had stayed for.Not her. But she recovered quickly, layering her words with sweetness like perfume over rot. “I can come visit you at the hospital. How about this afternoon?”“There’s no need, Chloe. But if you’d like to take Nathan with you, I’d be glad—”Before I could finish, Nathan yanked the phone from my hand and hung up.“Why don’t you want me here?” he asked, wounded, as if he had any right to act like the victim now.I gave him a cold look. “No reason. I just think seeing your face might be what’s making my heart hurt.”“Emily,” he groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “How many times do I have to apologize? I didn’t cheat on you with Chloe.”I didn’t answer—because I didn’t need to.Just then, the door opened and Jake stepped inside, holding a takeout bag. “Hey, Mr. Brooks,” he said with a nod. Then, to me, “Emily—I heard you w

Just another day at the Elite Casino. The lobby buzzed with the usual crowd—guests in sharp suits, champagne flutes clinking, chips being cashed. Everything gleamed like always.Until the Reeds stormed in. Mr. and Mrs. Reed. Royal in their own minds. Loud in everyone else’s.“Nathan Brooks!” Mr. Reed’s voice thundered. “You’ve got some nerve, boy. Talking to my daughter like that! Are you not afraid I’ll ruin you? Shut down your little playhouse of a casino?”Heads turned. Murmurs started. Mrs. Reed scanned the room like she owned it. Her eyes landed on me.“So this is her? The woman you claim you must marry? An assistant?” She spat the word like it was a curse. “Whose father was just a guard?”Before I could respond, Jake stepped out from the crowd and planted himself firmly in front of me.“If you say another word about Emily, I’ll have you escorted out of the casino,” he said calmly, like he was talking about the weather.Mr. Reed squinted at Jake’s tailored suit. “And who are you s