LEFT AT MY LOWEST, LOVED AT MY BEST

ICA'

on the table, the same scent of Desmond's cologne lingering in the air. But as

e meant something. But silence had been his only response. I told myself I needed to come back for the rest of m

dy for what

shirt, his sleeves rolled up. A stack of papers sat in front

said, his vo

my heart po

aybe even an apology. Instead,

d. "What

's time to mak

I took the papers.

ned. "You alrea

adable. "Jessica, you left. We bot

ing him as much as it was hurting me. But he looked... cal

urned. "So,

eck. "Jess, don't make this harder. Y

That was what

d to let them fall. I had wasted enough tears on him.

ingers tightening aro

ccepted it. Maybe he had expected me to beg,

ngs. Every dress, every piece of jewelry, every little item I picked up fel

ething shift inside me. This wasn't just the en

ek p

let Desmond's betrayal define me. I spent hour

the opportunit

d with investors, business moguls, and po

ng the invitation into my hands. "It's time you

dressed in a sleek black gown, clutching a glass of champagn

ere were established entrepreneurs, and I was just a woma

ed myself, spoke about my vision, and surprisingly, they listened. They nodded, asked quest

owhere, a deep voi

s idea sounds

th striking features sharp jawline, piercing dark eyes, and an effortless ai

rprised. "Oh.

his hand. "E

y a second before s

"So, tell me more about this business

rand clothes, footwear, accessories. I want to build something elegant but aff

on unreadable. "That's a smart ap

Not yet. I'm still in the early sta

n tilted his head. "What if I t

ping a beat. "You'd really con

without careful thought. But I do believe in potential. An

ng time, someone outside of Grace truly saw me not as a wi

sleek black business card, handing it to me. "L

ng a new kind of excit

't just a

g of something bigger

, elegant letters, followed by his contact details. It felt almost surreal. I had come here hop

th quiet curiosity.

e. "I think... I'd love to m

ly. "Good. Do you h

sitated, but then I remembered, this was the chanc

fidently. "What ti

he said. "Noon a

he most exclusive restaurants in the city.

e corner of his lips lifted in amusement. "

softly. "

his tone final. "I'll have my

thing in his grip reassured me. This wasn't a man w

ssica," he said befor

ping the busine

as hap

handed me those divorce papers,

king about

had jus