Scandal, Love, and Redemption

round me, their voices a low buzz against the classical music playing softly from hidden speakers. I held a glas

te project, something about sustainable urban development. Even from a distance, I could see the passion in his gestures, the way his eyes lit up when

nd. And for the last eight years, since Jak

man gives his best friend's little sister. A heavy feeling settled in my stomach. It was always like this. He saw me as Chloe Davis, the ta

e the hurt on my face. Tonight was my big night, a retrospective of m

he city lights. I leaned against the cold railing, finally ta

's deep voice said. "

I kept my back to him. "Just gettin

at careful distance. "Your collection is incredible, Chloe.

nstant reminder of the space between us, the role he felt

had to try, one last time. I turned to face him, my eyes search

were kind, but distant. "Of course. I'm alwa

very hopeful glance and lingering touch I had imagined, that's all I was. The hope tha

ile. "That's sweet, Liam. Actua

oked genuin

trange on my tongue. Ethan Miller, a kind, supportive man

ere was nothing. His expression softened into one of warm approval. He p

full of sincere happiness for me. "Ethan's a good m

cry. Instead, I just nodded, the smile frozen on my face. This was it. The end of my fooli

walked back into the crowded gallery, leaving him alone on the balcony with the city lights. My hear

o my work, designing one last collection before I stepped away from the fashion world f

um, microphones clustered in front of me, the fla

personal life," I said, my voice steady. "I'm getting

industry. Chloe Davis, at the peak of her ca

se. Chloe lived for her work. It was her passion, her escape. Why would she give it all up? A cold dread, sharp and unfamiliar, washed over him. He remembered her face on the balcony, th

had watched Chloe grow up, from a girl with scraped knees to a brilliant woman who commanded rooms. He kept his distance because he thought it wa

ving up her dreams for him, felt like a knife twisting in his g

ticky floors and the smell of stale beer. He sat in their old booth, a picture of him and J

ore the accident, Jake had punched him lightly on the arm. "If anything ever ha

sed. He never imagined he

him. She was a former colleague, a sharp and ambitious woman who had made it clear she was

ere," she said, her smile

nking," h

but her eyes sharp. "Surprising, isn't it? Giving up a career l

w nerves. "She's not 'some woman'," he

ot. She's practically your sister, rig

hloe's face, her eyes searching his for something he had been too blind and too scared to give her. He had failed his promise