Chapter 7

Mia

Conversations faltered mid-sentence as Chloe stepped through the door, all eyes drawn to her entrance. She moved with deliberate grace, her white dress floating around her, the outfit perfectly matching her carefully crafted persona. Her expression was carefully arranged into something fragile and uncertain.

I understood the collective stare—Chloe looked nothing like the girl we'd known in high school, transformed so completely that if I hadn't seen her just days ago, I might not have recognized her at all.

Danny rushed forward to greet her. "Chloe! I'm so glad you could make it."

She offered him a shy smile. "I heard our dear friend who studied overseas had come back. I missed her so much—I just had to be here." The words dripped with such transparent insincerity that I had to admire her performance.

Danny, oblivious to the undercurrent, beamed at her. "Oh right, I remember now! You and Mia used to sit together, didn't you? You were always hanging around her back then. It's been ages since you two have seen each other!" He gestured enthusiastically toward our table, already steering her in my direction.

The others at the table chimed in immediately, voices overlapping as they called out greetings and waved her over. I had no interest in participating in this charade of reunion pleasantries, so I simply sat back and observed as she made her way around the table, accepting hugs and compliments with practiced modesty, until finally she reached the seat beside mine.

"Mia," she said, her voice pitched just loud enough for everyone to hear. "I didn't expect you'd actually come tonight."

I met her gaze evenly. "Chloe. It's been a while."

She settled into her seat, folding her hands on the table. We exchanged hollow pleasantries in front of everyone, both of us perfectly aware that we'd just seen each other days ago at the gala—a fact neither of us was about to acknowledge.

She looked up at me. "You look so different now. All those rough edges from before—completely gone. London must have treated you well."

There was subtle emphasis on "London," a reminder that I'd fled the country, abandoned everything here. The whispers started immediately.

I took a slow sip of my water. "I was fortunate. I had opportunities in London that I wouldn't have had here."

Danny suddenly jumped in with barely concealed curiosity. "Mia, what kind of work do you do in London?"

I answered calmly, "I'm an auctioneer."

The table fell silent for a beat before incredulous looks spread across my former classmates' faces. A few of them blinked. Someone's brows lifted.

The silence lasted just long enough for me to feel the old label settling over me again—the wild, reckless Mia they remembered clearly didn't belong behind an auction podium.

In their eyes, I suspected they would have found it more fitting if I'd become a dancer in some seedy club or taken up some other disreputable line of work that matched their expectations of me.

She looked up at me. "So why did you come back?"

Her tone was gentle, but the words themselves were barbs wrapped in silk.

I didn't bother masking the coldness in my voice. "That's really none of your concern, Miss Harris."

"They certainly do." She paused, tracing the rim of her wine glass, her eyes narrowing as she fixed me with a look I couldn't quite decipher. "I heard the auction house you're working for now is partnering with Luke's company?"

The classmates sitting nearby suddenly fell silent, their conversations trailing off as they turned their attention toward us. After all, back then, everyone had known about Luke and me.

The mention of his name sent a jolt through me.

I couldn't hide my surprise, though I did my best not to let it show. This Chloe was nothing like the timid girl from high school—she'd clearly done her homework, conducting a thorough background check on me. She'd come tonight fully armed and prepared.

"It's a professional arrangement," I said, feigning calm. "Paragon handles a lot of high-profile clients."

"Of course. I'm sure it's purely business. Though it must be a bit awkward, working with an ex. Especially after... well, after everything."

She let the sentence trail off, the implication hanging heavy in the air. I understood exactly what she meant.

Before the tension could thicken further, Danny swooped in again to break the standoff, launching into cheerful small talk that mercifully shifted the atmosphere between us.

Danny tried to redirect. "So, Chloe, what have you been up to? Tell us about yourself."

"I taught elementary school for a few years," she said. "But recently I've been doing volunteer work, helping with literacy programs for underprivileged children."

The table erupted in approving murmurs as she soaked up the praise with practiced humility. The contrast wasn't accidental—the selfless saint versus the prodigal daughter who'd fled overseas.

In an instant, Chloe had become the center of attention at the gathering.

The conversation drifted to safer topics, but my mind was elsewhere, replaying Chloe's calculated precision. She'd known I would be here tonight. This entire encounter had been orchestrated to remind everyone of my past mistakes, of the role I'd played in Luke's suffering.

But what was she trying to say? What did she gain from this?

I excused myself before dessert, claiming I needed to use the restroom, and grabbed my bag on the way out, intending to slip away and head back.

I stood in front of the restroom mirror, staring blankly at my own reflection. I tidied myself up slightly, preparing to leave, but found myself drawn to the view through the window. I walked toward the window at the end of the hallway.

Outside, the night was thick and heavy. I let my thoughts drift as I lit a cigarette, but I'd barely taken two drags when the sharp click of heels echoed behind me. Someone stopped just behind me. I didn't turn around.

Of course I knew who it was—no one else but Chloe. I had no intention of wasting more words on her.

After a moment, the voice behind me spoke, soft and deliberate. "Did you come back for him?"

My hand stilled, the cigarette halfway to my lips. I turned around, meeting Chloe's eyes.