Chapter 504
Chapter 504:
When I asked who she was, it was out of politeness. Mild curiosity, at best.
No jealousy. No rage.
Just the quiet, familiar sense of something slipping away.
Of course, the dream was ending.
I’d been floating lately—Fabrizio’s invitation, Ashton’s proposal—it all felt too good to be true. Like winning the lottery, then finding buried treasure, then getting a call from a long-lost billionaire relative with a mysterious will.
And now, finally, the fantasy was cracking.
Work was the only thing that felt real. I could hold the necklace in my hand, I could measure its weight. But the rest? It never quite settled.
“She’s just a friend,” Ashton said, meeting my eyes. “An old friend. She runs Titanova p>
Whatever he saw in my face must have rattled him.
“What’s wrong p>
“What? Nothing.” My knees buckled. I reached blindly for a chair and sat down hard. “So, she’s flying back to Skyline with you p>
“Yeah. I’ll have to cut my trip short.” He gave me a regretful look. “It’s fine p>
I forced a smile. “I get it.” Of course I did.
Rhys had been perfect—for Catherine.
And he only ever had eyes for her.
Ashton was perfect too. And now there was another woman. One he clearly cared about. One who only had to call, and he dropped everything to run to her.
The other shoe had finally dropped.
Yvaine and Ashton had called it cold feet.
But it wasn’t that.
It wasn’t wedding nerves or commitment issues.
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It was the gut-deep certainty that this wouldn’t last, that it was never meant to. I didn’t know why. I just knew.
Perfect things didn’t happen to people like me.
Caroline and Franklin had been perfect parents—for Catherine.
Rhys had been a perfect boyfriend—for Catherine.
Ashton would be a perfect husband—for someone else.
Any minute now, I half-expected Fabrizio to call and tell me his offer had been a misunderstanding or a prank.
“Mira? Mira p>
“Huh?” I blinked. Ashton was in front of me, his hands on my shoulders.
“You’re crying.” He brushed my cheek with his thumb. It came away wet.
“Am I?” I rubbed my eyes. “Must be the fumes p>
“What fumes p>
“I was using a butane micro torch earlier. The vapor stings.” I pushed myself up. “I need the 100 p>
I ducked into the bathroom, turned on the tap, and shoved my head under the cold water.
Ashton’s voice floated in. “You all right p>