Chapter 540

Chapter 540:

“That’s a shame.” The man glanced between us, shrugged, and walked away.

“What are you doing here?” I pulled free of Ashton’s grasp.

“I could ask you the same thing.” His voice was as hard as his expression. “I don’t owe you an answer p>

I stepped back, putting space between us. “If you’re looking for your girlfriend, she’s over there, dancing p>

Ashton frowned, following my pointing hand. “Lea’s p>

“Not my concern. I’m hungry p>

I fled.

Damn it. I stuffed myself with prawns in garlic butter, muttering curses in my head. Why couldn’t I act normal around him? I had thought I could. Smile politely, treat him like any other man, maybe ask how he was, and wish him and Lea well.

But the words refused to come.

I couldn’t bear to hear him say her name, couldn’t bear the end of that unfinished sentence. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

I was the one who broke up with him. So why was I still so hung up?

Maybe I wasn’t. Maybe I just hated the thought that he had already moved on while I was still stuck in the past.

Determined to prove otherwise, I accepted the next man’s invitation to dance. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lea now dancing with Ashton. The music swelled, the pace quickened. They drew closer to where I stood.

Someone bumped me from behind. I faltered, tripped on my heel, and heard the rip of fabric.

Lea gasped. Her hand flew to her chest. I had stepped on the hem of her dress, and one of its narrow straps slipped from her shoulder, baring even more skin.

Ashton immediately shrugged off his tuxedo jacket and draped it over her. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m fine.” She straightened, clutching the jacket. She glanced at me.

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I opened my mouth to apologize, but the words froze as I stared at his jacket around her shoulders.

I kept staring as they left the ballroom together.

“You’ve really changed,” Lea said, turning to look at me. “When you said you wanted to go on a cruise, I thought you were joking p>

“Yet here we are.” I stood at the railing, gazing out at the Mediterranean. The September dusk had painted the sea in shifting shades of violet and gold, the horizon glowing as the sun sank lower.

Not everyone had gone to the ball. Out on deck, clusters of young passengers mingled and laughed. Some were taking selfies against the pink sky, while others pointed excitedly as dolphins arced from the water. Music drifted faintly from the ballroom doors, but out here, the sound was mostly laughter, the slap of waves, and the click of cameras.

Lea inhaled deeply. “It’s beautiful. Thanks for bringing me out here.” I said nothing.

“We should have stayed and said hello to Mirabelle,” she added, testing me.

“I will,” I said. “Just not now.” I would speak to Mira once I had dealt with Lea. The thought of Mira’s face propelled me away from the railing. “You need to get changed p>

She was still wearing my jacket.

“Step inside for a moment,” I said when we reached my suite.

Message from Noa: Friday is here, dear readers! Have a great time. God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. (ɔO‿=)ɔ ♥