Chapter 1
The second I stepped into the downtown loft, my phone buzzed in my hand—
Bree’s text preview popped up: “Check his Insta. Now.”
My thumb hovered over the notification, stomach already twisting.
Julian Reid’s latest post stared back at me, uploaded ten minutes ago.
“This little bud’s about to bloom for me tonight.”
The photo showed a pretty young girl shyly leaning into his arms, her cheeks flushed.
I tucked my phone away and glanced up—there was Julian.
He had his arm slung casually around a girl in a flowy white sundress, porcelain skin, innocent doe-like eyes, her chestnut hair spilling over his designer suit.
Julian was smiling down at her, a massive diamond ring glinting in his palm as he prepared to slide it onto her finger.
“Damn, Jules, you’re really going all in on this, huh?” Mark teased, elbowing him in the ribs, beer sloshing in his cup.
Julian gave her a lazy grin, pinching her soft cheek affectionately.
“Yeah, time to settle down.”
“For real? No more games?” someone called out.
His voice dropped, conspiratorial.
“Found someone worth settling down for.”
The second the words left his mouth, every head at the table swiveled toward me.
Julian barely glanced my way before looking away, like I was just another face in the crowd. His new girlfriend tilted her head, curious.
“Wow, Julian, who is she? She’s so pretty.”
He sneered, the sound sharp and mocking, the kind that used to make my stomach drop.
“My future wife.”
The girl’s smile vanished instantly, her expression souring as she shoved his chest, ready to snap.
Julian just laughed, pulling her into his lap with a lazy grin and teasingly nuzzling her neck until her cheeks flushed bright pink.
The table full of our so-called friends stared at me with pity—pity, as if I was the one who’d failed.
Three months into our engagement.
Fourth girlfriend he’d paraded in front of me.
Strangely, I felt nothing.
Not anger, not sadness—just… empty.
“Have fun,” I said, turning to leave.
Julian glanced up casually at me.
His eyes darkened, a dangerous glint flickering in them as he idly toyed with the girl’s hand in his lap, her fingers limp and pliant against his palm.
Julian’s voice stopped me. “Clara.”
I kept walking.
“Walk out that door, and our engagement is done.”
That actually made me laugh.
I faced him, calm as if we were discussing the weather.
“Julian—let’s end it. Right now.”
Julian’s eyes turned icy in an instant, and he shoved the girl off his lap with a sharp, dismissive push.
“Get out,” he snapped at her.
The girl fled, tears streaming, but I didn’t flinch.
Silence crashed over the room like a wave, so thick you could taste it.
I stared at Julian, my voice as calm and casual.
“Julian—I’ve decided. Let’s call off our engagement.”
