Chapter 1
When I walked into my ex-husband Ryan Pollock's class reunion, everyone thought I had come to cause a scene.
They laughed, joked, and cut me down with poison-laced looks.
Then I calmly said, "I'm here to pick up my man. He gets a little jealous, so excuse me."
*****
When I pushed open the gilded door to the private room, the deafening music and raucous laughter inside suddenly stopped, like someone had hit pause.
The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume, rich alcohol, and a faint whiff of cigar smoke, all blending into a cloying, suffocating atmosphere that reeked of the upper class.
Dozens of eyes turned to me at once, like a thousand tiny needles pricking at my skin.
Surprise, contempt, and a gleeful, almost malicious curiosity filled the room.
I could clearly hear people whispering in the corner.
"Why did she show up? Ryan didn't invite her, did he?"
"Shameless, isn't she? Chasing him here after the divorce. Does she really think she can spark some old flame again?"
I spotted Ryan right in the middle of the crowd.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black shirt, the top two buttons undone to show off his cool, pale skin and that dangerously attractive collarbone. He lounged on the sofa, his long fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling lazily at his fingertips.
His gaze was as cold as ever. Like a blast of Siberian wind, it could freeze one in an instant.
Sitting beside him was a woman in a flowing white dress, her makeup flawless and her presence radiating a soft, graceful elegance.
It was Willow Heller, a renowned cellist, and the girlfriend Ryan was proudly showing off these days.
She was also the "friend" I once gave everything to, only for her to stab me in the back and throw me into the abyss.
When she saw me, a subtle, victorious smirk flickered across her lips, but she quickly put on a worried face and gently tugged at Ryan's sleeve.
She said, "Ryan, is Sharon here because of something urgent?"
Her voice was pitched perfectly so everyone in the room could hear.
A guy in a loud floral shirt, who was Ryan's college roommate, if I remembered right, stood up with a big, mocking grin.
He said, "Well, if it isn't Ryan's ex. Can't find your way home, so you wandered in here?"
The whole room burst out laughing.
Those laughs felt like a bunch of grubby hands, all eager to rip apart my dignity.
I ignored him, my eyes sweeping the room with calm indifference before finally settling back on Ryan.
Ryan finally stirred.
He set down his glass, stood up with unhurried grace, and walked toward me.
His leather shoes made no sound on the plush carpet, but every step weighed heavy on my heart, silent, suffocating.
He was tall, his shadow swallowing me up.
I caught that familiar, cool woody cologne on him. I used to be obsessed with the scent, but now it just made me feel sick.
"Sharon," he said, his voice rough and clearly annoyed, "what kind of stunt are you pulling now?"
His eyes screamed warning, like I was some beggar who didn't belong here.
I pulled off a smile, a look so unfamiliar, even I barely recognized myself.
"Mr. Pollock, don't misunderstand." I shifted aside, glancing past him at the crowd behind, all waiting for a show. "I'm just here to pick up my guy.
"He's not really into places like this, too crowded, too smoky.
"Oh, and one more thing." I paused for effect. "He gets jealous pretty easily. So if you could all move aside, that'd be great."
The room fell silent, like someone had just dropped a bomb.
Everyone froze, even Ryan.
The flora-shirt guy's mocking grin froze on his face, and he stammered, "Y-Your guy? Isn't that Ryan?"
Ryan's expression turned stormy. Something dark flickered in his eyes, something I couldn't even begin to decipher.
He probably figured I was spinning some lie to try and keep him around.
I couldn't help but laugh.
Honestly, it was so absurd I found it hilarious.
"Who said I was here for you?"
I lifted my gaze. Looking at those same eyes I once drowned in, I spelled out every word, clear as day.
I said, "Mr. Pollock, you're way too full of yourself."
Time seemed to stopped right then.
Ryan's eyes flickered, and his always-calm face finally showed a crack.