Chapter 7

The cocktail party was held in the banquet hall of a five-star hotel downtown.

Most of the guests were from the design and real estate circles, all dressed to the nines, champagne glasses clinking as they mingled.

I went with a simple black dress and kept my makeup light.

When Sophie saw me, she let out a low whistle. "Damn, girl, you're glowing! Who knows how many people you'll have falling at your feet tonight."

"Stop it," I said with a laugh, looping my arm through hers.

Halfway through the party, Sophie got pulled away by a business partner, so I headed out to the terrace to get some air.

The night was perfect, and the city lights spilled out like a river of stars.

"Ms. Lane?" A gentle male voice called from behind me.

I turned around and saw a man in a dark gray suit, probably in his early thirties, with sharp features and a calm, steady vibe.

"And you are?" I asked.

"Ethan Brooks," he said, handing me a business card. "I'm the owner of Cloudy Heights Guesthouse. Ms. Grant mentioned you earlier."

I took the card; it was simple, just his name and contact info.

"Hello, Mr. Brooks," I said with a polite nod. "Sophie mentions your project all the time; it sounds really interesting."

"Thanks," he replied with an open smile. "Actually, I was watching you from over there for a bit. Not really your scene, is it?"

I was a little surprised by how straightforward he was. "I'm just not used to it."

"Honest," he remarked. "Most people would just pretend they're in their element."

We started chatting, and Ethan was a great conversationalist, well-traveled but never showing off, witty without being superficial. He talked about his adventures around the world and why he decided to come back and start a B&B.

"Everyone needs a place to call home, even if it's just for a while," he said, his eyes soft with a quiet warmth.

"What do you do, Ms. Lane?" he asked.

"I'm the marketing director at a tech company," I replied.

"That sounds interesting," he said. "But honestly, you seem more like an artist."

I laughed. "Why?"

"Your eyes," he said, sounding serious. "There's something about them, like you've been through a lot, and there's this clear, deep look in them."

His words made me pause for a moment.

Just then, there was a bit of a commotion in the banquet hall. I instinctively glanced over and froze.

Ryan and Jessica walked in together.

Jessica was in a white evening gown, her makeup on point, hair swept up to show off her neck. She clung to Ryan's arm, her smile soft but full of confidence, practically glowing like she owned the place.

Ryan, dressed in a dark suit, looked worn out, but whenever his eyes landed on Jessica, there was still that gentle warmth, like nothing else mattered.

What were they doing here?

Ethan noticed my reaction. "Do you know them?"

"My ex-fiancé and his friend," I said, keeping my voice steady.

"Do you want to avoid them?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No, it's fine."

But Jessica clearly didn't see it that way. She spotted me right away, her eyes lighting up, and immediately dragged Ryan over.

"Olivia!" she called out, her voice sickly sweet. "What a coincidence! You're here too!"

Ryan saw me, his expression complicated. "Olivia."

I just nodded, acknowledging him.

"Ryan brought me here to cheer me up. The doctor said I need to keep my spirits up," Jessica said, snuggling up to Ryan. "And who's this?"

Jessica gave Ethan a quick once-over, her gaze sharp and a little curious.

"Ethan Brooks, a friend," I said, keeping it simple.

"Hello, Mr. Brooks," Jessica said, extending her hand. Ethan shook it politely.

Ryan glanced at me and Ethan standing together, his brow furrowing. "Olivia, who's this guy?"

"Ethan Brooks," Ethan said, reaching out his hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

The two men shook hands, the vibe was tense.

"Olivia, you look stunning tonight," Jessica said, her voice sugary sweet but totally insincere. "That dress really suits you, but isn't black kind of boring? I think girls should go for brighter colors. What do you think, Ryan?"

Ryan looked a little awkward. "You both look great."

"Really?" Jessica pouted, her voice all sweet and playful. "But you always said I look like an angel in white."

Ryan looked even more uncomfortable, shot me a quick glance, and said quietly, "Jessica, please, not now."

"Come on, what did I do?" she pouted, acting all innocent. "I'm just being honest."

Ethan suddenly spoke up. "I actually think black has a certain allure, mysterious and elegant. Ms. Lane pulls it off perfectly."

Jessica's smile faltered for a moment.

I glanced at Ethan, and he gave me a small, supportive smile, his eyes full of quiet encouragement.

"Mr. Brooks, you really know how to talk," Jessica quickly recovered, flashing a bright smile. "Oh, Olivia, did you know? Ryan's taking me to the Maldovia Islands next month.

"The doctor says the sea air is good for my health. Honestly, it's so expensive, but he just won't take no for an answer."

"Jessica," Ryan cut in with a sigh, sounding a little exasperated. "You don't have to broadcast all this."

"Why not?" she blinked. "Olivia's not a stranger. I just want her to see how good Ryan is to me now, so she won't have to worry about us anymore."