Chapter 2

"The engagement's off," I said, yanking the pearl hairpin from my hair. "It's a dinner now. Go get your overtime from the manager."

My eyes were red in the mirror, but no tears came. I stared at my reflection, remembering the first time I met Fabian three years ago.

At a charity gala, my uncle's business partner kept forcing drinks on me, shot after shot of strong liquor burning my stomach.

Fabian suddenly appeared, took the glass from my hand, and said, "Mr. Preston, let me toast you on Miranda's behalf."

He downed three shots without flinching, but when I went to the restroom, he followed me and handed me a mint. "Suck on it. You'll feel better."

Back then, he remembered my name, remembered I couldn't hold my liquor, and remembered I once mentioned offhand that I hated the taste of alcohol.

I thought it was special attention, but later realized he had a habit of looking after people, as he did with Kelly. It was instinct for him.

My phone buzzed again. It was a message from Fabian: [I'm here, in the parking lot.]

I let out a cold, mocking laugh. He said he just arrived, but I knew he had come from Kelly's room.

I replied: [Don't bother coming up. The engagement party's off.]

I sent it and then blocked him.

Footsteps echoed outside, and Jaden pushed the door open. He wore a black turtleneck under a camel coat, bringing a chill from outside with him.

It had been three years since we last met. There was a faint beauty mark by his eye, like a teardrop. Maybe it had always been there, but I'd never noticed before.

"It's really canceled?" he asked, scanning the empty dressing room, his gaze settling on the million-dollar wedding dress.

"Yeah," I said, still taking off my earrings. "Have a seat. Order whatever you want. My treat. Consider it a thank you for what you told me back then."

Jaden didn't sit down. He walked up behind me and watched me through the mirror.

His gaze was a mix of curiosity, concern, and something fierce I couldn't quite name.

"Back then?" he asked.

"You once said Fabian had a grave in his heart," I said, twisting my lips into a smile. "Well, the ghost in that grave crawled out today.

"Only then did I realize I'd been playing gravekeeper for three years."

Jaden paused for a moment, then reached out and picked a stray sequin from my hair, probably left over from when I got my makeup done earlier. His fingertips brushed my ear, cool to the touch.

"Miranda," he said quietly, "do you know why I never tried to win you over back then?"

I looked up at him.

"Because Fabian seemed genuinely in love with you," he said, withdrawing his hand and stuffing it into his coat pocket.

He added, "I thought he'd move on from Kelly. I thought three years would be enough for that."

There was a sudden uproar outside. Fabian's voice came closer, tight with barely contained anger. "Miranda, what the hell is this supposed to mean?"

The door burst open. Fabian stood there in a flawless suit, hair perfectly in place, looking like he'd stepped out of a high-profile event.

Kelly trailed behind him in a white dress, nervously holding onto his sleeve.

Kelly whispered, "Fabian, please don't be angry. Talk nicely, okay?"

Fabian shook off her hand and strode straight toward me. His eyes flicked to Jaden, pupils narrowing sharply.

Then, he let out a cold, mocking laugh. "So that's why you suddenly called off the engagement? Already got a new guy?"

Before I could say a word, Jaden stepped in front of me, his posture casual but radiating pressure.

He said coldly, "Mr. Graham, watch your mouth. Miranda's single now. She can have dinner with whoever she wants."

"Miranda?" Fabian repeated, rolling the name around in his mouth, his eyes cold and sharp. "That's awfully familiar. Jaden, how long have you been after my fiancée?"

"Not anymore," I corrected Fabian, stepping out from behind Jaden. "I was your fiancée, but not now."

I looked him right in the eye, the same deep, sharp eyes I used to be obsessed with. Now they were filled with rage, but not a hint of remorse.

"Why?" he demanded, like I was the one in the wrong. "Is it because I was late? Because I went to see Kelly?

"She had been back in the country lately. Her stomach was upset. I was just..."

"Just what?" I cut him off. "Peeling shrimp for her? Telling her she's more aborable than me? Standing in front of her on the most important day of my life, making me look like a fool?"

Fabian's face changed slightly. He hadn't expected me to hear those words.

Kelly spoke up at the right moment, her voice soft and fragile. "Ms. Randall, please don't blame Fabian. It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked him to stay with me."