Chapter4
1093 Words
Chapter 4
Eva stepped into her house, kicking off her heels as she made her way to the bedroom. The invitation to Alec’s wedding lay on her dresser, taunting her. With a deep breath, she grabbed her suitcase and started packing for the wedding trip.
She muttered to herself, “Alec Hartwell, after ten years, this is how you tend to repay me? A wedding invite like we were nothing? Was I a joke to you?”
Pulling dresses from her closet, she tossed them onto the bed. Her hands hovered over a deep red gown. Bold. Striking. The kind of dress that would make her impossible to ignore.
Eva smirked bitterly. “If I have to ensure the pain you caued me and watch you marry someone else, I might as well make sure you never forget what you lost.”
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from her best friend, Lauren.
Lauren : Tell me you are not actually going to that wedding.
Eva read the message, sighed and called her.
Lauren answered instantly. “Eva, please. This is madness.”
“I know.” Eva zipped up her suitcase. “But I have to do this.”
“For what? To torture yourself? To hurt yourself?”
“No,” Eva said, gripping the edge of the dresser. “To show him that I am not broken. That he did not destroy me.”
Lauren exhaled. “Are you sure about that?”
Eva forced a small laugh. “Not even a little bit.”
Silence stretched between them before Lauren sighed. “Just promise me one thing—make sure you are safe.”
Eva’s lips pressed together. She knew she would be safe mostly when she has a wealthy billionaire at her side.
“I will be fine, Lauren,” she said instead.
“Eva—”
“Goodnight, Lauren.” She ended the call before she could change her mind.
She assured herself that she would walk into that wedding with her head high. Whether or not she walked out the same way was another story.
Wedding Reception – A Grand Ballroom
The chandeliers glowed above them, the air thick with the scent of expensive champagne and fresh roses. Eva Sinclair entered the ballroom on Jasper Kane’s arm, her emerald silk red gown clinging to her curves like a whispered challenge. Heads turned. Conversations stuttered.
Alec Hartwell, standing at the far end of the room with a glass of whiskey in hand, went rigid. His grip tightened around the crystal tumbler as he took in the sight of Eva—radiant, confident, and undeniably stunning—beside his greatest rival.
Sienna, his new wife, sensed the shift immediately. She followed his gaze, her manicured fingers brushing over his sleeve.
Sienna said softly, with forced amusement “Well, that is unexpected.”
Alec did not respond. His jaw clenched as he watched Jasper lean in, whispering something in Eva’s ear that made her laugh.
Jasper smirked, his gaze flicking toward Alec before he spoke just loud enough for him to hear.
Jasper said casually “You were right, darling. Nothing beats the look on a man’s face when he realizes what he has lost.”
Eva smiled, slow and deliberate, her eyes glinting with challenge.
Eva replied “I did say it would be entertaining.”
Alec set his drink down with a sharp clink, his patience snapping. He closed the distance between them, his expression carefully schooled.
“ Eva. I did not expect to see you here.” Alec said surprisingly
Eva (tilting her head) “That makes two of us. I was not sure I would attend, but Jasper insisted.”
Jasper tightened his hold on Eva’s waist, his voice laced with mock sympathy.
“Weddings can be so sentimental, can’t they Alec? Thought it would be a shame for Eva to miss yours, considering your……history.” Jasper said
Alec’s eyes darkened, his composure slipping for a fraction of a second.
Alec replied “You always had a way of making things messy, Kane.”
Jasper chuckled.
“And you always had a way of underestimating what’s yours—until someone else claims it.” Jasper replied sharply
Sienna cleared her throat, stepping forward, her expression polite but firm.
“ Eva, it is…nice to see you.” Sienna said
Eva replied her “Likewise. Congratulations, by the way. I hear married life suits you.”
Sienna replied raising an eyebrow” You sound surprised.”
Eva shrugged, the picture of nonchalance.
“Oh, not at all. I always knew Alec would settle for something safe.” Eva bluntly replied.
Sienna stiffened. Alec’s jaw twitched.
Alec said in a dangerously low tone “Careful, Eva.”
Jasper chuckled, swirling the champagne in his glass.
Relax, Hartwell. Eva’s just speaking her mind—something I have always admired about her. Jasper did not hesitate to reply
Alec said coldly “I am sure you do.”
His gaze flicked back to Eva, something unreadable in his eyes.
ALEC: So this is what you are doing now? Running around with Kane, hoping it will get under my skin?
Eva leaned in slightly, her perfume intoxicatingly familiar.
Eva whispering, but lethal “Oh, Alec. If I wanted to get under your skin, I would not need Jasper to do it.”
Alec’s breath hitched for the briefest moment.
Sienna, sensing the unspoken tension, tightened her grip on his arm.
“We should get back to our guests.” Sienna hurriedly said
Jasper smirked, raising his glass.” Enjoy your wedding night, Hartwell. I know I will.”
Alec glared as Jasper guided Eva toward the dance floor, his hand possessively resting on the small of her back.
Sienna forced a smile, but something flickered in her eyes as she watched Alec watch Eva.
She had won. But suddenly, she was not so sure.
Jasper played the role of the devoted boyfriend flawlessly—his arm draped around Eva’s waist, his touch lingering just long enough to send a message. Every glance, every smirk, was calculated to make Alec seethe. But the longer it went on, the harder it became for Eva to remind herself it was just an act. The way Jasper’s fingers brushed her skin, the way he whispered in her ear, felt too real.
“You’re enjoying this,” he murmured, his li
ps inches from hers.
Eva swallowed hard, her heart pounding.
The real problem wasn’t Alec. It was the way Jasper made her feel.
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