Scarlett’s POV
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I had changed outfits three times before settling on a sleek black satin gown with a daring slit up one side and a plunging neckline that teased but never gave too much away. My hair fell in soft waves, makeup precise but not overpowering. Nicholas had invited me to dinner at a private lounge downtown, and against every ounce of logic I had left, I said yes.
I needed a breather, from the tension in the Carrington estate, from the way Jasper watched me with those unreadable eyes, and from the whispered venom Cassie injected into every corner of my life.
And maybe, maybe, I needed to prove something to myself. That I wasn’t tethered. That I wasn’t still waiting for Jasper to choose me.
The restaurant was elegance in shadows and cand
