Isabella’s breath caught in her throat.

Tears shimmered in her eyes, catching the boutique’s light like scattered crystal.

She bit down on her lower lip, fighting to hold back a sob.

Her gaze was raw, full of unspoken questions.

“I… I need to know why…”

“There is no why.” Ethan’s voice was cold, final. “Go home.”

He turned to leave.

Before he could step away, Isabella rushed forward.

She wrapped her arms tightly around him from behind.

She held on as though her life depended on it.

“Ethan, please… don’t walk away like this…” Her voice trembled, desperate.

Ethan went rigid.

Something flickered in his eyes, too fast to read.

It was gone in an instant.

He clenched his fists.

Then his hands closed over hers, prying them loose.

His tone was icy.

“Isabella. Let go.”

She only clung harder, her body shaking against his.

“I can’t… I won’t…”

“Isabella!” His voice sharpened to a blade.

She flinched.

The resistance drained out of her.

Slowly, her grip loosened.

She looked up at him, tears streaking her cheeks.

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“You’ve really changed.”

Ethan said nothing.

He simply walked out.

The boutique’s glamorous glow felt empty now.

Isabella stood alone in the middle of it.

Her world had shrunk to this silent, hollow space.

The Starlight Gala was a spectacle of wealth and light.

Crystal chandeliers rained gold over a sea of silk and diamonds.

A plush velvet carpet unfurled like a path to heaven.

Isabella stepped inside.

Her gown flowed to the floor, a work of art in motion.

Every seam, every fold, was perfection.

It hugged her frame with elegant grace.

She moved with a queen’s confidence.

“Is that Isabella Scott?”

“I heard she’s making a comeback.”

“That dress… stunning.”

Whispers trailed her like shadows.

She ignored them, a faint smirk touching her lips.

She glided through the crowd, owning every step.

Camera flashes exploded around her.

They carved her image into the night.

Just as she took her seat, the room’s energy shifted.

A wave of quiet awe swept through the guests.

Ethan had arrived.

He commanded attention effortlessly.

His suit was tailored to perfection, emphasizing his powerful build.

He moved with a natural, magnetic grace.

Beside him, arm linked with his, stood Sophia.

She wore a champagne gown that glimmered like liquid gold.

Her smile was polished, her posture flawless.

Together, they looked like a masterpiece.

A perfect, untouchable pair.

“Ethan Blackwood and Sophia Reed… what a match.”

“They belong together.”

Murmurs of admiration and envy filled the air.