Old Dreams Fade

Bianca came up to me with a glass of wine, smiling with gentle elegance.

“I’d like to toast you.

“Wishing you and Evan a happy marriage and a lifetime together.”

Her posture was graceful, but there was a flash of provocation in her eyes.

I did not take the glass.

“Ms. Vale,” I said, looking at her and enunciating every word, “you already got what you wanted. Drop the act.”

Bianca’s smile froze.

“Clara!”

Evan rushed over at some point and grabbed Bianca by the shoulders.

“Stop being so petty. Bianca came over to toast you out of kindness. What kind of attitude is this?”

As he spoke, he reached out to push me away, as if terrified I would hurt her.

The room was full of people watching the drama, and not one of them came to help me.

They were only afraid the scene was not big enough.

I instinctively tensed.

But before I could react, a slim figure suddenly stepped in front of me.

Miles spread his arms and shielded me behind him, his back held straight.

“D-Don’t bully her!”

Evan froze. He looked Miles up and down as if he had just seen the biggest joke in the world.

“Who do you think you are? Don’t tell me you actually think you matter.”

Low laughter spread through the crowd.

Miles’s ears flushed red at once, but he did not move aside.

“An idiot playing the hero now?”

Evan’s tone grew sharper.

“Even your own brother looks down on you. Why come here pretending to be some big shot?

“What, standing in front of a woman proves you aren’t slow?”

Bianca stood nearby, covering her mouth as she laughed softly.

Miles’s chest rose and fell hard. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

But the words jammed in his throat and would not come out.

In the end, he could only clench his fists and suddenly raise his arm.

“I’ll hit you!”

Bianca screamed at just the right moment and hid behind Evan.

The hall dissolved into chaos.

Taking advantage of the commotion, I grabbed Miles by the sleeve and pulled him outside.

He bristled the whole way, muttering under his breath, but still followed me obediently.

Behind us, Evan’s furious voice rang out.

“Clara, if you walk out now, I’ll end the partnership between our families immediately!”

I did not look back.

Pierce Group’s energy division had been weak for years. It had survived these past two years entirely on Shaw capital.

End the contract?

Perfect.

Langford Group could fill the gap.

On the way back to my office, Miles kept his head down.

His hair was a little mussed. One cuff of his shirt had been scuffed open, revealing a scrape on his elbow.

Only after we entered the office did he speak in a muffled voice.

“I’m sorry.

“I ruined your engagement party.” He paused, his throat shifting.

“I know you... really like him.”

He said those last few words very quietly, with a faint loneliness I could not quite name.

My hand paused just as I was reaching for the first aid kit.

Like Evan?

I gave a faint smile and kept taking out the iodine and cotton swabs.

“No need to apologize. I should be thanking you.”

Without him, I truly would not have known how to bring today’s performance to an end.

Miles looked up, confusion in his eyes.

He was just about to speak when my phone chimed.

I glanced at the screen. Bianca had posted on Instagram.

In the photo, a jade bangle gleamed on her wrist.

The caption read, “Thank you for the gift, Evan. It’s beautiful.”

I recognized that bangle.

It was the Pierce matriarch token.

In my previous life, Evan had given it to her behind my back on our wedding day.

It seemed that in this life, he was truly anxious.

Anxious for me to go back to him.

Anxious for me to lower my head and make peace.

Expressionless, I blocked them both.

When I looked up, Miles was still standing where he was.

His head remained lowered as he lightly brushed the fluffy fringe on the sofa.

Looking at him like that, an idea suddenly came to me.

“However,” I said slowly.

“You did embarrass me today.”

Miles jerked his head up, panic flashing through his eyes.

“Would you like to think about how you’re going to make it up to me?”