The gala hall was filled with elegance, and Lily Chen felt her heart race as she heard laughing and glasses clinking. The group shifted, revealing him—a tall discern with a comfortable self-confidence and a gaze that met hers without hesitation. Mark Donovan. Lily swallowed, her nerves tingling as she felt the draw of his gaze.
Their paths crossed, and without saying anything, he extended a tumbler of champagne. "To unexpected encounters," he whispered, his tone smooth but his eyes piercing, watching her like a hobby that had grown both disturbing and thrilling.
"Thanks," she said, accepting the glass, her hand brushing against his in the alternate. The spark ignited on the spot, like energy jolting up her spine. She battled the need to look away, instead meeting his gaze with a boldness she hadn't experienced before.
"You're not anything like what I expected," Mark said, his voice quiet but full of confidence, as if he were telling a secret.
Lily raised an eyebrow, and the corner of her mouth lifted. "And what did you expect, Mr. Donovan?"
"A person broken," he confessed, his words so subtle that only she could hear. "However, you are no longer broken in any way, are you?" "You are cast."
The words settled among them, fierce yet curiously comfortable. He noticed her electricity, acknowledged it, and respected it. In that second, the traces of her beyond, the harm and betrayal, seemed to fade, replaced by something strange—a possibility she hadn't dared to consider.
She sipped her champagne, attempting to hide the unexpected flutter in her chest. "life has a manner of teaching us matters, doesn't it?"
He nodded, his eyes lingering on her. "If we permit it."
The night opened up around them, but they remained caught in their own world, exchanging discreet glances and smiles that hinted at shared understandings. He inquired about her business, undoubtedly curious about her success, and as she recounted her journey, she felt a warm sensation she hadn't felt in years. His look was not judgmental, and there was no need for her to prove herself. Simply mutual appreciation and a building sense of attractiveness.
As the music softened, he extended his hand. "Dance with me?"
A heartbeat elapsed before she placed her hand in his. They sank to the ground, and Lily felt the world drift away as he drew her close, his hand softly resting on her waist. She became more conscious of every detail—his aroma, the warmth of his hand, and the slight electricity in his clasp.
They swayed in silence for a time before he spoke again, his voice barely audible in her ear. "Inform me, Lily. What's keeping you safe again?"
She blinked, taken off guard. "What do you imply?"
"From believing again. "From letting go." His voice lowered, his question a delicate probe, yet it hit a chord deep within her.
A pause. "It's now not easy," she conceded, her voice barely above a whisper. "People believe that time heals, but it only reminds them of what they have lost." "Who you were before."
He nodded, and the information in his eyes astonished her. "perhaps it's approximately locating a person who facilitates you recall, in preference to forget about."
His words wrapped around her like a lifeline, stabilizing her in ways she hadn't expected. As the song came to an end, he drew back just little, looking into her eyes with a mix of promise and restraint. He did not press, nor did he demand solutions that she was unwilling to supply. He clearly kept her stare, letting her know he was available if she wanted to reach out.
However, just as her coronary heart began to open up to the concept, an unexpected voice interrupted the moment.
"Lily?"
She grew, and her breath became caught. Jason stood at the edge of the dance floor, his countenance a mix of surprise, sorrow, and something else she couldn't identify. Mark's grip on her hand tightened gradually, reminding her of the stability she'd all begun to feel.
"Jason," she said quietly, the call tasting foreign on her tongue. Memories flooded in, unwanted and unwelcome—of late nights, unsolved questions, and twisted and worn-out love.
Mark's tone became calm but firm as he addressed Jason. "I don't believe we have met. "I am Mark Donovan."
Jason's gaze shifted to Mark, and a flash of something unreadable crossed his face before he responded, his tone sharp. "Jason Reed."
The unease between them became palpable, a collision of past and present. Jason's gaze fastened on Lily, begging with an unsaid desperation she had not seen before. "Lily, are we able to speak? "Just us."
A decision hung in the air, weighty as the silence that followed. She looked to Mark, who gave her a barely detectable nod, understanding yet resolute. The pull of her history felt like an anchor, but in Mark's presence, she found the strength to rise beyond it and choose something remarkable.
Finally, she breathed and looked Jason directly in the eyes. "I suppose we've stated the whole thing that needed to be stated, Jason."
A flicker of ache crossed his features, but he didn't push. He took a step back, his look clearly one of resignation, as if he was seeing something he cherished pass through his fingers.
Just as he was about to depart, a woman's voice erupted from across the room, piercing and triumphant. "Jason? I thought you'd been fetching us drinks."
Lily felt a pang when Sarah Morgan slipped ahead, wrapping her arm through Jason's with an undeniably possessive look. Her gaze met Lily's, smug enjoyment flashing in the depths.
Lily's pulse raced, not from jealousy, but from a sense of finality that had settled over her. Jason had repeatedly chosen, and now he was watching at how the ramifications spread.
Mark's hand found her shoulder and grounded her. He leaned forward with a reassuring murmur. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, but as she tried to reassure herself, a nagging worry gnawed at her heart. Had she truly moved on, or was she still holding on to the vestiges of what they'd shared?
Jason's gaze fell on her one last time before he turned away, Sarah clinging to his side. As the distance between them rose, Lily felt an unbelievable sense of relief, similar to weight lifting.
However, as she returned to Mark and decided to leave the beyond behind, a single thought twisted in her mind. What if this was not the end? What if Jason wasn't the one attempting to change their story?
Mark's eyes met hers, filled with both warmth and a tinge of thriller. "lets get a few air?"
She nodded, allowing him to guide her out into the cool night air. The air became crisp, a gentle breeze twirling her hair, and as they stood there in silence, Lily felt a strange combination of tranquility and expectation.
Just as she began to relax, her cellphone buzzed in her handbag. She fished it out, expecting a recurrent message, but her heart fell as she saw the words flashing on the display screen:
"We want to talk. There are things you don't recognize. - J."
Her breath became trapped, and she noticed Mark's eyes on her, a query in his expression. The past wasn't as far behind her as she'd hoped, and whatever Jason intended to show her could hold the key to a future she hadn't yet considered.
Lily met Mark's gaze, torn between the life she desired and the shadows that yet lurked within the one she left. She had to make a decision—and this time, there would be no searching lower back.