The reunion hall was alive with energy, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. Classmates who hadn't seen each other in years embraced warmly, reliving old memories while creating new ones. Claire lingered near a table, watching the scene unfold with a quiet smile, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
She had already exchanged the expected pleasantries, caught up with familiar faces, and even managed to laugh at a few old jokes. Yet, her focus kept drifting.
The night had been unfolding predictably—until the moment Noah entered.
Claire turned instinctively, her breath catching in her throat as she spotted him across the room. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, his tie slightly loosened, giving him a casual edge that only he could pull off. His dark hair was slicked back, accentuating the strong lines of his jaw. Even in a crowd of their peers, Noah stood out effortlessly, his presence commanding attention without trying.
But what caught everyone's attention wasn't just Noah.
The woman by his side was equally captivating. She had long, silky black hair that cascaded down her back and wore a sleek emerald-green dress that hugged her figure perfectly. The shade made her almond-shaped eyes stand out, glowing under the dim lights of the hall. She carried herself with grace, a warm smile on her lips that seemed to soften the intensity of her beauty.
They looked flawless together.
There was a natural ease in the way she walked beside Noah, her hand lightly brushing his arm now and then. His expression remained unreadable, as it often did, but Claire couldn't help noticing how her classmates reacted to the pair. Whispered conversations flitted across the room, heads turning to steal glances.
"They look like they belong on a magazine cover," someone murmured nearby.
Claire swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the stem of her glass. She tried to focus on something—anything—else, but her gaze kept returning to them.
"They do make quite a pair," said Sarah, one of Claire's old friends, appearing at her side. "She's even prettier in person, isn't she?"
Claire glanced at Sarah, trying to keep her tone neutral. "Who?"
Sarah gave her a knowing look. "Don't play dumb. That's her. Everyone's been talking about her ever since she came back. And now, seeing her with Noah? They look perfect together, don't they?"
Claire didn't respond, her thoughts swirling too fast to form words. She knew exactly who Sarah was talking about, but the name stayed lodged in her throat.
Across the room, the woman leaned in to whisper something to Noah. He didn't smile, but he tilted his head slightly to listen, his dark eyes flickering with something Claire couldn't place. For a moment, it looked as though he might glance in her direction, but he didn't.
"Do you think they're…?" Sarah's voice trailed off suggestively.
Claire forced herself to look away, pretending to adjust the strap of her dress. "I wouldn't know."
But deep down, the scene gnawed at her. The connection between Noah and the woman seemed undeniable, but there was a heaviness to it, something unspoken that made Claire's stomach twist.
By the time the evening began winding down, Claire felt drained. She slipped outside onto the balcony, letting the cool night air wash over her. From there, she could hear faint traces of laughter and music, but it felt distant, like it belonged to another world.
She leaned against the railing, her mind racing. Noah's arrival had already thrown her off balance. But seeing him with her? It opened wounds she hadn't realized were still there.
Everyone in that room knew who the woman was. Her name was whispered with admiration, her presence lighting up the reunion like a star stepping onto the red carpet.
But no one—not even Sarah—knew the truth about what had happened between her and Claire.