The next week, Quinn found herself staring at the glossy invitation to the gala resting on her desk. The gold embossing on the card gleamed in the soft light, mocking her. Her mind was racing, trying to think of a valid excuse not to go. But she knew she couldn't back out. Not with everything that had been going on lately—and definitely not when *she* knew exactly who would be there.
Ethan's ex-girlfriend.
It felt like some cruel joke. She'd barely gotten used to the whole "contract marriage" thing, and now, as if the universe had a twisted sense of humor, she'd been invited to the very gala where Ethan's ex would be making her grand reappearance. It was too much. It was like a scene from a bad rom-com, where the characters had no choice but to go through the motions of the drama.
When Quinn told Ava about the event, Ava's eyes practically lit up, a wicked grin tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Oh, you *have* to go," Ava said with unrestrained enthusiasm. "Think of it as a chance to stir up some drama. Plus, it'll be hilarious. Ethan's ex? You know this is gonna be good."
Quinn rolled her eyes, her hand slapping the edge of the invitation like it was a fire burning her fingertips. "I think I'm going to throw up," she muttered, feeling a wave of nausea wash over her. "I can't handle this. It's too much, Ava. I'm already drowning in this *fake* relationship, and now I have to contend with this?"
Ava was undeterred, of course. She leaned in, the glint of mischief in her eyes. "It's just another night to mess with Ethan. Plus, if she shows up, it'll be even better. Think of it as an opportunity to make him squirm. You're good at that, remember?"
Quinn scowled, but despite herself, she felt a tiny spark of excitement. As much as she hated the idea of facing Ethan's past, a part of her was itching for a challenge—especially if it meant stirring the pot a little. "Fine," Quinn relented with a groan. "But I swear to God, if I end up in a showdown with her, I'm blaming you."
Ava just grinned wider. "That's the spirit!"
---
When the night of the gala arrived, Quinn found herself staring at her reflection for far too long. The gown she wore felt like it belonged to a completely different person. Elegant, sleek, and far more polished than Quinn usually preferred, but that's what the occasion demanded. Still, the moment she stepped out of the car and into the venue, she wished she could've crawled back into bed.
The atmosphere inside was nothing short of extravagant. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow over the sea of tuxedos and glittering gowns. Everywhere she looked, people were mingling and laughing, giving each other the kind of warm smiles that screamed *I belong here*. Quinn, on the other hand, felt like a fish out of water, navigating the crowd as if she might trip over her own heels at any moment.
Her eyes scanned the room, looking for Ethan. But instead of him, her gaze landed on *her*—Ethan's ex. The woman stood across the room, holding court with a group of socialites, effortlessly commanding the attention of everyone around her. She was stunning—tall, with sleek dark hair cascading over her shoulders and an aura of perfection that made Quinn feel like a total wreck.
Ethan's ex was the kind of woman who looked like she'd stepped out of a high-fashion magazine ad. The kind of woman who could wear anything and make it look like a million bucks. Quinn knew she wasn't unattractive, but she felt dwarfed by her presence, her self-confidence faltering with every passing second.
When Quinn finally spotted Ethan, her stomach churned. He was standing near the bar, talking with a few other businessmen, his usual cool exterior firmly in place. But then, the scene that Quinn had been dreading unfolded before her eyes.
Ethan's ex made her way toward him, and despite the way she tried to act casual, the tension between them was palpable. They greeted each other with an awkwardly tight hug, lingering for a moment too long before pulling away. A brief exchange of smiles was followed by polite small talk, but Quinn could see it. She could see the *history* between them—the way Ethan's shoulders relaxed when his ex spoke, the familiarity between them that Quinn wasn't sure she was ready to witness.
It hit her like a ton of bricks. She wasn't just watching two people who once had a relationship. She was watching the ghost of Ethan's past, and it was far more present than she cared to admit. The warmth in his voice when he spoke to her ex, the way his eyes softened—everything about it made Quinn's heart squeeze uncomfortably.
But Quinn wasn't going to let herself stay there, drowning in her own insecurity.
She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. This wasn't the time to be passive, not when she had a perfect opportunity to throw a little curveball into the mix.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Quinn took a few determined steps forward, straight toward the pair. Ethan's ex gave her a brief glance, and that was all it took. Quinn slid herself between them, standing right next to Ethan. She gave him no chance to react. No time for him to protest or try to defuse the situation. She was done being pushed around.
"Ethan," Quinn said, her voice loud enough to command attention but light enough to keep it from sounding confrontational. "I think we should have a little chat, don't you?"
Ethan froze, his eyes wide as he looked down at her. She could see the surprise in his expression, his carefully crafted composure slipping just a little. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly not prepared for Quinn's bluntness in front of everyone. "Uh, sure?" he said, sounding far less confident than usual.
Without waiting for him to say anything else, Quinn turned on her heel and began walking away, her steps brisk. Ethan stumbled a little behind her, the uncertainty on his face growing with each step. As she walked away, she could feel the eyes of the crowd on her, and, from the corner of her eye, she saw Ethan's ex watching them, her cool exterior masking a hint of concern.
Quinn couldn't help but smile to herself. She was tired of sitting on the sidelines. Tonight, she wasn't just going to be the outsider in Ethan's world—she was going to make her presence known.
---
As they stepped into a quieter corner of the gala, Quinn finally turned to face Ethan. She crossed her arms, taking in his wide-eyed expression.
"Did you really think I was just going to stand there and watch you flirt with your ex like nothing was happening?" Quinn raised an eyebrow. "You've got some explaining to do."
Ethan swallowed hard, looking both frustrated and bewildered. "Quinn, I... it's not like that. We were just—"
Quinn cut him off, her voice steady but tinged with sarcasm. "Sure, just a friendly hug. Just a little chat between old flames. Nothing to see here, right?"
Ethan groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "You're making it sound worse than it is. She's... she's just an old friend."
Quinn wasn't buying it. "Uh-huh. That's why she looked at me like I was an intruder on her territory."
There was a long pause, and Quinn could almost hear Ethan's brain working overtime to come up with the right words. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I didn't want to make things awkward. I didn't know you'd be so... affected by it."
"Well, now you do," Quinn said, her voice softened just a touch. "Next time, maybe let's skip the *awkward* part altogether, huh?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement crossing his features. "You've got a lot of nerve, you know that?"
Quinn smirked. "Yeah, I do."
And for the first time that night, she felt like she was in control.