In a prestigious nightclub exclusive to the socialites of the elite, I sat by the counter, aloof and unapproachable, my back to the glamorous chaos unfolding around me.
A famous trio of pretty girls performed on stage—two playing the instruments while one sang. Waiters hurried past, balancing trays of expensive drinks, while golden lights danced across the crowd. At the center, couples grabbed each other and engaged in formal, romantic dances, lost in the moment.
The majority of the crowd busied themselves in socializing, discussing the latest gossip and scandals, while sealing business deals in hushed tones. That was what this nightclub was famous for.
But I couldn't care less. I picked up my drink and sipped silently, my attention nowhere near the materialistic scene unfolding before me
.Unlike the trendy, high-fashion styles worn by the others, my hair was let down freely—natural and rich brown, cascading down to my hips. I felt like I didn't belong here, yet I didn't mind. There was a certain aloof charm in my calm, detached presence, something I had learned to embrace.
"Just who is she? I've been observing that girl for a while," came a voice from behind me, a group of guys no doubt. I didn't need to turn to know they were eyeing me.
One of them, a dainty guy, had his arm draped over the woman beside him, drink in hand.
"She looks rather crass to me," the woman sniffed, giving me a dismissive glance.
"That dress—probably a cheap knockoff."
The dainty guy laughed, then whispered something to the woman, who flushed and giggled.
"Now that you mention it," he added, eyes still on me, "she looks rather interesting. What do you think, Julian Foster?"Another man, probably Julian Foster, turned his attention to me."Ah, don't play with him," the dainty guy, now Langford Leo, said with a chuckle. "He's not like us, a free spirit. Julian is about to tie the knot with Emily Bennett, you think he'd dare entertain another beauty?"I heard Julian's voice, and a small pang of irritation spread through me."You don't waste a second in defending her," Leo teased, as the other man stepped forward. "Sounds like you're too deep in love."
I didn't care for their conversation. They were all a blur to me, a bunch of rich men with too much time on their hands.But then, the name Emily Bennett caught my ear.I didn't look at him, but I could feel Julian watching me.I wasn't interested in entertaining him, not now, not after everything. Yet I could sense him lingering, waiting for some acknowledgment. A flicker of recognition in my chest, a remnant of my past feelings for him, stirred.But I wouldn't let it take over.
I sipped my drink, deliberately slow, ignoring the tension in the air around me."Clara," Julian said, his tone different from the others. He had moved closer, his voice laced with irritation.Of course, it was him. Julian.My ex-fiancé.And I hated how easily his voice could still stir something inside me, a recognition of the past that no longer served me.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, standing too close, his voice dripping with that old, possessive edge.I didn't look up. Instead, I took another slow sip, letting the liquid calm my nerves.I knew the routine. The way he'd always expect me to grovel, to be the obedient woman at his feet. I wasn't that woman anymore.I would never be her again.
"Did you not hear me?" he pressed, voice rising now, loud enough for his friends to catch on.I still didn't respond, keeping my eyes fixed on my drink, as if he were invisible.I could feel his anger growing, but I didn't care.Blood rushed to Julian's face. He never expected this from me. The woman who once begged him to take her back, who had clung to his every word. The woman who thought that without him, she was nothing. But I wasn't her anymore.The silence stretched between us, thick with his frustration. Finally, he spoke again, a bit quieter now, but still with that accusatory tone."I understand you're angry because of what happened," he said, trying to sound calm, but it was all just an act. "But you have to accept what happened. After everything, it was already too much for me not to report you to the authorities."
I tilted my head slowly, my lips curving into a light smile. "Your point?"The words fell from my mouth with such coldness that it startled even me.Julian stopped mid-sentence. His expression shifted as his brain tried to process the dissonance between the woman he had known and the woman standing before him.His gaze narrowed, and I could see the irritation burning in his eyes."Clara," he said again, but this time there was an edge to it. "You're acting out of spite. We both know that what happened doesn't change the fact that we were supposed to be together."
I couldn't stop the sneer that curled my lips. "We were never supposed to be anything. You made sure of that the day you kicked me out of your life."Julian was left speechless. The coldness in my voice was unlike anything he'd ever encountered before.Anger surged in him. He jerked the stool beside me out, then grabbed my elbow, forcing me to face him."Listen, Clara," he said, his voice low and full of venom. "If not for my mother, I wouldn't even spare you a second of my time."
I fought to keep my composure as his fingers dug into my skin. The pressure was painful, but I didn't let it show."What do you want?" I asked, my voice sharp, but cold.The past was there, flashing through my mind—the hurt, the humiliation, the betrayal. My heart thudded painfully against my chest, but I wouldn't let him see it.I wasn't that woman anymore. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.
Julian smirked, his grip tightening. "You think you can just walk away from everything?"I glared at him, refusing to be intimidated. "Let go of me."My words cut through the air like a blade."You think I'm still the same woman who cried at your feet?" I said, my voice icy and forceful. "I'm not that girl anymore."
He seemed to enjoy the shift, the way I stood my ground. "You've grown some guts," he commented, his lips twisting into a grin. "But this act, it doesn't fool me."I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Your delusions have nothing to do with me."But before I could say more, Julian's voice dropped again, turning nasty. "I remember when I praised Emily Bennett for her confidence. Now you want to act like you're her? Putting on airs?"I stared at him in disbelief, but my words came out calmly, despite the fire burning inside me."Shocked? Do you think I'm still in love with you?"Julian smirked, convinced of his own superiority. "You've been trying to win me back ever since. You didn't even bother getting another man. How could anyone believe you've moved on?"His words stung, but I wouldn't let him see that.
As I moved away from him, heading for the door, I was done with the conversation. But Julian followed me, his voice calling after me."Stop running from the truth, Clara. Do you think I didn't notice how you've been trying to get back into my life? All these games you've been playing."
I paused for a second, then turned to face him. His face was flushed, frustration leaking from his every pore."You really think I care about you anymore?" I said, my voice sharp, cutting through the air between us. "If that's what you believe, you're wrong."The sneer that followed my words seemed to snap something in him. He lunged forward. "If that's how it's going to be, I'll make you listen."But I wasn't going to let him win."You can keep your so-called goodwill to yourself," I snapped, my eyes hard.And with that, I turned away and walked out, leaving him standing there, speechless.
The cold air outside the club hit me like a slap, but I couldn't care less. I just wanted to escape. But before I could reach the street, I heard him call my name. "Clara!" he shouted. "Did it burn you that I said my heart belongs to Emily Bennett? Is that why you're acting this way?"I stopped, just for a second, and turned. The anger in me bubbled over, but I bit my tongue.I didn't owe him anything.
With a quick glance at a stranger walking by, I grabbed him by the collar, pulled him down, and kissed him passionately.
I could always blame it on the alcohol later.