Chapter 2

Josie's POV

"What's happened?" I asked.

"I left my purse in VIP room 1217 when I stopped by Starlight this afternoon! My mom's custom Tiffany necklace is inside—it's a limited edition design! If they contact her, she will discover I was at a club and freeze my credit cards for the month!"

I sighed. "Liv, I... "

"Please, Jo! You are the best! Oh, my mom's coming, gotta go!" She quickly hang up the phone.

Dylan glanced at me. "Do you need to go back?"

I hesitated, but nodded for my friend's sake. "Could we turn around, please?"

Without comment, Dylan expertly navigated the Bentley back toward Starlight.

"Would you like me to get it for you?" he offered as we pulled up.

"You've helped enough," I shook my head, wanting to spare myself further embarrassment. "I'll just grab her bag and come right back."

Inside Starlight, I avoided the main dance floor and headed straight to the VIP section on the twelfth floor. Room 1217 was empty, and Olivia's gold chain purse sat abandoned in the corner of a plush sofa. Relief washed over me as I grabbed it.

Planning to take the closer elevator down, I turned and stopped dead. Through a half-open stairwell door, I saw a man with his arms braced against the wall, a blonde girl trapped between them. His hand caressed her cheek as he leaned in closer. That was Conner.

The purse slipped from my grasp, hitting the floor with a thud. Connor turned, his expression freezing when he saw me. I scrambled to retrieve the bag, then fled toward the elevator, tears blurring my vision.

So much for being boring, I thought bitterly as the elevator doors closed, sealing me away from the second heartbreak of the night.

The moment the elevator doors closed, I collapsed against the wall, tears flowing freely down my face. The veneer of composure I'd desperately maintained crumbled completely.

"A boring lab rat." Connor's dismissive words echoed painfully in my mind.

For years, I'd believed we had something special—a connection forged through shared experiences and growing up together. I'd accepted our families' arrangement, thinking even if it wasn't passionate love, we could build a happy life based on mutual respect and companionship. What a fool I'd been.

By the time I reached the lobby, I hastily wiped away my tears and took several deep breaths before stepping out.

Dylan waited in his Bentley, his expression unreadable as I slid into the passenger seat. The silence between us stretched on as we drove through rain-slicked Manhattan streets, but I was grateful for it. I needed time to process the wreckage of my illusions.

When had Connor and I started drifting apart? Probably since he started college. I'd blamed his distance on his busy schedule, and I'd felt guilty for being absorbed in my own research. That's why I'd planned tonight's surprise—a pathetic attempt to revive something that had apparently never existed.

Now the truth was clear. Conner didn't want to marry me.

I knew immediately that I couldn't continue staying at the Brooks' family residence. It would be too uncomfortable for everyone, especially Connor. And the engagement—I needed to speak with Richard and Elizabeth about canceling it as soon as possible

"We're here," Dylan said quietly, breaking my reverie as the car pulled up to the Brooks Estate.

The doorman nodded respectfully as we pass the gate. Before walking in, Dylan studied me with subtle concern but maintained his distance.

Jenkins, the family's longtime butler, greeted us at the door. "Welcome back, Mr. Brooks. Miss Gray."

Dylan handed him his coat. "Are Richard and Elizabeth home?"

"I'm afraid not, sir. They're in London for the European expansion meetings and will return tomorrow."

I stood awkwardly in the foyer, painfully aware of my rain-dampened dress and probably ruined makeup. All I wanted was to escape to my room before completely falling apart again.

"Are you tired? Would you like something to eat?" Dylan asked, his deep voice gentler than usual.

I shook my head quickly, avoiding his eyes. "I had dinner earlier. And I don't want to disturb your work. You probably have a lot to catch up on after being away."

Before he could respond, I was already heading toward the staircase. "Good night, Uncle Dylan. Thank you for the ride."

In the sanctuary of my room, I immediately kicked off my heels and grabbed my phone, dialing Olivia. I needed to let her know about her purse, but more than that, I desperately needed my best friend.

"Jo! Thank God! Did you get it?" Olivia's voice came through, breathless with anxiety.

"Yes, I got your purse. I'll bring it to you tomorrow."

A brief pause. "What's wrong? You sound awful."

I sighed heavily. Olivia could always read me, even through the phone. "Nothing, just tired."

"Bullshit. Tell me what happened." Her tone left no room for evasion.

"I went to Starlight as planned, but..." My voice cracked embarrassingly. "I overheard Connor talking to his friends about me. He called me a 'boring lab rat' and mocked our arranged marriage. Then I saw Sofia practically draped over him."

"That absolute asshole!" Olivia exploded. "I never understood what you saw in him anyway. What did you do?"

"Nothing. I left. Uncle Dylan was with me—he'd given me a ride there—and we just came back to the Brooks' place."

"Wait, Dylan? As in Dylan Brooks? Connor's hot uncle who's been in Europe forever? He's back?"

Despite everything, I found myself rolling my eyes. "Yes, he returned today, apparently."

"Well, that's interesting timing. So what are you going to do about Connor?"

I flopped back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. "I'm going to ask Richard and Elizabeth to cancel the engagement. And I should probably move out soon. It would be too awkward to keep living here."

"You could move in with me! My place has plenty of space."

"Maybe temporarily, until I find my own apartment." I sighed. "I just feel so stupid, Liv. I actually thought Connor and I could make it work."

"Listen to me, Jo. You deserve so much better than someone who can't appreciate how amazing you are." She paused, then added with forced casualness, "You know, Dylan's only what—nine years older than you? And he's way more mature and successful than his man-child nephew."

I nearly choked. "Olivia! That's—he's practically an elder! Are you insane?"

"Just saying, he's single, brilliant, incredibly wealthy, and from what you've told me, actually seems to respect you. Unlike some people we know."

"Stop it. That's not even remotely an option." But even as I protested, I found myself remembering the gentle way Dylan had comforted me outside the club, and how he'd seemed genuinely concerned.

No. That was ridiculous. Dylan Brooks was Connor's uncle, a successful businessman who probably saw me as nothing more than his nephew's ex-fiancée and his family's ward.

"Fine, fine," Olivia conceded, though I could hear the smile in her voice. "But promise me you'll stand up for yourself with the Brooks family. Don't let them make you feel like you owe them anything."

"I won't," I promised, though I wasn't entirely convinced. The truth was, I did owe them—they'd taken me in when I had no one. But perhaps it was time to start building my own life, separate from their expectations and arrangements.

As I ended the call, a soft knock came at my door. When I opened it, Jenkins stood there with a tray of carefully arranged food.

"Mr. Dylan asked me to prepare this for you," he explained with a slight bow. "He thought you might be hungry after your long day."

"Thank you, Jenkins," I managed, taking the tray from him.

He nodded politely and left. After closing the door, I placed the tray on the table by the window.

Dylan's attentiveness caught me off guard, especially after everything that had happened today. There had always been this barrier between us—the age gap that placed us in different worlds.

But now I found myself noticing his mature charm, how he took care of those around him with such thoughtfulness, so unlike Connor's approach.

Wait—why was I comparing them? I shook my head, trying to dismiss these strange thoughts as I stared at the carefully prepared meal before me.