Ella Rosales's POV:

Not long after the gala, the rumors started.

A tight-knit circle of Manhattan's elite was buzzing about Holden's new "romance."

Within days, he was seen inseparable from a younger, exceptionally pretty girl.

He flaunted the relationship with great fanfare, showering her with lavish gifts and parading her around at every major social event. It was exactly how he had fervently pursued me once upon a time.

I heard she was completely smitten with him, entirely swept off her feet by his money and charm. I felt a twinge of pity for her. She had no idea what she was about to face.

The official breakup happened a week after the gala.

It was at a private party held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I had reluctantly attended, accompanying a few mutual friends. Then, Holden walked in, his new flame clinging to him as if she were a second skin.

All conversation in the room abruptly stopped. A dead silence fell. My friends looked at me with concern.

"Why is everyone looking at me?" I smiled, without a trace of forced emotion.

Holden strolled over, his gaze sweeping over me with casual indifference. He cleared his throat. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make." He flashed a smug grin at his new prey. "Ella and I are going our separate ways."

My mouth went dry. I simply gave a stiff nod, a polite gesture. I didn't want him to see me break down.

He squeezed the young woman's hand. "I've found true love, something truly special. I want to give her everything." He looked straight at her, then turned back to the onlookers. "She deserves to be loved, deserves to be cherished."

My stomach churned, and a bitter taste rose in my throat. I felt a strange sense of detachment, as if I were watching a terrible movie playing out right in front of me. I nodded slightly, silently acknowledging his words.

He then turned to me. "Ella, I appreciate everything you've done for me, I really do. So, I want you to know that I'll always be here for you, as a friend. If you ever need anything, anything at all, just ask."

He offered a sickeningly sweet smile. "We can still be friends, right?"

"No," I replied, my voice steady, even though my hands were shaking. "We can't."

His smile froze, replaced by a flash of genuine surprise. He hadn't expected me to refuse.

"Since we're breaking up, let's make a clean break. I wouldn't want your girlfriend to get the wrong idea," I said. "I think I should go."

"I can have my driver take you home," Holden offered.

"No, thank you," I said firmly. "I can manage."

I walked out with my head held high.

The door didn't close all the way, and I could hear them talking.

"I bet she'll be back within a week. I bet she'll be begging Holden to take her back before the end of the month."

"Not even a week, give it three days. I bet she'll come running back to Holden in three days."

Holden's dismissive laugh echoed. "She has nowhere else to go. Give it three days, and she'll be back crying and begging me."

Another friend's voice was softer. "You're right, Ella can't live without you. We all know she's crazy about you."

I gave a self-deprecating laugh and casually tossed my engagement ring into a trash can.

Ella Rosales's POV:

I returned to the apartment, and the silence felt heavier than usual.

My eyes involuntarily fell on a garment bag hanging in the closet. Inside, my wedding dress was carefully preserved.

I had bought it a year ago, a simple yet elegant ivory gown.

The dress was custom-made and non-refundable.

I unzipped the bag, took the dress out, and laid it on the bed.

I grabbed a pair of scissors from the drawer and started cutting. First the delicate straps, then the bodice, the lace, and the flowing skirt.

I only packed a few personal items—my laptop, passport, and a small duffel of clothes.

Everything else—the furniture, the art, and all the expensive gifts Holden had given me over the years—I left behind. I didn't want to leave any lingering attachments.

The note I left was brief, simply stating he could do whatever he wanted with the apartment and everything in it. It was all his.

I booked a red-eye flight to Los Angeles.

My best friend, Carly Koch, had moved there after getting married a year ago. She was my rock, my fiercely loyal and brutally honest confidante. I needed her.

Ella Rosales's POV:

Carly and I spent our days in LA exploring the city, revisiting our favorite college haunts.

Carly insisted on throwing a party.

That night, the atmosphere was relaxed and easy, filled with chatter and the occasional clinking of glasses.

Halfway through the party, a stranger walked in. A wave of surprised whispers instantly rippled through the room.

"Ethan Maddox? Wow, I can't believe he actually came!"

"I haven't seen him at one of these things in forever," someone else said. "A rare sighting indeed."

Tall and radiating undeniable charm, Ethan just offered a faint smile. "Carly cornered me and said I absolutely had to make an appearance." He scanned the room, and his eyes briefly met mine across the crowded space. A flicker of something I couldn't read crossed his gaze.

Carly nudged me gently, whispering in my ear, "What do you think? He's a total catch, right? A self-made billionaire, a tech mogul, and ridiculously handsome."

I was a little tipsy, the alcohol loosening me up significantly.

I vaguely remembered Ethan from our Stanford days; he was a brilliant computer science major. He had always been quiet and focused, but undeniably very handsome.

Now, years later, he exuded a grounded and powerful aura. He possessed everything Holden lacked—steadiness, intelligence, and a quiet confidence that didn't need to be loud to be convincing.

"He... is handsome," I admitted, a slight flush creeping up my neck. "But we haven't kept in touch in a long time."

Carly grinned, a sly glint in her eyes. "He never accepts my party invitations, but today I told him you were going to be here."

I looked at Ethan in confusion, only to accidentally lock eyes with him. He offered a warm, gentle smile.

Carly whispered to me, "He's here for you, Ella."

She walked over to Ethan, wearing a somewhat conspiratorial look on her face. "Ethan, Ella is staying with me right now, but I've had a bit too much to drink. Could you walk her to my guest house? It's just down the street, a few minutes away."

My eyes widened, and I stared at Carly in shock. She knew perfectly well I had flown in from New York and would be staying with her indefinitely. The "guest house down the street" was a very convenient lie.

Yet, Ethan didn't miss a beat. He simply smiled. "Of course, Carly. I'd be happy to."

"Thank you, thank you!" Carly said excitedly, pulling me in for a quick hug.

She whispered in my ear, "Girl, you need to open your eyes. You deserve someone so much better than Holden. Ethan is solid, reliable, and he's had a quiet crush on you for years."

I mumbled back, "Nonsense, how would you even know?"

Carly winked. "Girl, the way he looks at you, it's like you're the only woman in the room. If Holden can screw around, why can't you go after true love?"

"Ella, sleeping with only one man for seven years is a terrible deal." Carly nudged me toward Ethan.