I couldn't breathe in that bistro anymore. Not with Kennedy's laughter ringing in my ears, not with Cassian's betrayal burning in my chest. I grabbed my purse and fled, leaving Marcus to cover my tables.

"Selena, wait!" he called, but I was already gone.

The rain had started by the time I reached the subway, gentle at first, then heavier. I didn't care. Let it wash away the humiliation.

Two transfers and forty minutes later, I stood before the redbrick building that had once been my entire world—Sunshine House, the foster home where Cassian and I had found each other.

The door opened before I could knock.

"Selena Stone," Diana Foster said, her face lighting up. "My God, child, what are you doing here?"

Diana had been the director when we were kids, a constant presence through the chaos of foster care. Now in her sixties, she'd aged gracefully, her silver hair pulled back in a neat bun.

"I needed to see you," I admitted, my voice breaking.

She pulled me inside, into the warmth of the common room where Cassian and I had spent countless evenings. Nothing had changed—the same mismatched furniture, the same faded rugs, the same sense of safety.

"Sit," she ordered, guiding me to the old velvet couch. "Tell me everything."

And I did. The words poured out of me—Cassian's transformation, Kennedy's cruelty, the London offer that felt more like a trap than a dream.

"He's changing, Diana," I whispered. "Or maybe he's just becoming who he was always meant to be."

"Oh, honey." She squeezed my hand.

A movement near the office door caught my eye. A tall man in an impeccably tailored suit stood watching us, his expression unreadable.

"I'm sorry," Diana said, noticing my gaze. "Mr. Howard was just leaving."

Howard? My heart stuttered.

He stepped forward, and I recognized him instantly from photos—Jasper Howard, Cassian's estranged half-brother. The family black sheep.

"Actually," he said, his voice deep and measured, "I'd like to meet Ms. Stone properly."

Diana hesitated, then nodded. "Selena, this is Jasper Howard. He's generously donated art supplies for our programs."

"Ms. Stone." He extended his hand. "I've heard about you."

I took his hand warily. "I doubt that's possible."

"Believe me, it is." Something flickered in his eyes—respect, maybe even sympathy. "You're the only person who's ever mattered to my brother."

"Was," I corrected, pulling my hand away. "Past tense."

Jasper's lips curved slightly. "Be careful, Ms. Stone. London isn't what it seems."

Before I could ask what he meant, he nodded to Diana and left.

---

The Howard estate on the Upper East Side loomed like a fortress—all stone and glass and cold perfection. A butler led me through marble hallways to Mr. Howard Sr.'s office.

"Miss Stone." He didn't stand when I entered. "Sit."

I perched on the edge of a leather chair, feeling like a child in a principal's office.

"You're causing problems for my son," he stated bluntly.

"Your son is causing problems for himself," I replied, surprised by my own boldness.

He studied me for a long moment, then slid a check across the mahogany desk.

Five hundred thousand dollars.

"Take this," he said. "Disappear."

My fingers trembled as I touched the paper. "You think I'm for sale?"

"I think you're an anchor," he replied coldly. "One that will drag Cassian down to your level."

I stood slowly, picking up the check. For one wild moment, I considered taking it—what couldn't I do with half a million dollars?

But then I remembered Diana's kind face, Jasper's warning, and most of all, my own worth.

I tore the check into pieces, letting them flutter onto his desk.

"Selena Stone doesn't come with a price tag," I said, turning to leave.

"London leaves in two weeks," he called after me. "With or without you."

---

Rain pounded the pavement as I emerged from the subway. My head throbbed with Howard Sr.'s threats, my heart heavy with uncertainty.

A small sound caught my attention—a pitiful meow from beneath a parked car.

I knelt in the rain, peering under the vehicle. A tiny orange kitten huddled against the tire, its paw bent at an unnatural angle.

"Hey, little one," I whispered, reaching carefully beneath the car.

The kitten hissed, backing away.

"Please," I murmured. "Let me help you."

A large hand appeared beside mine, and I startled.

"Don't move," a familiar voice said. "You'll scare him more."

Jasper Howard knelt beside me in the rain, his bespoke suit pooling around him on the wet pavement.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Following a hunch." He smiled slightly. "Hold this."

He handed me his phone—open to a photo of an orange cat with unusual markings.

"Whiskers," I breathed. "From NYU?"

He nodded. "I found her senior year. Adopted her kitten after she passed."

My heart swelled as he carefully reached under the car, murmuring softly to the injured kitten.

"She trusts you," he observed as the kitten allowed him to pick it up.

"Animals always have," I said softly.

Jasper stood, cradling the kitten gently. "My car's just there. I'll take you both somewhere safe."

As we walked through the rain, the kitten nestled between us, I realized something had shifted. In Jasper's eyes, I wasn't just Cassian's girlfriend or a charity case—I was someone worth knowing.

Someone worth saving.

The invitation arrived on embossed cardstock, gold lettering announcing the Howard Foundation Annual Gala. I traced the letters with my fingertip, feeling the weight of what it represented—Cassian's new world.

"You need to be there," Cassian said, watching me from across our apartment. "It's important for appearances before the London move."

"I understand," I replied, though something in his tone made my stomach tighten.

He disappeared into our closet, emerging with a garment bag. "I got you something."

Inside was a dress—black, slinky, with a neckline that plunged lower than anything I'd ever worn. The price tag still dangled from the sleeve: $3,200.

"Cassian, this is... expensive."

"You can't wear that waitress uniform to the gala." He frowned at my collection of modest dresses. "This is Howard Industries' biggest event of the year."

I tried it on, feeling like I was playing dress-up in someone else's life. The fabric clung to every curve, making me feel exposed rather than elegant.

"Perfect," he declared, though his eyes didn't quite meet mine. "Just remember—these people are potential investors. Don't say anything... controversial."

The warning stung. "Controversial?"

"You know what I mean." He adjusted his tie in the mirror. "Just don't embarrass me."

---

The ballroom of the Plaza Hotel glittered with chandeliers and old money. I clutched Cassian's arm as we entered, feeling dozens of eyes assessing me—the charity case his son had brought home.

"Remember," Cassian murmured, his breath warm against my ear, "smile and nod. Let me handle the talking."

I was deposited at the bar while he was pulled into a circle of suited men. Alone, I ordered sparkling water, trying to look like I belonged.

"Selena Stone." Kennedy's voice slid over me like silk. "What a... surprise."

She was stunning in emerald green, her dark hair swept into an elegant updo. Diamond earrings caught the light as she tilted her head.

"Cassian didn't mention you were attending," I said, fighting to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, he mentioned it." She signaled the bartender. "Red wine, please. And another water for... what are you drinking? Oh right, water."

Her smile was razor-sharp. "Cassian's been so stressed about tonight. Worried you might not... fit in."

"I'm managing," I replied, lifting my chin.

"Are you?" She leaned closer as cameras flashed nearby. "Because you look like you're drowning."

With a sudden movement, she stumbled forward, her wine glass tipping. Dark liquid cascaded down the front of my dress, spreading across the expensive fabric like a bloodstain.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, loud enough for nearby guests to turn. "I'm so clumsy!"

Flashbulbs popped as photographers captured my humiliation.

She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear as she whispered, "He's only bringing you to London as a comfort blanket until he's settled. Once he's established, you'll be replaced. He belongs to our world now."

---

I fled to the ladies' room, scrubbing desperately at the stain with damp paper towels. The wine had seeped through to my skin, leaving me feeling marked and tainted.

I needed Cassian—needed his arms around me, his reassurance that everything would be okay.

I found him near the stage, deep in conversation with his father and Kennedy. Their heads were bent together, plotting something in low voices.

"Cassian," I called, my voice small.

He looked up, irritation flashing across his face before he smoothed it away. "Selena. What happened?"

"I need—" I began, but he was already turning to a staff member.

"Find someone to clean her up," he ordered, not meeting my eyes. "And get her a different dress if possible."

"Sir, there's an emergency board meeting," the man replied. "Mr. Howard Sr. has requested your presence."

"Now?" Cassian glanced at his watch.

"Now," his father confirmed, already moving toward the exit.

Cassian looked at me, then at Kennedy. "We'll continue this discussion later," he told me, his tone dismissive.

"But—"

"I have to go." He was already walking away. "Take care of yourself."

---

I found myself on the terrace, shivering in the evening air. The city lights blurred through my tears as I gripped the stone balustrade.

"Here." A jacket settled over my shoulders—warm, expensive wool.

I turned to find Jasper Howard watching me, his expression unreadable.

"Thank you," I whispered, pulling the jacket tighter.

"You're shaking." He gestured to a waiting car below. "I can take you home."

"I'm fine."

"No," he said bluntly. "You're not."

The ride was silent until we hit the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.

"You're losing yourself," Jasper finally said, his voice quiet but firm. "Cassian is not the man you think he is anymore."

"He's still the same person inside," I argued, though the words felt hollow.

Jasper's laugh was bitter. "The Cassian I knew died the day he walked into Howard Tower."

"He's just... adjusting."

"No." Jasper's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. "He's forgetting who he was. And who you are."

His words cut through my defenses like glass. For the first time, I wondered if I was fighting for a ghost—a Cassian who no longer existed.

The London flight was in three days. Three days to pack up our life in Brooklyn and start anew across the Atlantic. I pulled out my old passport from the drawer where I kept important documents, but it wasn't there.

"Looking for something?" Cassian asked, adjusting his tie as he prepared for another "business dinner."

"My passport," I replied, rifling through the folder again. "It should be right here."

He frowned. "Maybe you moved it when you were cleaning."

"I always keep it here," I insisted, panic rising in my chest. "I haven't touched it since we got back from that weekend trip to Vermont last year."

I tore through the apartment, upending drawers and emptying cabinets. The passport had to be somewhere. Without it, I couldn't leave for London—couldn't follow Cassian into this new life he was building.

"Selena, calm down," he said, watching me from the doorway of our bedroom. "We'll get you a new one if you can't find it."

"A new one? The embassy appointment alone would take weeks!"

He checked his watch. "I have to go. Keep looking. I'm sure it'll turn up."

After he left, I continued my frantic search. The apartment was small—where could it possibly be? I'd checked every drawer, every folder, every pocket of every jacket.

Except his.

I hesitated before opening Cassian's dresser drawer. We'd always respected each other's privacy, but desperation pushed me forward. The drawer was neatly organized—his socks rolled precisely, his underwear folded in squares.

My hands trembled as I lifted a stack of papers in the back corner. There, beneath a folder of contracts, lay my passport.

Relief flooded through me—until I noticed what was beside it.

A small velvet box.

I shouldn't look. I knew I shouldn't.

I opened it anyway.

Inside was a diamond necklace—delicate platinum chain supporting a pendant that caught the afternoon light streaming through our window. It was beautiful. Elegant. Expensive.

And completely unlike anything Cassian would buy for me.

Tucked beside it was a small card with elegant script: "For Kennedy—To celebrate our new beginning. C"

The room tilted. I sank to the floor, the necklace box heavy in my palm.

Our new beginning.

Not mine and Cassian's. His and Kennedy's.

I reached for my phone with shaking hands. Who could I call? Who would understand what this meant?

Jasper answered on the second ring.

"Selena?" His voice was cautious. "What's wrong?"

"He's—" My voice broke. "I found—"

"Slow down," he said gently. "What happened?"

I couldn't form the words. How could I explain that the man I'd loved for a decade was planning a future with someone else? That every promise about London had been a lie?

"Jasper," I finally managed. "I need you."

Twenty minutes later, his car pulled up outside our building. I sat on the stoop, the velvet box clutched in my hand.

He took one look at my face and opened his arms. I collapsed against his chest, sobbing.

"I'm sorry," he murmured into my hair. "I'm so damn sorry, Selena."

"He's leaving me," I whispered. "Not today. Not tomorrow. But he's already gone."

Jasper pulled back, his eyes fierce with an emotion I couldn't name. "I can't just hold you while you cry. Not this time."

"What do you mean?"

"There's something you need to see." He helped me to my feet. "Something I should have shown you weeks ago."

"I don't understand."

"Get in the car, Selena."

I hesitated. "Where are we going?"

"To Mount Sinai Hospital."

"Cassian's not there. He's at a business dinner."

Jasper's smile was bitter. "Is he?"

The drive was silent except for the wipers slashing through the light rain that had begun to fall. Jasper's knuckles were white on the steering wheel.

"Why are we going to a hospital?" I finally asked.

"Cassian's been 'working late' there three nights this week." Jasper's voice was carefully neutral. "I thought you should know what kind of work he's really doing."

My heart hammered against my ribs. "Jasper, what aren't you telling me?"

He met my eyes in the rearview mirror. "The truth, Selena. The truth you've been too afraid to face."

As we pulled up to the hospital entrance, I saw Cassian's car in the parking lot. My stomach lurched.

"He told me he was meeting investors tonight," I whispered.

Jasper cut the engine. "He lied."

Rain pattered against the windshield as I stared at the hospital doors. Somewhere inside was the man I thought I knew—the man I'd planned to spend my life with.

"What am I supposed to do now?" I asked, my voice small in the darkness.

Jasper's hand found mine across the console. "You're going to stop running from the truth."

He squeezed my fingers gently. "Are you ready?"

I wasn't. But I nodded anyway.