♡ Chapter 1.1 ♡

"Are you sure you want to go there?" Kara asked, her voice laced with concern. Her dark curls framed her fair face, and her deep brown eyes studied Jade with quiet worry.

"Yes, Kara!" Jade forced a smile, pretending like it didn't matter. But deep inside, it did.

She turned back to her suitcase, folding a dress with slow, careful movements, as if stalling for time. Her long ginger hair slipped over her shoulder as she moved, catching the soft light of the room. She wasn't tall, but she had a petite frame with curves in all the right places. Her hazel eyes—normally warm and bright—held something else today. Something distant.

"I'm just going for three months," Jade added with a soft chuckle, keeping her voice light. "Not like I'm planning to stay there forever."

A lie.

Kara saw through it instantly.

Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Jade from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. "I wish I could come with you," she murmured. "But this project is important. Otherwise, I would never send you there alone."

Jade smiled, leaning slightly into the embrace, finding comfort in her best friend's warmth. Kara had been there when no one else was—when Jade was shattered beyond repair, when her world had crumbled, when she had nothing left but tears.

Kara was her angel.

Now, she was heading back to Alford City.

Back to the place she once called home.

Back to them.

And no matter how much she tried to act like it didn't matter… she knew deep down, this trip would change everything.

***

The airport was full of noise and movement, but to Jade, it seemed oddly silent. The air felt thick, and her heart was heavy with memories she wished she could forget.

Kara stood beside her, arms crossed, lips pursed in concern. "I still think this is a bad idea," she muttered, glancing at the ticket in Jade's hand.

Jade forced a light laugh, pretending not to care. "I'll be fine, Kara. It's just three months. I'm not going to war."

Kara didn't smile. Instead, she grabbed Jade into a tight hug, squeezing her as if she were trying to protect her from something she couldn't see. "Just remember, you don't have to be strong all the time, okay?"

Jade swallowed hard. "I know," she whispered, but she wasn't sure if she believed it.

When the final boarding call rang, she pulled away, grabbed her suitcase, and waved Kara goodbye. "I'll be back before you know it!"

But as she walked away, stepping closer to the gate, something inside her clenched.

Would she really come back the same?

**

The moment the plane touched down, Jade felt a strange chill run down her spine. It had been years since she had set foot in this city—her city. The place where she had laughed, cried, and once believed in love.

The place where she had lost everything.

The airport smelled the same—coffee, perfume, and the distant scent of rain from the city beyond. Her fingers gripped the handle of her suitcase a little tighter as she stepped out of the arrival gates.

And then, she saw her.

Charlotte.

The bold, confident, effortlessly charming best friend she once had. The girl who always stole the spotlight, who spoke her mind without fear, who turned heads the moment she walked into a room.

And the girl Damien had wanted all along.

Jade inhaled sharply, plastering on a smile as Charlotte spotted her.

"Jade!" Charlotte's voice rang through the crowd, excitement lighting up her features as she rushed toward her.

Jade barely had time to react before she was engulfed in a tight embrace.

"Oh my God, I missed you!" Charlotte squealed, squeezing her tight. "It's been forever! Why didn't you come back sooner, you idiot?"

Jade let out a small laugh, though it felt unnatural. "You know… life, work, stuff." She waved a hand vaguely, hoping Charlotte wouldn't push for more details.

Charlotte pulled back, her sharp brown eyes scanning Jade's face. "You look… different," she said, tilting her head.

"In a good way, I hope?" Jade teased, trying to keep her voice light.

Charlotte grinned. "Of course! You look more mature… sophisticated, even." Then she gasped dramatically. "Oh no, don't tell me you've become one of those boring businesswomen who wear gray suits and drink black coffee all day."

Jade laughed, the sound slightly forced but convincing enough. "No gray suits yet, I promise."

Charlotte beamed. "Good. Now come on, let's get you home. My parents can't wait to see you!"

Home.

The word sent a strange feelings through Jade's chest.

But she smiled anyway, nodding as she let Charlotte pull her toward the parking lot.

The ride to Charlotte's house was filled with nonstop chatter—mostly Charlotte's. She talked about her wedding, her dress, the venue, and how everything had been "so chaotic but so worth it."

Jade listened, nodded, laughed at the right moments. She had perfected the art of pretending.

When they pulled into the driveway, she felt a fresh wave of nostalgia hit her. She had spent so many nights in this house, sneaking snacks from the kitchen, staying up late talking about dreams and boys, never once imagining that the very boy they had giggled about would become the cause of her greatest heartbreak.

The front door swung open before they even reached the porch.

"Jade, sweetheart!"

Charlotte's mother, Mrs. Evans, rushed out, her face lighting up with warmth.

Jade barely had time to react before she was pulled into a hug, the familiar scent of vanilla and lavender filling her senses. "Look at you! So beautiful! We missed you so much!"

Jade swallowed the lump in her throat, her smile faltering for just a second. "I missed you too."

Charlotte's father appeared next, standing at the door with a small smile. He wasn't the hugging type, but the gentle nod he gave her spoke volumes.

"It's good to have you back, Jade."

"It's good to be back," she lied.