♡ Chapter 1.5 ♡

But then, her mother's voice softened on the other end.

"I'm sorry for calling so late, sweetheart. Your father needed me. You know how it is these days."

Jade's smile faded.

Her mother spends most of her time at the hospital taking care of her dad, who has lung cancer. That's why her mom couldn't come to drop her off at the airport and called her late.

The air in the car suddenly felt colder.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Damien's fingers tighten on the steering wheel, but she ignored it.

"How is he today?" Jade asked, her voice gentler now.

Her mother sighed. "Some days are better than others. Today was a little hard. The treatments make him weak, but he still tries to act like he's fine. You know how stubborn your father is."

Jade closed her eyes for a second, pressing her lips together.

She knew.

Her father had always been her protector, the man who told her she was meant for great things. He was the one who believed in her when no one else did. The one who encouraged her to chase her dreams, to turn her passion into something real.

And now… he was fighting a battle she couldn't fight for him.

"Mom, make sure you get some rest too, okay?" Jade whispered. "You can't take care of him if you don't take care of yourself."

Her mother laughed softly. "That's what your father says too." Then, after a pause, she added, "He misses you, Jade."

Jade's throat tightened.

"I miss him too."

And she did. Every single day.

She wanted to be home, to be by his side, to take care of him like he had always taken care of her. But he was the one who told her to leave.

"Go live your life, Jade. Don't pause everything for me. I won't allow it."

That's what he had said.

So here she was. In a car with the man who broke her, sitting behind the best friend who knew nothing about it, and talking to the mother who was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

She wanted to scream.

But instead, she smiled through it all.

"I'll come home soon, Mom. I promise."

Her mother sighed in relief. "That's all I need to hear. Take care of yourself, sweetheart."

"You too. Give Dad a hug for me."

And with that, the call ended.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Jade didn't have to look up to know Damien had heard every word.

She could feel it—the way his gaze flickered toward her in the rearview mirror, as if he wanted to say something.

But she didn't give him the chance.

She just turned her face toward the window, hiding the raw emotion in her expression.

Because if she let herself feel too much right now—she might break..

For once, Charlotte didn't speak.

She didn't fill the silence with her usual chatter, didn't try to lighten the mood. She simply sat there, fingers tapping lightly on her lap, stealing cautious glances at Jade through the corner of her eye.

She knew.

She knew this was a sore topic for jade.

And for once, Charlotte respected that silence.

Jade was grateful.

She kept her gaze out the window, her fingers tracing the cold metal of her phone as the car weaved through the busy streets.

Minutes passed, stretching endlessly, until finally, the car slowed to a stop.

A large neon sign glowed in the night, casting a warm golden hue over the pavement. 1920 Bar.

It was one of the more exclusive places in the city, known for its vintage aesthetic, velvet seating, and dim golden lights that made everything feel a little more intimate, a little more intoxicating.

Jade inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

You can do this.

Damien stepped out first. Like a perfect gentleman, he walked around and opened the door for Charlotte.

Jade forced herself not to react, not to let old memories cloud her mind. This wasn't her place anymore.

Charlotte stepped out with a bright smile, completely oblivious to the stiffness in Jade's body. She tucked her arm into Damien's as they headed toward the entrance, chatting about how excited she was to see everyone again.

Jade followed, keeping a slight distance.

Her heels clicked softly against the pavement, her black dress hugging her figure, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. She had spent so many years building a version of herself that couldn't be hurt.

Tonight, she had to be that woman.

The bouncer recognized Damien immediately, nodding in acknowledgment before leading them toward a private room—a reserved space for their small gathering.

The moment they stepped inside, Jade was greeted with familiar faces, voices, laughter.

But all she could feel was Damien's presence beside her.

And she hated that.