Chapter 8
“Liam.”
I cut him off, my voice tinged with a quiet bitterness.
“You know about my past.”
“I do,” he said without hesitation. “But so what?”
“You deserve to be loved, truly loved. And I-”
“I want to be that person.”
“Others didn’t cherish you. But I will. I swear I will.”
The noise of the ballroom seemed to fade in an instant, leaving only the sound of his breath brushing against my ears.
I remained silent for a long time, then finally exhaled softly.
“I don’t know if I can believe in love again.”
“Then believe in me,” he said, gently taking my hand in his. “Just once.”
His palm was warm, soft-like a beam of light cutting through the shadows I’d carried all this time.
I looked into his eyes, and slowly, I nodded. “All right.”
His eyes lit up instantly, brighter than spring sunlight.
And in the next moment, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against my lips.
A round of good-natured laughter rose from the guests nearby.
I felt my ears flush hot, but I didn’t pull away.
Back in Manhattan, our relationship gradually became public.
Mr. Ashford couldn’t have been more pleased. He began delegating more and more of the family’s business affairs into
my hands.
Under my leadership, Ashford Jewelry’s empire expanded rapidly.
And through it all, Liam stood beside me-always.
On the day of the Christmas, Ashford Group announced our engagement.
The news immediately topped every trending chart.
[The ‘disgraced bride’ of the Sterling family is marrying the heir to the Ashfords?]
[Disgraced? Please-she’s the chief designer of Ashford Jewelry now!
Chapter 8
7.84%
[What a comeback. Remember when she left the Sterlings with nothing but her underwear?]
[I wonder how the Sterlings feel now-bet they’re drowning in regret.]
[They deserve it. Who told them to let their best talent walk away?]
On our wedding day, as my car approached the venue, a man suddenly stepped into the road, blocking our way.
The bodyguards immediately prepared to remove him, but I raised a hand.
Calmly, I said, “Mr. Sterling. What is it you want?”
It was Julian.
He looked like a shadow of his former self-thinner, hollow-eyed, worn.
He stood there in silence for a moment, then spoke, voice hoarse and trembling.
“I… I want to talk. Just talk. Please.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” My tone was even. “The past is behind me.”
“But it’s not behind me!” he suddenly raised his voice. “Noelle, I know I was wrong-I know it now!”
“I’ve been looking for you these past three years, but the Ashfords kept everything sealed. It wasn’t until yesterday that I found out you were here in Manhattan.”
“And Vanessa-she wasn’t who I thought she was. She lied to me. Lied to all of us.”
“She ruined Sterling Jewelry. The company’s in shambles. My father was so furious he ended up in the hospital…”
I closed my eyes, a small ripple passing through me.
But it settled quickly.
“That’s not my concern anymore.”
“Please,” he begged, his voice breaking. “Just give me one chance to say I’m sorry.”
“One time. That’s all I ask.”
“Julian.” I cut him off softly. “In our last life… we already settled the score.”
Julian’s pupils shrank sharply.
“You… you remember too…”
C
