Chapter 25- When The Past Knocks
Faye’s Povil
Morning came too fast.
But this time, I didn’t wake up with dread.
I woke up ready.M
The moment my eyes opened, I felt it–the calm before the storm.
The stillness before everything exploded.N
Gabriel was in town. And I wasn’t the same woman he left behind.N
I showered, pulled my curls back into a sleek ponytail, and chose my outfit carefully–a blood–red pantsuit with sharp lapels, bold and defiant.
I didn’t want to look pretty. I wanted to look untouchable.N
The moment I walked into the lobby of my office, whispers followed me.N
Phones clicked. Eyes widened.&
It didn’t take long to find out why.
He was already here.
Gabriel.
I stepped off the elevator and there he was–leaning against the reception desk like he owned the building.
Still sharp in a charcoal suit, arms crossed, charm dripping from every pore.N
Time hadn’t touched him.
But something had changed. His smile wasn’t smug. It was cautious.
“Faye,” he said smoothly.
I stared at him. “Gabriel.”
A beat passed between us.N
“I heard you got engaged,” he said, gaze dropping to my hand. “To Hunter Blackwell, of all people.”
“Surprised?” I asked.N
“Shocked would be more accurate.“N
I stepped past him without looking back. “Then you haven’t been paying attention.”
He followed, of course. Like a shadow I thought I’d buried.§
“Hunter’s not your type,” Gabriel said as we walked down the hallway. “Unless your type changed.”
“My type is whoever doesn’t betray me.”
He winced.}
Good.}
Inside rny office, I let the door shut behind us. I kept my distance, standing behind my desk like it was a shield.
“What do you want, Gabriel?” I asked.
He studied me for a long moment. “You.“>
I laughed. Cold. Flat. “Too late for that.”
“I made mistakes,” he said.
“Don’t insult my intelligence.”
His jaw clenched. “Faye, I didn’t come here to fight. I came here because I realized I walked away from the only person who ever truly knew me.”
“You walked away,” I repeated. “You left me to be humiliated while you married the kids‘ nanny.”
“Her name is-“0
“I don’t care what her name is,” I snapped. “You don’t get to rewrite history just because you regret it.”
“I don’t want to rewrite it,” he said. “I want to fix it.”
I leaned forward slowly, voice steady. “There’s nothing to fix. I moved on. You should too.”
His eyes dropped to the photo on my desk. Me and Hunter at dinner. Smiling. Looking… happy
“Is it real?” he asked quietly.”
“What do you think?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he stepped closer!
Too close $
And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t flinch. I didn’t soften.
I tilted my head. “You’re still trying to control the narrative, Gabriel. But I’m not your story anymore.“%
He exhaled, like my words actually hurt. “So this is it?”
“This is the part where you lose.”
He stared at me, mouth twitching like he wanted to say something clever–but couldn’t.”
“Goodbye, Gabriel,” I said.
He didn’t move.N
So I walked to the door and opened it.
He had no choice but to walk out.N
As soon as the door closed behind him, I slumped into my chair.
My heart was pounding. My hands trembled slightly.
I had done it.N
I had faced him–and won.
The door opened again.
Hunter.
I should’ve known he’d show up right after.
He didn’t say anything. Just walked in, closed the door, and stood there like he could read every thought running through my head.
“You okay?” he asked.
looked up at him. “I’m fine.“}
“Good,” he said.”
I swallowed. “What now?”
“Now,” he said, slipping something from his coat pocket, “we make him watch you thrive.“}
He handed me an invitation.}
Gold foil. Black velvet paper.}
The Blackwell Foundation Annual Gala.
Tomorrow night.
Hosted by: Hunter Blackwell.
My name was printed right below his.
Faye Berkeley Blackwell
“That’s not my name,” I whispered.}
“It could be,” he replied.
I looked up at him sharply.
He wasn’t smiling.
He was serious.
“I’m not marrying you, Hunter,” I said.
“Not asking you to,” he replied. “Just play the part. Make him sweat.”}
“And after that?”
He paused, eyes fixed on mine.}
We were inches apart.”
And for a second, I couldn’t breathe.
“Wear red tomorrow,” Hunter said as he turned to leave. “It makes you look dangerous.“N
The door shut behind him.
I sat down again, holding the invitation.”
Tomorrow, I wouldn’t be Faye, the girl who got left behind.
I’d be the storm Gabriel never saw coming.
