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I push the thought aside, the throbbing in my chest spreading, but there’s no escaping it. Not ever.

Not when her name is still in my head and her face, her smile, is still in my heart.

CHAPTER32

DINARA

Two days passin the blink of an eye, and the day of the party arrives. I tell myself I’m ready, but the second I step onto the grounds of Konstantin’s estate, something tightens in my chest.

The gold strapless dress I bought just for this occasion hugs my body, metallic and shiny with rhinestones cascading down the front. As soon as I put it on at the store, I felt untouchable, and I knew that if I were to run into him tonight, it would be in this dress.

The sprawling property hums with life: acrobats twirling high above, stilt-walkers weaving through the crowd, and floral canopies glowing under the night sky. But none of that matters. Not when I’m scanning the crowd.

But he’s not here. Not yet, at least.

I remind myself that I’m fine, that I’m stronger now. But even so, my eyes can’t stop searching for him.

“I see you looking for him,” Tatiana whispers, sliding into my side with a teasing smile. “I thought you wanted to forget he ever existed.”

“I do,” I answer quickly. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want him to see what he’s missed.”

Her laughter dances around us.

Every inch of me is on edge, fighting against the ache inside that I can’t shake.

A man suddenly approaches out of nowhere—dark hair, sharp eyes, polished smile. He takes both of our hands and presses a kiss to the top of each.

“Adriano Scutari. Pleasure.”

I recognize the name immediately. Boss of the Grazia family. Mob ties everywhere. Just what I need.

Tatiana smiles, a flush in her cheeks. She’s already charmed. I’m about to say something to her when a chill races up my spine.

Cillian.

I know he’s here before I even turn in his direction.

I don’t even have time to think. Everything I’ve tried to bury for these last several years surges to the surface. The warmth when he held me, the weight of his touch, the ache I’ve fought so damn hard to forget…all of it comes rushing back.

I shift toward him, my vision tunneling as he walks closer, a woman by his side. My body locks in place, and for a split second, I’m too stunned to breathe.

That familiar knife to my gut twists. It doesn’t matter that I told myself I was over him. Seeing him with someone else cuts deeper than I ever could have imagined.

He’s moved on. He’s completely forgotten me.

I bite down hard on the inside of my cheek, fighting to keep my face neutral, to hide how much this hurts.

“Are you okay?” Adriano asks, but I barely hear him.

My entire world has narrowed to Cillian and the woman at his side.

I can’t stand it. I can’t standher.

Who is she? How long have they been together? How do I get rid of her?

“Pretend to be my boyfriend.” The words are out of my mouth before I even think them.

My voice sounds foreign to me—desperate, even. I don’t care. I just need him to hurt like I do. If he even cares, that is.