Page 150 of Lucas

The warm aroma of the brewed coffee envelops me as I settle into the plush armchair at our favorite cozy café. Michelle slides into the seat across from me, a giant chocolate milkshake topped with whipped cream in hand. She takes a big slurp and grins.

“Should I go out with Lucas or not?” I sigh, fiddling with the delicate handle of my coffee mug. The milky swirls in the dark liquid seem to echo the indecision churning inside me.

“Well, what does your heart say?” Michelle asks, tilting her head. A smudge of whipped cream lingers on her upper lip.

I huff out a breath. “My heart’s an unreliable narrator these days. What do you think?” Lucas said this social event is a contract obligation, but he wouldn’t force me if I refused.

“That you need to go. Show him you’re thriving without him. Remind him what he’s missing out on.” She slurps her shake for emphasis.

“But that’s just it, I’m not,” I admit, my shoulders slumping. “I miss him, ‘Chelle. So damn much.”

“Oh, honey. He doesn’t need to know that now, does he?” She winks.

I drop my head into my hands with a groan. If only it were that simple.

“Ava...” Michelle’s voice gentles. “Why did you two break up anyway? From where I was standing, you seemed so crazy in love. It was nauseating.”

“He was planning to destroy my father’s company. He wanted revenge for all of my father’s dirty deeds over the years.”

Michelle gasps. “Oh my God! That two-faced son of a?—”

“That’s not all,” I interrupt. “I also found out my dear oldFather had been embezzling money. For years. Millions of dollars.”

Her mouth drops open. “Holy shit.”

“Yeah. He was fudging the books, funneling funds, the whole shebang. He cheated Valeur and nearly ruined them in the process.” I laugh.

Michelle shakes her head. “Wow. Just...wow. I mean, I never liked the guy, but this is next level. How are you not freaking out?”

“Oh, I freaked out plenty. I ranted, raved, ugly cried, and threw some spectacular tantrums. The works.” I pick at my mug. “But honestly? A part of me gets it on some level. What Lucas did, I mean. If the tables were turned, I’d want to burn Gant Construction to ashes too.”

“So why the breakup then?”

Tears sting my eyes as the familiar ache blooms in my chest. “Because he made me feel like the biggest fool on the planet. Like everything between us was just a perfectly crafted lie. How could I have been so blind? So stupid?”

Tears prick my eyes. “Because he made me feel worthless, like an idiot who fell for his act. Everything seemed fake and manipulated. I felt like I didn’t know what was real between us anymore.”

In an instant, Michelle is out of her seat and wrapping me in a fierce hug. “You listen to me, Ava. You are many things—brilliant, strong, kind, a terrible dancer—but stupid has never been on that list.”

A weak chuckle escapes me at that. She’s not wrong about the dancing.

“And as for Lucas…” She pulls back, forcing me to meet her gaze. “That man is head over ass in love with you. A blind person could see it.”

I sniffle. “You think?”

“Ava. He looks at you like you invented oxygen. It’s in every word, every action.” Michelle smiles. “Remember my birthday party? The way he defended you, put those petty bimbos in their place? He didn’t hesitate for a second.”

“You saw that?”

“Everyone did. He was a regular knight in Armani armor.”

“He did what I should have done ages ago,” I admit, hanging my head. “Shut down their catty comments instead of always trying to make nice.”

“So why didn’t you?” Michelle asks.

“I wanted them to like me. Pathetic, right?” I huff. “I thought maybe if I laughed at their jokes, complimented their shoes, acted like I gave a crap about their juice cleanses and parties... That’d I’d fit, somehow. That I’d finally belong.”

“Oh, Ava,” she sighs. “You beautiful, naïve, ridiculous girl. You’re never going to fit in with them. You’re too good. Don’t you see that?”