No matter how much love had clouded her judgment, Ashlyn now understood what Khalid meant. From the very beginning, he had been her idol, and she had always seen him through rose-tinted glasses.
But now…
Even after everything that had happened, Ashlyn still found herself unable to let go of Khalid. She despised her own weakness. She had loved him—truly loved him—but somehow, their relationship had ended up like this.
Wrapping her arms around her knees, she buried her face between her legs. In that position, she could almost feel a shred of warmth. She didn’t even want to move. Staying still, trapped in her own thoughts, was the only thing keeping her from shattering completely.
She had always noticed how much Sophia resembled her, but she never imagined it would matter. She never imagined that Khalid had chosen to be with her, not for who she was, but because she was a reflection of his past.
She had believed their love was real. But now, it seemed she was the only one who had been sincere. To Khalid, she was nothing more than a substitute.
How painfully ironic. Everything had been a lie—a fantasy she had woven in her own mind, fragile and unreal.
The more she lingered on it, the sharper the ache in her chest grew, each breath feeling like a struggle, as though something deep inside was cracking apart.
They hadn’t even been together long. But to Ashlyn, it had felt like an eternity—like a dream she couldn’t escape from.
She couldn’t accept it. Why had it all turned out this way? But no one could offer her any answers.
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Meanwhile, on Katelyn and Vincent’s side…
The palace radiated luxury and opulence. The grand hall shimmered with golden lights, and guests adorned in their finest attire floated through the space, each one a picture of elegance and sophistication.
Annie stood by the entrance, holding a champagne flute, her eyes narrowing as she watched Katelyn make her entrance. Her lips curled into a small, knowing smirk, but it quickly vanished when her gaze shifted to Ryanna, who was making her way toward Katelyn.
Annie’s expression darkened. If this continued, Ryanna’s favor would inevitably drift toward Katelyn.
She had never been able to stand Katelyn. Their rivalry went way back, to their days in Granville, and the tension was still there, lingering between them.
If Ryanna allied with Katelyn, Annie would find herself cornered with no way out. The thought gnawed at her, each second making her feel more restless, more vulnerable. No. She couldn’t let that happen.
.
.
.