Chapter 1

The studio lights were so bright they felt hot on my skin, a stark contrast to the manufactured chill of the air-conditioning. I stood on a small, elevated platform, a fake smile plastered on my face while the host of "Heartbeats Reunited" prattled on about second chances. But for me, this wasn't about a generic second chance, it was about one man. Jake Miller.

And then, he walked out.

It wasn't a coincidence, not even close. Every call, every favor I pulled, every shred of dignity I sacrificed was for this single moment. I was here to win him back.

My breath caught in my throat. The cameras, the live audience, the entire world seemed to fade away. All I could see was him. Seven years had passed since I last saw him, standing on an airport curb with tears in his eyes as I chose a prestigious art scholarship in Paris over him. I had chosen my passion, my future, over our love.

The boy I left behind was gone. The man standing there now was a stranger wrapped in a familiar body. He wore a tailored black suit that probably cost more than my first car, his hair was perfectly styled, and he moved with a quiet confidence that bordered on arrogance. This was Jake Miller, the tech mogul from Silicon Valley, a name that graced the covers of business magazines. A powerful, untouchable man.

The host gestured for him to stand on the platform opposite mine. As he walked, his eyes swept over the room, cool and detached. For a terrifying second, his gaze met mine, but there was no spark of recognition, no flicker of memory. It was like looking at a stranger. My heart sank.

Before I could even process the sting of his indifference, a woman glided onto the stage and linked her arm with his. Chloe Davis. A social media influencer with millions of followers, a smile as bright and artificial as the studio lights, and a body that was sculpted to perfection.

"Jake, darling, you didn't wait for me," she cooed, her voice dripping with practiced sweetness. She pressed a kiss to his cheek, a clear and public declaration.

I watched Jake, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. I waited for him to pull away, to correct her, to say something, anything. He did nothing. He stood there, a blank expression on his face, allowing her to cling to him. He didn't confirm her claim, but he didn't deny it either. His silence was an answer in itself.

In that moment, the seven years of distance felt like an eternity. I remembered why I left. Back then, he was just a brilliant college student with big dreams, and I was an art student with a scholarship that felt like a winning lottery ticket. We were equals. Now, he was a titan of industry, and I was... just Ava. The artist who gave him up. A deep sense of inadequacy washed over me, cold and suffocating.

The host, oblivious to the drama unfolding, began the introductions. When my name was called, I forced myself to speak, to smile, to pretend I was just another contestant looking for love. After the initial segment, there was a short break. This was my chance.

I walked over to him, my heart pounding against my ribs. Chloe was still attached to his arm, whispering something in his ear.

"Jake," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

He turned his head slowly, his eyes finally focusing on me. They were cold, empty pools of blue. "Do I know you?"

The question hit me harder than a physical blow.

"It's me, Ava," I said, my voice trembling. "Ava Reed."

He stared at me for a long moment, then a flicker of something-annoyance, maybe-crossed his face. "Right. The artist." He said the word 'artist' like it was a dirty word. "I'm a little busy right now."

He turned away before I could say another word, leading Chloe toward the lounge area, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the stage, the heat of the lights now feeling like a spotlight on my humiliation.