childhood sweetheart

My childhood sweetheart, the guy I was practically arranged to marry, fell for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Lily Evans. To be with her, he went against his family, against mine, against everyone, and broke off our engagement.

Heartbroken, I left for Paris to study.

By the time I returned, he and Lily had been married for almost two years. I was over it, completely. But at my welcome-back party, Ashton Miller, the same guy who once defied the world for Lily, stood there with an icy expression, looking at the woman he’d fought so hard to marry with barely concealed disdain. "I told you to stay home," he said coldly. "Why are you embarrassing yourself?"

1

My friends threw me a huge welcome-back party. Ashton showed up, unexpectedly.

Seven years ago, he'd broken things off with me, telling our families that if he couldn't marry Lily, he'd rather marry a dog than me. It was humiliating, a slap in the face to both our families and the years of friendship between them.

I’d cried for an hour, begging my parents to let me out of the engagement. I couldn't marry him, not after that. My heartbroken parents finally relented and went to speak with Ashton’s parents. The official story was that my family had withdrawn from the engagement, not that he’d dumped me. We didn’t cut ties completely, but things were definitely frosty between our families after that.

And so, I left for Paris.

Now, I was back.

Ashton looked taller, more mature, than I remembered. His handsome face had a cool, almost aristocratic air. His dark eyes were fixed on me.

No one had told me he’d be here. I turned to Sarah, my best friend and the party organizer.

Sarah quickly denied any involvement. “I didn't invite him, Chloe! Ashton somehow heard you were coming back and insisted on taking over the party planning.” She added weakly, “It’s not my fault!”

I didn't say anything. Ashton smiled, his voice gentle, almost like the Ashton who used to pick me up for school. “Chloe, it's been years. I was young and reckless. I hurt you, and I wanted to apologize.” He paused, looking into my eyes. “Are you still holding onto the past?”

The way he phrased it, it would seem petty if I said yes.

So, I smiled brightly. “Like you said, it’s the past.”

We were all still part of the same social circle, and it had been a long time. He meant nothing to me now.

So, water under the bridge. At least, that’s how I played it. I raised my glass. “Sarah told me you and Lily got married over a year ago. Congratulations. This one’s to you.”

His expression remained neutral. You’d think he'd be happier, having finally married the woman he loved. But he looked like he was about to swallow poison.

I didn’t dwell on it.

Catching up with old friends took over the evening. As the guest of honor, I was the center of attention.

Someone asked about my Parisian romances. Someone else brought up my internationally acclaimed art exhibitions. Another friend jokingly complained, “Seriously, Chloe, why ...