---- Chapter 5 Erin Calhoun POV: In our world, family status was an invisible but rigid cage, and Harvey was the one holding the key. Brande pressed her lips into a thin, white line, her earlier confidence shattered. She shot me a look in the rearview mirror, a venomous glare that promised retribution. | knew, without a doubt, that she had mentally added this humiliation to my tab. The rest of the drive passed in a heavy, suffocating silence. When we finally arrived at the Alpenglow Springs Resort, a sprawling complex of rustic-chic lodges nestled in the mountains, Brande was the first one out of the car. She immediately latched onto Carlton's arm. "Carl, | want to stay in your suite," she declared, her voice tegaining some of its familiar whine. "I'm scared to sleep alone in a strange place." She gestured vaguely. "It has two separate bedrooms, right? Erin won't mind, will you, Erin?" She tugged on his arm, batting her eyelashes. Carlton looked at me, his face a mask of weary helplessness. "Erin?" ---- | let out a small, humorless laugh. "Actually, | do mind. But | have a better idea. Why don't you two take my room? It has a king-sized bed. Much cozier." Guilt flickered in his eyes, quickly extinguished. "I'll make it up to you, | promise," he said, his voice low. "We'll take our own trip, just us, after this is over." "Don't worry about it," | said, my voice breezy. It was an empty promise, and we both knew it. He looked relieved, grabbing their bags with a haste that bordered on escape. | went to my new, smaller room, took a long, hot shower, and let the steaming water wash away the grime of the day. Then, | put on the dress | had been saving. | took my time with my makeup, creating a look that was more siren than saint. A smoky eye, a nude lip that emphasized the swell of my mouth, and a dusting of highlighter on my collarbones. When | was finally ready, | made my way to the welcome dinner. The party was already in full swing, the room buzzing with the self-important chatter of tech entrepreneurs and investors. My eyes scanned the room and found him instantly. Harvey was sitting alone by a large window overlooking the valley, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He wore a simple white button- ---- down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and his glasses perched on his nose. He looked devastatingly handsome. His gaze lifted and met mine across the room. It was a brief, fleeting glance, but it was enough. | saw him subtly unbutton the top button of his shirt, his fingers brushing against the column of his throat. | bit my lower lip, a vivid image flashing through my mind: my own lips pressing against that very spot, feeling the frantic pulse beneath his skin. Suddenly, Brande was at my side, a glass of champagne in her hand. "Wow, Erin! You look... amazing." She pouted, her eyes scanning my outfit. "You totally upstaged me." She turned and called out to Carlton, who was deep in conversation with another investor. "Carl, look! Erin is trying to steal my thunder!" | glanced at her. She was wearing a pale pink, ruffled dress that made her look like a dolla very expensive, very manipulative doll. Cute, but not sexy. In the world of men like these, cute was a novelty. Sexy was a weapon. |, on the other hand, was wearing a deep crimson slip dress that clung to every curve and ended mid-thigh. My heels were high enough to be considered a threat. Carlton's head turned, and his eyes widened when he saw me. ---- His conversation faltered. A slow, appreciative grin spread across his face. One of his friends whistled. "Damn, Galvan, you've been holding out on us." Carlton's chest puffed out with pride. Then, as if remembering his role, he cleared his throat and schooled his features into a frown. He strode over to me, his smile gone. "What are you wearing, Erin?" He pulled me into a corner, his grip on my arm a little too tight. "That dress is too much. You should save that for when we're alone." His eyes flickered over to where Brande was now sulking. "And did you have to upset her? She's already feeling fragile." | stared at him. The man | thought | loved, the man whose dreams | had funded with my own hard-earned money. And in that moment, | felt nothing. No pain, no anger, not even disappointment. Just a vast, empty space where my love for him used to be. The cord that had tied me to him for so long didn't just fray; it vaporized. It was gone. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!