With a resolute breath, I absorbed the Moonstone’s power. The radiant glow dimmed, leaving behind a dull, lifeless stone. It no longer held its brilliance, just as my love for him no longer held its meaning.
I threw the stone into the trash can alongside the gift box and wiped my tears.
As I walked out into the chilly night air, my phone buzzed. I answered it without thinking.
"Where are you?" Eros’s impatient voice barked through the line. "Get back here immediately. We’re throwing a party tonight for Daisy’s return."
Daisy’s return. The real daughter. His first love.
I hung up without responding, my heart heavy with despair. The streets blurred around me as tears fell freely. My world had crumbled, and I was left standing in the ruins, completely alone.
Remi's POV
I pushed open the heavy oak doors of the packhouse, stepping into the foyer. The familiar scent of pine and earth filled my nose, but it no longer felt like home. I rubbed at my swollen, red eyes, silently hoping the puffiness would fade before anyone noticed.
Eros’s scent lingered in the air, strong and commanding as always. I heard his footsteps before I saw him, and when he rounded the corner, his piercing eyes locked on me.
“Remi,” he said, his tone clipped. “What happened to your eyes?”
I hesitated, my heart clenching at the sudden attention. Maybe he noticed because he cared. Maybe... just maybe. But his expression wasn’t soft or concerned—it was cold, impatient.
“Nothing,” I mumbled, lowering my gaze. “Just some sand. It’s nothing.”
He stared at me for a moment longer, then shrugged. “We’re late. Let’s go.”
I blinked. “I need to change first. I—”
“No,” he cut me off, his tone sharp. “You don’t need to change. We’re already late, and I won’t have everyone waiting for us.”
I looked down at my worn jeans and plain shirt, my heart sinking. “But—”
“Enough, Remi.” He grabbed my wrist, his grip firm but not painful, and pulled me toward the door. “You look fine. Let’s go.”
Fine. That’s all I ever was to him now—fine. Nothing more.
The drive to the party was silent. I sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window, clutching my trembling hands in my lap. My heart ached with every mile, knowing I was walking into a room where I would be nothing but an afterthought.