The maître d’s gaze swept over Chloe the moment she entered the restaurant, a discreet yet discerning assessment. The soft lighting danced off her shimmer dress and the elegant gleam of her heels, while her clutch bag seemed to command its own security detail. She knew she looked extravagant, yet beneath it all, her confidence felt more like a costume than a true reflection of her feelings.

Earlier, Noah's voice had warmed her through the phone, bringing back a flood of memories from their ...