(James‘ POV)


    I sit in my study, staring at the real estate listings spread across my desk. Each property looks spacious, modern, far enough from here to start fresh. But signing the papers feels like signing away twenty–three years of memories.


    The house phone rings. Jasper’s name shes on the caller ID.


    “James.” His voice sounds hollow when I answer.


    “How is Virginia?”


    “Still sleeping. ir’s with her now.” I lean back in my chair, rubbing my temple. “Jasper, can youe into my study?”


    “Is this about Virginia?”


    “Hmm…”


    A long pause. “I’ll be there in a minute.”


    When he enters my office, Jasper looks like he hasn’t slept in days. His usually pressed shirt is wrinkled, his


    hair disheveled. He copses into the chair across from my desk without invitation.


    “We’re moving,” I say without preamble.


    His head snaps up. “What?”


    I gesture to the listings. “Virginia needs a fresh start. Somewhere she doesn’t have topete with Scarlett’s


    ghost.”


    Jasper’s jaw tightens. “So you’re choosing Virginia over Scarlett. Again.”


    “We’re not choosing Virginia. We’re trying to save her.”


    Jasper stands abruptly. “By abandoning Scarlett?”


    “By letting Scarlett live her life without us dragging her into our mess<i>.” </i>The truth burns, but it needs to be said. “She’s better off without us, Jasper. All of us.”


    (Scarlett’s POV)


    The drive home leaves me drained. Lily chatters in the backseat about the cookies, and her daddy.


    I don’t have the heart to respond to her enthusiasm.


    “Mama, are you okay?” she asks as we arrive at our apartment.


    “Just tired, baby.” I unbuckle her seatbelt, forcing a smile. “Why don’t we go wash up for lunch?”


    She nods and skips toward the elevator. I follow behind her when a familiar car pulls in.


    “Uncle Dorian!” Lily squeals, changing direction tounch herself at him.


    He catches her easily, spinning her around until she giggles. “Hey there, little chef. I heard you made some famous cookies this morning.”


    “I made them for Grandma! Mama, can we make Uncle Dorian some gingerbread cookies too?”


    “Maybeter, sweetheart.” Dorian’s smile fades as he studies my face.


    “Rough morning?”


    “You could say that.” I fumble with my keys, suddenly aware of how exhausted I must look. “What brings you by?”


    “Actually, I need to ask you a favor.” He runs a hand through his dark hair, looking uncharacteristically nervous. “This is going to sound strange.”


    “Yeah? Let’s hear it.”


    “I need a girlfriend.”


    I blink. “Excuse me?”


    “A fake girlfriend. Just for tonight.” He leans against the wall, his expression serious now. “My grandma’s in town. She’s been nagging me about settling down. If I don’t show up with a girlfriend soon, she’ll set me up with her friend’s daughter.”


    “So you want me to pretend-”


    “Just for dinner. A few hours, max.” He pleads. “I know it’s asking a lot, but you’re the only person I can think <ol><li>of. And honestly? You look like you could use a distraction.” </li></ol>


    “What would I have to do?”


    “Just be yourself. Hold my hand a few times,ugh at my jokes–though I know thatst part might be a


    stretch.” His grin returns, boyish and charming. “But it’ll help my case.”


    “I’ll think about it.”


    After he leaves, I try to focus on normal thingsundry, meal prep, Lily’s endless questions about everything.


    When that fails, I call Chloe.


    “He invited you to his house?”


    “Yes…”


    “Then what are you waiting for? A second invitation?”


    “But Lily…


    “Leave Lily to me. Now go and get ready. I’ll be there in a few.”


    She cuts off the line before I can say anything. I sigh and shake my head. I must’ve been out of my mind to


    call her for advice despite knowing how much she wants to see me together with him.


    At five–thirty, I’m still not ready. What does one wear to fake–date a billionaire CEO?


    “The blue dress, Mama.” Lily appears beside me. “You look pretty in blue.”


    “She’s right. You do look pretty in blue.” Chloeughs from the bed, munching on sunflowers.


    She’s enjoying this.


    I pull out the navy wrap dress–simple but elegant. When I catch my reflection in the mirror, I barely recognize myself. Confident. Composed. With the mature aura of a sophisticated woman.


    214


    Hmm I should dress up more often.


    Dorian arrives exactly at six, dressed down in dark jeans and a button–down that probably costs more than my monthly groceries. He whistles when he sees me.


    “My grandma’s going to love you.”


    “Don’t get any ideas,” I warn, but I’m smiling as we walk out together.


    The drive to his house takes us through the most exclusive part of the city. Massive estates sit behind iron gates, their manicuredwns stretching toward the horizon. When we pull up to a modern masterpiece of ss and steel, my breath catches in my throat.


    “Dorian, your house is huge!”


    “Wait until you see the pool,” he grins, opening my door.


    I take his offered arm as we walk to the front door, hyperaware of the warmth of his hand over mine. We’re


    pretending, I remind myself. Only pretending.


    I shouldn’t get any funny ideas.


    But as we step inside his home–all soaring ceilings and contemporary art–I can’t help but wonder what it


    would feel like to date a man like him.


    The thought terrifies me.


    (Jasper’s POV)


    The luxury housing development sprawls before us like a monument to excess. Virginia sits in the passenger seat, her face pressed to the window as we drive past mansion after mansion.


    “This one,” she says for the third time, pointing at a European–style estate. “James would love the


    architecture.”


    I slow down the car but don’t stop. We’ve been driving around for two hours, and Virginia has found something wrong with every property. Too modern. Too traditional. Too close to the road. Too far from the


    city.


    What she really means is none of them are good enough. <fn4942> Chapters first released on find~novel</fn4942>


    “Virginia, we need to be realistic about the timeline-”


    “There!” She grabs my arm, nearly causing me to swerve. “That’s the one.”


    I follow her gaze to a sleek ck sedan parked in the circr driveway of a ss and steel monstrosity. The same car I witnessed Dorian drive a few days ago.


    “Is that- Virginia’s voice is sharp with interest. After the drugging scene, her innocent expression no longeres off as harmless as it used to.


    I retract my gaze, and watch the driver’s door open. Dorian gets out, looking perfectly at ease in casual wear. Then he goes to the passenger seat, and opens the door, holding out his arm.


    Scarlett gets out, cing her hand on top of his.


    My chest constricts.


    She’s wearing a blue dress that hugs her curves, her hijab blowing around her shoulders in the gentle breeze.


    She looks radiant Happy. Nothing like the exhausted woman I saw this morning


    “Well,” Virginia’s voice drips with sarcasm. “She sure moved on quickly.”


    I can’t look away, enraptured by the scene.


    She’s still my wife. Our divorce hasn’t been finalized. How could she…


    Scarlett doesn’t even nce in our direction. Dorian helps her into the mansion as sheughs at something he says.


    “Guess you didn’t mean that much to her.” Virginia smirks, crossing her arms. “And can you me her? She’s found someone who can give her money, status, and a father for Lily. What would she need you for?”


    I put the car in drive, catching onest glimpse of them in my rearview mirror. Dorian’s hand on her back, guiding her toward happiness I could never give her.


    Virginia’s right about one thing–Scarlett has moved on.


    The question now is whether I’ll survive watching her fall in love with someone else.


    Violet Moon


    #Vote#


    <b>3 </b>