Chapter 4: Alone in the Crowd

I don’t know how long Noah kissed me.

It felt like an eternity—my head spinning, my lungs aching. I pushed gently against his chest, finally breaking free.

It wasn’t until I could barely breathe that he finally let go.

He pressed his forehead to mine, breath hot and ragged. I tried to smile, but the corners of my mouth ached.

At an event like this, he needed to socialize and network.

He glanced at his watch, brushing invisible lint from his cuff. The party was his stage, and he had a role to play.

Naturally, he couldn’t stay with me the whole time.

His eyes softened, apologetic. "I wish I could, but you know how these things go."

Noah settled me in a corner to rest:

He guided me to a velvet settee tucked behind a towering flower arrangement, making sure I had a clear view of the dance floor. "Text me if you need anything."

"I’m going to greet a few friends. I’ll come find you later."

I nodded and sat quietly, lost in thought.

I watched the couples swirling past, the way the lights caught on sequins and smiles. The world felt unreal, like I was watching from underwater.

Nearby, people were talking about Derek’s fiancée.

Their voices drifted over the music—sharp, gossipy, impossible to ignore.

They said she was Lillian from the Price family in Savannah.

A southern belle, old money. Her name was on every charity board, her smile in every society column. She was everything I wasn’t.

Derek was very satisfied with her; they often appeared together at important events. According to the elders, they’d marry by the end of the year.

The rumors painted a picture of a perfect match—power marrying power, old family names blending at last.

I listened absentmindedly. The ballroom was stuffy, so I got up to walk in the hallway.

The air felt thick, my dress too tight. I excused myself, slipping past the crowd and out into the cool, marbled corridor.

The air outside was much fresher, and I felt a little better.

The faint scent of gardenia wafted in from the open windows. I leaned against the banister, breathing deep, letting my head clear.

Just then, as I passed a room, the door suddenly opened from inside.

A hand shot out, fingers curling around my wrist. My heart leapt into my throat as I was tugged into the dark.

Someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me in.

The door clicked shut behind me, plunging us into shadow. My pulse thudded in my ears, adrenaline making my fingers tingle. My breath hitched, fingers flexing on the doorknob, heart pounding against my ribs.

It was pitch black inside, no lights. I couldn’t see anything.

I pressed back against the door, blinking against the darkness, trying to find my bearings.

He pressed me against the door, looking down at me, his bangs brushing my forehead.

The air between us was electric. I could feel the warmth of his body, the steady rise and fall of his chest. The scent of his aftershave was unmistakable.

His voice was cool and familiar.

"Natalie."

That one word was a blade, slicing through three years of distance like it was nothing.

I watched him go, the echo of his footsteps louder than the music. For the first time all night, I felt completely alone.