Page 142 of Broken Destiny

“I’m so sorry,” I said, stepping forward to hug him. “I didn’t know.”

“How could you?” he replied with a faint smile. “You disappeared completely.”

“I’m sorry about that,” I said, pulling back. “Why don’t we catch up now?”

An amethyst-purple tintinvaded the late summer sky, and the pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw.

I was grateful to have an old friend beside me at the party.

Almost.

I reminded myself why I was here.

I had a mission.

My hope of speaking to Caleb tonight had already begun to fade. It was obvious the opportunity wasn't going to present itself. The misunderstanding between us needed to be cleared, but not tonight.

Might as well try to survive the evening.

“You remember the time I cooked for you at your place?” Harper chuckled.

I laughed. “Naughty Lucas directed you to the sugar jar instead of salt.”

He grinned wider. “That lasagna was unforgettable.”

“Oh gosh... don’t remind me,” I said, smiling, my hand briefly touching his chest. “It was the last time you ever cooked in my apartment.”

The memory made me smile, but another followed quietly behind it.

The story of how we ended.

Standing beside him now, years later, I felt no anger… only a distant sadness for a chapter of my life that had closed without answers.

When I realized Caleb was glaring at us from across the patio, my laughter faded.I straightened immediately, trying to regain my composure.

“Excuse me, Harper. I’ll be right back. I need to use the bathroom.”

Gulping down the last of my Perfect 10, I placed the glass on the bar and headed inside.

Just when I thought I might catch a break, I walked straight into Sophia and Catherine.

Their eyes narrowed the moment they saw me. Sophia’s mouth tightened while Catherine folded her arms across her chest, both of them staring at me as though I had no right to be standing there.

“What are you doing here?” Sophia demanded. “I don’t think Caleb or any of us invited you.”

“Are you here to scam someone else with your stories?” Cat sneered.

“You’ve got it all wrong?—”

“Well, well... look who dared to show her face here,” a cold voice cut in from behind them.

My stomach clenched.

I knew that voice.

My gaze slowly lifted past Sophia and Cat.

Eleanor stood a few feet behind them, her expression hard and merciless. The woman who had destroyed my name with lies and evil deeds. The woman responsible for tearing everything apart.