Chapter 118

"Fine. So, this is how it ends."

Sophia's voice wavered, fragile yet determined, but his distant, unrecognizable gaze felt like the final, unspoken goodbye.

A bittersweet ache unfurled in her chest.

He had come into her life like an uninvited storm-disrupting everything-and now,

he was leaving just as unexpectedly, at the worst possible time.

7

Perhaps the only choice left was to let him go, to let his memory dissolve like a fading dream at dawn.

"Sure,” Alex said, managing to keep his expression blank, though something deep inside him gave a sharp, uneasy twinge.

He told himself there was no point in chasing after a woman who continually pushed him aside.

Sophia had never truly trusted him anyway-maybe separation would be best for them both.

“Ms. Lancaster.......” Jasmine's silken voice cut through the tension as she stepped forward with a sweet-but-not-so-innocent smile.

"Your decision might've been a little foolish, but I have to say-thank you."

Sophia gave her a sideways look. "And what exactly am I being thanked for?"

"Thank you for handing Alex to me on a silver platter. If you'd held on to him, I would've never gotten close." Jasmine's smile deepened, her words like honey laced with venom.

"He tried to push me away once said he was married. But.. he's not anymore." Her eyes gleamed with quiet triumph as she leaned in, savoring every syllable.

"So now, there's nothing left for him to turn me down for, is there? You didn't just lose-you handed me the treasure."

Megan's face twisted with a scornful smirk. "You think you've hit the jackpot, but all you've grabbed is fool's gold. You'll regret it!"

Sophia stepped forward, her raised hand a quiet but firm signal for Megan to stop.

She had no interest in stirring up more chaos.

The Lancasters still relied on the Kingstons' support, and with Jasmine at the helm-powerful enough to inflict serious damage if crossed-they couldn't afford to provoke her.

Her gaze flitted to Alex for a second before she forced out a brittle laugh.

"Different people, different tastes. That 'treasure' of yours is mediocre at best, if you ask me. You're welcome to him. He's a free man, after all."

She tried to sound dismissive, but doubt wormed through her.

Why did a woman like Jasmine Kingston-who could probably have any man she wanted-act so besotted with Alex, the brash nobody who, on paper, had absolutely nothing to offer?

And why did Lyra, her own best friend, seem equally fascinated by him?

she missing something obvious, or

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Chapter 118

Jasmine lifted

Lancaster, you do have lofty standards. But that new

eyes flickered with annoyance. "At least he's better than

dripped with sarcasm. "And what

successful company," Sophia said defiantly.

behind Jasmine's eyes. "In that case, why don't

"A

months-no, let's make it a month. The so- called 'nobody' you scoff at, or your golden boy." Jasmine's smile curved

do you say...

for a second, caught

he'd just heard the dumbest thing on

to go head-to-head with that piece of trash? He couldn't catch up to me if he had

Megan chimed in,

the Ashford Group-he's got a net worth in the hundreds of millions.

a pang

She glanced at Alex.

the title of king of braggarts-armed with maddening

Marco had everything-pedigree, ambition, connections. It wasn't

to go through with this?" she

did two brilliant, powerful women like Jasmine-and even

she truly making the right choice by walking away? Or was she letting something

a tight, thin line, bracing against

now, she'd stick to

own heart wouldn't betray her in

question is whether you have the nerve to

her chin with a

look that made Sophia's blood

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Chapter 118

narrowed her eyes. "Fine. Name your

said, drawing out every syllable like a cat

need in life-except this man. So if you lose, you

you'll never try to

of anger and hurt

set her jaw and bit her lip. "Deal. I have no intention of

matter how rich or successful he

could practically feel her heart shrink at

purred, her mocking chuckle sending a fresh wave of

women stood face-to-face-equally stunning, yet complete opposites in

doubt, while the other radiated

plain and simple. Sophia's lips curled

regrets what," she said, throwing Jasmine one last glare before spinning on her heel to leave, feeling every bit as furious as

didn't notice Alex staring after her, his eyes filled with

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