That very night, the Swanson heir's scandal splashed across every entertainment headline. The paparazzi dubbed me "dangerously gorgeous," and from that moment on, the roles never stopped coming.
But now, stepping back into this place, everything had changed.
I gathered myself and stopped outside the VIP room Jesse always used.
Through the colored glass, I finally saw him.
My missing groom.
He sat there, drink in hand, swirling a glass of whiskey with the carelessness of a man who had nowhere better to be. Women draped themselves around him like ornaments.
Wealth, excess, indulgence. So this was all it amounted to.
Through the noise and the laughter, I heard someone speak up. "Jesse, that Adela Sullivan of yours — you're still not tired of her?"
My breath caught. I stood frozen, waiting for Jesse's answer.
What came next sent me plunging into ice water. Every word chilled me to the bone.
"Pretty face, killer body. An absolute ten. Tell me you wouldn't do the same."
"Only problem is, she's been getting ideas lately. Keeps pushing me for a ring, for a title. Real buzzkill."
Laughter erupted through the room. When it died down, Hudson Simmons shook his head with a sneer. "That's your own fault, man. You put her on too high a pedestal. No wonder she started getting delusional."
"She's an actress, Jesse. An actress. And she thought she could become Mrs. Swanson?" He let out a scoff. "Honestly, dumping her right after you had your fun was the smartest move you've ever made. Just wait. She'll figure out where she stands soon enough, and she'll come crawling back on her knees, begging like a dog."
My head was ringing. Whatever came after that, I couldn't hear anymore.
Nora caught me before my legs gave out. Her eyes were bloodshot, murderous. "These pieces of garbage — how dare they talk about you like that!"
Just then, a waiter passed by carrying a tray of bottles.
Before I could react, Nora snatched one off the tray and kicked the door open so hard it slammed against the wall. "Swanson! I've never seen a man as pathetic as you! Get out here and face me!"
Every trust-fund prince inside flinched. Hudson Simmons shot to his feet, his voice laced with menace.
"Who the hell are you, barging in here screaming?"
"One phone call. That's all it takes, and you'll be at the bottom of Victoria Harbor feeding the fish."