Chapter 21
The moment that interview aired, Milo had tracked down every detail about Eliana’s new life. She was in LA, and just like she’d always dreamed, d built her own design empire.
He’d obsessively researched everything about Lamina Studios, discovering what Eliana had accomplished in the two years since leaving hom
She hadn’t fallen apart like he had. Instead, she’d become more brilliant than ever, transforming from nothing into one of fashion’s most respected
names
Now, watching her glow under the ballroom’s golden lights, Milo could barely restrain himself from running to her and begging for forgiveness.
Just as he started moving toward her, Harper grabbed his arm desperately.
“Milo, please…” Her voice was pathetic, pleading for him to stay, but he shook her off without even looking.
Harper’s manicured nails dug into her palms, fury and panic warring in her chest.
After their explosive public breakdown, Milo had spent three days on his knees before his grandfather, literally begging for another shot at the Blake inheritance. He’d worked like a man possessed ever since, completely different from the lovesick fool who’d once thrown away his birthright for Harper’s attention.
Meanwhile, Harper’s world had imploded. Without Milo’s protection, the internet had destroyed her. Lumiére was exposed as a safety nightmare, protesters showed up at her apartment, and even her disastrous first marriage became tabloid entertainment.
Facing that level of public humiliation for the first time, she’d been forced to crawl back to Milo. Gone was her entitled princess act–she’d literally gotten on her knees in front of rolling cameras, sobbing apologies to both him and Eliana.
Watching the woman who’d once manipulated him reduced to begging at his feet, Milo had felt nothing but revulsion. Like discovering a beautiful toy was full of maggots.
He’d wanted to cut Harper off completely–she’d created this mess and deserved to burn in it. But he hadn’t found Eliana yet, hadn’t been able to orchestrate a proper apology to show Eliana how desperately sorry he was. So reluctantly, he’d kept Harper around as a tool for his redemption.
But their dynamic had completely flipped. Harper now existed at his mercy, terrified of his moods. He’d burned every memento of their college relationship while she watched, knowing she had nowhere else to go.
For two years, with Eliana gone, Harper had thought she was safe. Just when she’d started breathing easy, Eliana had reappeared–more successful and radiant than ever.
She was about to lose everything again.
Harper followed Milo across the ballroom, her perfectly applied makeup barely concealing her desperation as he approached the golden couple.
“Eliana…” Milo’s voice cracked with two years of pent–up longing. “I finally found you.”
Two years of rebuilding had made him more powerful than ever–he now controlled the entire Blake empire. But facing Eliana again, he felt like that broken man who’d lost everything. He stared at her with desperate intensity, terrified that if he blinked, she’d disappear again.
Hearing that achingly familiar voice, Eliana turned with cool indifference. Where Milo radiated desperate hope and regret, she showed absolutely zero emotion–like she was looking at a mildly interesting stranger.
“Mr. Blake.” Her voice was perfectly polite and completely cold.
The formal address hit him like a physical blow/His desperate excitement crashed into devastation. The woman who’d once loved him with her whole soul now looked at him like he was nobody.
“Eliana, please don’t call me that. We used to–I mean, can’t we just-”
He was scrambling, panic making him incoherent as he tried to invoke their shared past.
Eliana cut him off with obvious impatience, like she had better things to do.
kaz. Dlako wo’ro divorced. I’d hate for you to keep disappointing your girlfriend here.”
Her dismissive glance at Harper sent Milo into a frenzy of explanation.
“No! You’ve got it completely wrong. Harper and I aren’t together–1 only brought her here so she could apologize to you properly show you how sorry I am for everything
His face twisted with disgust as he whirled on Harper.
“Do it now. Apologize to her for everything you did.”
Harper’s face went white. She shot Eliana a look of pure hatred before reluctantly dropping lier gaze, clutching her designer purse like a lifeline.
Tm… I’m sorry, Ms. Hart. Everything that happened
fault.
Case
forgive Milo–he’s a good man who made mistakes because of me.”
The apology was clearly rehearsed, delivered with the sincerity
bad
actress. Harper only cared about maintaining her access to Milo’s money and
status.
Milo’s face lit up with pathetic hope. “There! She apologized. Eliana, can you forgive
me
Wow? Can we start over?”
But Eliana’s expression didn’t change even slightly. She looked vaguely amused, like she was watching an entertaining but predictable performance.
“Mr. Blake, I think you’re misunderstanding something fundamental here. We that happened.”
ended two years ago. An apology doesn’t magically undo everything
Milo’s brief hope shattered completely. He couldn’t accept what she was saying, his whole body starting to shake with desperation.
“Eliana, please. I know I fucked up everything. I know I was the try again? I’ll do anything…”
worst husband imaginable. But I’ve changed–I’ve completely changed. Can’t we really
His voice was breaking, desperate and raw. This powerful
man who commanded billions was
falling apart in front of her.
But Eliana just looked bored.
