Chapter 108
Chapter 108:
Cole was pulled upright by the sheer physical momentum of the crowd around him. He stood there, staring at the woman on the stage, the crushing weight of his own regret pressing down on his chest like a boulder.
Dr. Zhang walked onto the stage, took June’s arm with visible pride, and led her down the stairs directly toward the National Academy directors. June moved among the titans of the industry as an equal, her presence effortless and absolute.
Alycia watched her entire fabricated medical persona get ground to dust in real time. The mocking glances from the people around her were unbearable.
She seized Cole’s arm, her face pale and contorted. “Cole, get me out of here,” she begged, her voice fracturing. “Please — let’s leave p>
Cole felt numb. He allowed Alycia to pull him toward the exit doors. But his head turned back over his shoulder, his eyes locked onto June with an involuntary force he could not override.
Just as he reached the threshold, June turned her head.
Across the vast, crowded room, her eyes found his.
𝖠𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝘦 со𝗆𝘮𝗎𝘯i𝘁𝘺 𝗼n
It was a look of absolute, terrifying nothingness. No anger. No hatred. He simply did not exist in her universe. The look passed through him like a blade with no resistance at all, finding something vital on the other side and severing it cleanly.
Cole wrenched his arm from Alycia’s grip and took a step back toward the room.
The heavy, soundproof double doors of the Javits Center swung slowly shut in his face.
The metal latch clicked into place.
He was locked out.
Behind him, Alycia was crying and complaining in the empty hallway.
“Shut up!” Cole’s voice tore out of him, raw and ragged, echoing off the marble walls.
He pressed his back against the cold stone and closed his eyes. The pain in his chest was physical — concrete and immovable. The realization descended on him with the full, merciless weight of something that had always been true and could no longer be avoided.
He had thrown away the most precious thing in the world.
It was eight o’clock at night.
A violent rainstorm had descended on Manhattan, heavy sheets of water slamming against the glass walls of the Javits Center. June stood in the VIP waiting area of the underground parking garage, wearing only her thin white suit, rubbing her temples against the deep, bone-aching exhaustion of the day.
Her phone vibrated. A FaceTime call from Sloane Harper.
June answered.
Sloane’s face filled the screen, framed by a ridiculously flashy sequined dress. The background showed a high-end Upper East Side restaurant, rain streaking the windows behind her.
“June! Did you see the group chats?” Sloane’s voice crackled with delight. “The video of Alycia getting shoved by the bodyguards is everywhere. I’ve watched it at least twenty times. That woman finally got exactly what she deserved p>
June let out a soft, genuine laugh. The tight muscles in her shoulders eased slightly. “It wasn’t exactly my plan, but I can’t say I’m sorry it happened p>
Sloane groaned. “I am trapped at this awful blind date with a boring hedge fund guy. The rain is insane, and he keeps talking about his keto diet. Send help p>