Audrey’s POV

I stood before the ornate double doors of the hotel, feeling Astrid’s approving gaze on my red dress. The silk fabric whispered against my skin with each breath, its deep crimson a far cry from the conservative designer pieces I used to wear as Mrs. Parker.

“See?” Astrid’s voice held a note of triumph. “I always said you were made for these bold, sexy looks. You used to be so concerned about the ‘proper Parker wife’ image, always wearing those conservative designer pieces…” She adjusted the strap of my dress with a satisfied smile. “They never suited you!”

I met her eyes. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

The words came out stronger than I expected, carrying the weight of my decision. Three years of trying to fit into the Parker family mold, of dulling my own light to avoid outshining others – it felt like shedding an ill-fitting skin.

“Ready?” Astrid squeezed my hand.

I took a deep breath, feeling the fabric shift across my exposed back. “As I’ll ever be.”

The doors opened, and we stepped into the sea of designer evening wear and polite society laughter. The annual LA Jewelry Guild gala was in full swing, with the who’s who of the industry mingling under the warm lighting. I felt the subtle shift in attention as we entered – the pause in conversations, the sideways glances, the whispered speculations about the woman in red who dared to stand out.

Let them look, I thought. Let them wonder.

I’d just finished a waltz with a visiting Swiss watchmaker when a familiar voice caught me off guard.

“Audrey?”

I turned to find James Collins watching me with a mix of surprise and appreciation. He looked exactly as I remembered from our Parsons days – tall, elegant, with that gentle intelligence in his eyes that had once made my heart skip a beat.

“James!” The smile that spread across my face was genuine. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He gestured at the dance floor with an easy grace. “Since we’ve met here, shall we? We can catch up while we dance.”

I placed my hand in his, feeling the familiar comfort of an old friend. “I’d love to.”

“You’re still designing?” he asked as we moved across the floor.

“Some pieces,” I replied, surprised by the warmth in my own voice. “Though jewelry design has taken a backseat lately.”

“A shame. Your talent was always exceptional.”

The music swelled around us, and for a moment, I let myself remember simpler times. Design classes at Parsons, coffee breaks between lectures, James’s patient guidance when I struggled with technical drawings. Before I became Mrs. Parker. Before I learned what it meant to love someone who would never love me back.

A sudden hush fell over the ballroom as the lights dimmed after the MC’s announcement. A spotlight began its lazy sweep across the dance floor, and James chuckled as it slowed near us.

“The lighting director must have it out for me tonight.”

“James,” I said softly, watching the second spotlight find its target across the room, “looks like fate has other plans.”

The air seemed to crystallize as I saw them – Blake and Laurel, caught in the same spotlight as us. He looked impeccable as always in his designer tuxedo, while she was a vision in white, clinging to his arm with practiced delicacy.

“Audrey?” James’s voice seemed to come from far away. “Are you alright?”

I forced my lips into a smile, even as my chest tightened. “Of course. It’s just… interesting timing.”

The MC’s cheerful voice boomed through the speakers: “Couples in the spotlight, please prepare to exchange partners!”

As James released my waist, I took a deep breath, turning toward my husband. Soon to be ex-husband, I reminded myself. On his face, I caught a flash of something dark and possessive that I once would have mistaken for care.

Not anymore.

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