Chloe slid her phone back into her purse, a breath slipping past her lips as she prepared to head back to the private room.
Carter was probably still peppering Mikael with questions. Aria was likely poking at her dessert, waiting for Chloe to slide back in beside her like the years hadn't separated them.
She brushed invisible creases from her blouse, turned the corner—
—and collided straight into someone's chest.
Solid. Warm. Unyielding.
She staggered slightly, heels adjusting with practiced precision.
"Sorry—" she started—then stopped.
The scent hit her first. Sharp, familiar.
Then the voice.
Low.
Stunned.
"Chloe?"
She looked up.
And there he was.
Kian.
Hair slightly tousled, sleeves rolled past his forearms, one hand instinctively out as if still steadying her.
His brows lifted, just faintly—but it was there.
Recognition.
"You okay?" he asked, softer now.
Chloe blinked. Composed herself. Tucked the chaos behind her lashes.
"Yeah," she murmured. "Didn't expect to literally run into you today."
Kian exhaled. Something unreadable passed through his expression.
"Guess the universe missed our timing."
Chloe scoffed lightly, tilting her chin just slightly.
"Oh, I hope the universe forgets our timing."
Then—firm, clipped, decisive.
"I'll go, Kian. I do me, you do you."
And with that—she stepped around him, back into the world she was reclaiming, leaving the past exactly where she wanted it.
But Kian?
He watched her go.
Because despite the words, despite the edge in her voice—the weight of everything unsaid still lingered between them.