Seven years later…
Taking a deep sigh, I gazed around the luxurious yacht. It could board at least a hundred creatures, but only half were present because my client wanted the celebration to be exclusive to her close friends and family.
To be honest, in this small country of ours, I could count on my fingers those who were powerful and influential—all present tonight. So I guessed the birthday celebrant was as extravagant as them because these creatures would rather slit their throats than befriend anyone standing beneath their social rank.
I didn’t know who my client was because she booked anonymously, but I made sure that my team and I met her expectations.
Over the years, I managed to fight against the challenges that tried to bring me down. Now, I was an event coordinator who was slowly being recognized in the field.
I also had a daughter and a husband now—both full of love, and it was impossible to ask for more because they were already beyond everything in this world.
"Ma'am, lauv, it's all set. We can start the celebration now."
I was yanked away from my thoughts when one of my staff appeared next to me. Nodding at her, I ordered her to get the rest of them to their stations.
The guests at this celebration were the elites, so everything needed to be perfect.
Walking to the corner, I straightened my back and took a deep breath as the hostess began to speak. She was a mermaid in her human form—I could confidently tell that, even from where I stood, by the way she smelled.
She smiled brightly as she hyped the guests, the warmth of her presence making the atmosphere lighter—until she uttered the name of the birthday celebrant.
"Let's welcome Luna Zaira Vera with a round of applause!"
My brows furrowed as I tilted my head to the side, trying to recall where I had heard the name. It was blurry in my mind, but then it made sense when the woman emerged from the shadows.
My lips parted.
Zaira Vera... the girl I grew up with in the orphanage who bullied me.
She was beaming from ear to ear as she waved to her guests, mouthing her thanks before stepping down from the small platform.
Kissing the cheeks of her close friends, I turned away when her eyes accidentally landed in my direction. My heart was pounding violently against my chest, making it very difficult for me to breathe.
It had been so many years, and I thought the pain was gone, but the moment I saw her, it all came rushing back—deeper and more tormenting.
It took almost a minute before I was sure that she wasn't looking in my direction anymore, but I still kept my mask on to hide my face. It failed to muffle my gasp when another figure appeared next to her, his arm possessively snaking around her tiny waist.
It took my breath away, freezing me from head to toe like a statue, with only my eyes moving. I stared at him from head to toe, my heart twisting as I realized he hadn’t changed one bit.
Alpha Johnson Reaper still looked the same as he did seven years ago.
My supposed-to-be-dead fiancé was standing next to another woman, laughing with her when one of their friends said something.
Tears stung my eyes, but they dried away when a thought struck my mind.
If he was alive... then my hike to The Resurrection Mountain must've worked!
My hands shot up to my mouth to stifle my gasp, and the tears I’d been holding back since earlier finally poured down.
I looked so stupid crying in the corner of the yacht while everyone else beamed with joy, but no one understood that these tears were also from happiness—until it was shattered when Johnson and Zaira started kissing.
I was a married woman now, with a daughter, but I still couldn’t stop myself from being hurt.
Johnson and I never had closure, and I blamed myself for his death. But then I realized that we both had our own lives now, and we were both happy—even though the truth behind his second chance still nagged at me.
I had no clue when he came back to life, if he looked for me, if he knew what his mother had done, or how he met Zaira. But I guessed what mattered now was the present.
Taking a deep breath, I wiped my tears with both hands before pulling myself away from the wall I had been leaning against.
I had planned for a peaceful exit, but the unexpected happened. Due to my trembling body and wobbling knees, I accidentally bumped into a passing waiter.
The tray he was holding, along with the bottle of wine on it, shattered on the floor, spilling some all over my chest. I gasped and took a step back, but it had already caught everyone's attention.
They all turned their heads toward me, and I quickly bowed down, fixing my hair on both sides of my face to create a curtain that hid my identity. I scrambled to wipe off the stain on my shirt, but then someone knocked me down.
It was an accident. His broad shoulder slammed into mine as he ran to someone behind me, but when I fell, he turned back and offered me a hand.
I hesitated, but eventually took it—which turned out to be a big mistake because he recognized me.
"Lauvrai?"
