Emma Lang POV:
Chloe had been my rock through the long, draining years with Collin. She' d seen every tear, every quiet sacrifice, every moment I' d allowed myself to be diminished. She' d warned me, begged me, to leave him.
"Honestly, Em," she'd said countless times, her voice laced with frustration, "you're a Michelin-star chef's daughter, a pastry prodigy, and you're slaving away in that greasy spoon, making gourmet dishes for a man who barely acknowledges you? What are you thinking?"
I' d always defended him, of course. "He has potential, Chloe. He just needs a little support. We're building something together."
She' d just shake her head. "You're building his dream, Emma. Not yours. And he's letting you do all the heavy lifting."
I remembered the time I'd tried to convince Collin to move to New York. My father had connections, he' d offered to help Collin secure funding for a new restaurant, a real opportunity. "Think of it, Collin," I'd pleaded. "A fresh start, a bigger stage for your talent."
But he' d scoffed. "New York? Too cutthroat. And all my friends are here. Besides, I don't need your dad's handouts. I'll make it on my own." He'd suggested an "open relationship" if I wanted to go so much. I, heartbroken and terrified of losing him, had stayed. I had even kept my true family background a secret for years, wanting him to love me, just me, not my father's name or fortune. What a fool I had been.
Now, as I told Chloe about the engagement, she shrieked with delight. "Dawson Herrera?! The Dawson Herrera? Emma, you legend! I told you he was always secretly impressed with you!" She paused, her voice turning serious. "So, did you tell Collin?"
I shrugged. "I texted him. He thought I was playing games."
Chloe snorted. "Of course, he did. He wouldn't know a genuine emotion if it bit him. He's probably losing his mind, though. You know how he hates losing control. Especially when it comes to you."
A cold premonition settled in my gut. "Why?"
"Oh, honey," Chloe said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Guess who just landed jobs in New York? Collin and Frankie. They're going to be at the same company as you, aren't they?"
My heart gave a faint thump, but it wasn't fear. It was more like... annoyance. "Doesn't matter," I said, my voice steady. "They're ancient history. I' m not interested in their pathetic little drama anymore."
My new life in Chicago was exhilarating. I chose to start as a project manager within Herrera Hospitality, specifically in the development of new culinary concepts. My father had offered me a senior executive position, but I' d politely declined. I needed to earn my place, to prove my own worth, not just ride on the coattails of my family or my fiancé.
Dawson was incredibly supportive. He respected my decision, offering guidance without interference. He was a constant, steady presence, always there with a quiet word of encouragement, a perfectly brewed cup of tea, or a thoughtful analysis of a complex business problem. I barely thought of Collin. He was a distant, unpleasant memory, like a bad dream slowly fading from consciousness.
Through internal channels, I quickly learned about the new hires in the marketing department – Collin Goodwin and Frankie Patton. Frankie, predictably, had been hired for a senior role despite a surprisingly thin portfolio. Internal whispers suggested she had leveraged her social media following and a very persuasive "connection." Collin was her junior partner, a mere shadow. I also learned, through careful glances at their project proposals, that Frankie' s work was largely derivative, bordering on plagiarism. And Collin' s… well, it was mostly my old recipes, rebranded and slightly altered.
The irony wasn't lost on me. He was still using my talent, even from afar. But this time, it didn't hurt. It just solidified my conviction. Their little schemes no longer touched me. They were small fish in a very large pond, and I had bigger things to worry about.
One afternoon, I was rushing to a meeting on the executive floor, a stack of proposals clutched in my hand. I was already running late to meet Dawson for dinner, and I wanted to get this done quickly. As the elevator doors chimed open, I stepped out and froze.
He was standing there, by the water cooler, looking haggard and disheveled. His usually impeccably styled hair was a mess, his shirt wrinkled. His eyes, once so vibrant, were dull and bloodshot.
Collin.
He saw me, and a flicker of something – surprise, then anger, then a flash of what looked like raw desperation – crossed his face. "Emma," he snarled, his voice rough.
