Megan’s POV
Chapter 50
The ballroom was clearing out, but the tension clung to the walls like smoke.”
I stayed just long enough to see the Cross family scatter. Jane stormed off with two assistants in tow, already on her phone, word since Elijah walked in. He stood frozen near the probably spinning lies faster than I could breathe. Jaxon hadn’t said
bar, drink untouched, eyes empty.”
But Mellan? Mellan didn’t leave.
She moved with purpose, weaving between the remaining guests, heels clicking sharply against the marble. I watched from a quiet corner as she followed Elijah out into the corridor near the exit.
She waited until no o
“Elijah.“&
else was close, then grabbed his arm. Her voice was hushed but urgent.
He stopped, turning slowly. His expression didn’t shift.
“I need to talk to you,” Mellan said, pushing her hair behind her shoulder. Her tone had changed. Gone was the confident woman who’d humiliated me on stage minutes ago. What stood in front of Elijah now was someone else.}
Elijah didn’t speak. He simply waited.\
“I didn’t know,” she started. “About
gan. That you were… representing her. I had no idea.“/
His stare was cold. “That’s hard to believe.”
“I’m serious.” She moved closer. “I wouldn’t have…” Mellan sighed.
“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let them do it like that. It wasn’t my idea.”
“But you didn’t stop it either,” he said.
A pause. Then, softly, “You know how Jane is.”
Elijah blinked once. “I know how you are.“!
Mellan gave a weak laugh. “This isn’t you, Eli. You’re not vindictive. You’re not… like this.””
He tilted his head slightly. “What exactly am I ‘like,‘ Mellan?”
“You’re thoughtful. Rational. You listen before you react. The Elijah I knew… he would’ve called me. He would’ve talked to me first.“E
“I’m not the Elijah you knew,” he said, voice flat. “And you don’t get to pretend this is some misunderstanding. You helped
them fabricate evidence to ruin you
“I didn’t—” Mellan stopped herself. “I
“You stood on stage while they did it.”
“I was protecting Jaxon,”
fake the messages. That was Jane. I swear it.”
He exhaled once through his nose, shaking his head. “Of course you were.”
“We had something real,” she said suddenly. Her voice cracked. “Back then. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten that.”
I
“I haven’t,” Elijah said. “I remember exactly what it was. Which is why I walked away.“”
Mellan’s eyes darted, as if searching for a crack in him. “You
“I do.“E
“You’re only doing this to hurt me.”
don’t mean that.”
“I’m doing this to protect Megan,” Elijah said firmly. “Because someone should’ve done it a long time ago.”
A beat of silence.[
Mellan’s voice softened. “You used to protect me.“>
He looked at her for a long second. “Yeah. And look where that got me.”
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I was just walking back from the coat check when I heard her voice, then his. The hallway was narrow, and I froze at the corner, their words wrapping around me like smoke.
1only caught the end.
“Stop playing with me, Mellan. You saying you wanted me back? I doubt it.” Elijah said coldly.
And Mellan, quiet now, replied, “Then why do you sound like you’re still angry?“”
He didn’t answer. He walked away.”
Back in the car, the folder he gave me sat on my lap. I hadn’t opened it yet. I couldn’t stop hearing her voice. “We had something real.“}
Did they?!
I’d seen Mellan lie with ease. But I’d also seen the way Elijah looked at her once. Before.
Now, I didn’t know what was left between them. If anything.”
But I knew what was left between her and me.”
Nothing.”
I drove away. As I was two blocks away from my apartment when I felt the car wobble.
Then the steering stiffened. The whole vehicle began to lurch.
“Shit-” I pulled over, blinking at the warning light flashing on the dash.”
Front left tire was flat.”
I got out, heels clicking onto the empty sidewalk. Streetlights flickered overhead, buzzing faintly.
The tire was completely shredded.
Not punctured.
Slashed.
That’s when I heard it.
Footsteps. Behind me.
turned. One man. Then another. And a third, stepping out from the alley.
All walking slowly. Like they knew I had nowhere to run.
The first man grinned. “Looks like you could use some help.”
I didn’t move. My keys were in my hand. I slid one between my fingers.
The second man took a step closer. “C’mon now, don’t be shy. You look like you party.“”
My pulse spiked. I stepped back. “Don’t come near me.”
They laughed.<
The third one pulled something from his jacket. Not a weapon but his phone. He started recording. “Smile, sweetheart.“} My stomach twisted.<
They moved faster.
I backed into the car, heart hammering.”
I was shakily trying to yank the door open when both men grabbed my arms. I screamed for help and they just laughed like I was a prey yelling for rescue.[
“Let me go!” I screamed.
The third man grinned and was about to unbutton my clothes when a horn screamed. Tires shrieked.
A car came out of nowhere, blinding headlights cutting through the dark.
Brakes slammed.
The men froze.K
The driver’s door flung open.
But before I could see who it was-
“Get the hell away from her!” a familiar voice barked.
