▌𝘔𝘈𝘚𝘖𝘕 𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘔𝘌𝘚
❛ do you know how 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 frustrating it is? ❜ he cut her off. ❛ to have to 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 you? to pretend like i don't feel 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 when i look at you?❜
starr's breath caught in her throat.
❛ because i do...
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chapter THIRTY SEVEN we're done .
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the flashes from the paparazzi were relentless as mason and ahliya arrived at the nightclub. stepping out of the sleek black car, mason adjusted his blazer, already wishing he were anywhere but here. ahliya emerged next, radiant in a striking red dress that clung to her like a second skin. she looped her arm through his, smiling for the cameras as if they were the happiest couple in the world.
"smile, darling," she muttered through her teeth, giving his arm a not-so-gentle squeeze.
mason plastered on a forced grin, his jaw clenched as they posed for the cameras. they made their way inside, the pulsating bass of the music a welcome distraction from the chaos outside. mason lingered near the bar while ahliya basked in the attention, greeting familiar faces with air kisses and exaggerated laughs.
but she wasn't here just for the spotlight—tonight, she had a plan.
after a few rounds of mingling, ahliya approached mason, her smile tight. "we need to talk. outside. now."
mason arched a brow, reluctantly following her to the open-air patio. the city skyline stretched out before them, a glittering backdrop to what was about to unfold.
"what's this about?" mason asked, leaning against the railing.
ahliya spun around to face him, her expression shifting from poised to dramatically anguished in seconds. "this isn't working anymore, mason. we aren't working."
mason frowned. "you're breaking up with me? here?"
"don't act like you didn't see this coming," she said, her voice rising enough to carry over the hum of nearby conversations. "you've been distant, unavailable—like you're doing me a favour just by standing next to me."
mason's eyes narrowed. "you're seriously doing this here, with the paparazzi right outside? this is a show for them, isn't it?"
"a show?" she repeated, her voice cracking as she clutched her chest. "this is me finally standing up for myself, mason! i've been the one holding this whole thing together while you sulk and drag your feet. do you even care about how hard this has been for me?"
