By the Time He Looked Back

"But baby, you really do not need to block me. They will not check my phone."

I turned off the screen and ignored him.

Even now, Luke still thought this was just a fake breakup to fool his group of bad friends.

But I no longer wanted to play his game.

I threw away everything Madison might have touched and had replacements delivered overnight. I stayed busy until I no longer knew what time it was, then fell into a heavy sleep.

When I woke, there was a text from Luke.

"Come to the banquet hall at six tonight. Birthday dinner.

"Just say we broke up but can still be friends."

I still did not reply.

At six that evening, I arrived at the banquet hall anyway.

I wanted to make things clear. I wanted to put a clean period at the end of this relationship.

The manager respectfully pushed open the door for me.

When everyone inside saw me, the noise died.

For the first time, I took a long look at Luke's friends.

Amusement. Spectacle. Pity.

I had never truly belonged in his circle. At this moment, that no longer mattered.

Luke put out his cigarette and pulled out a chair for me with practiced thoughtfulness. Then he told the server, "Please turn down the air-conditioning and bring her a blanket. She gets cold easily."

Under everyone's stare, he took a packet of instant ginger tea from his pocket, mixed it with hot water, blew on it, and pushed it in front of me.

Someone began, "Luke, you and your girlfriend..."

Luke answered without thinking.

"Not girlfriend. We broke up."

Perhaps he realized that caring so much for an ex looked strange, because he added, "It is her birthday. A farewell meal does not need to be ugly."

His friends gave him a knowing look, then turned toward the door.

Madison Carter arrived late in a dramatic dress and went straight to sit beside Luke.

She asked, "What farewell meal?"

"Luke and his girl..."

Someone poked the speaker.

"Not his girl anymore."

"Right. Miss... what was it again?"

Luke frowned and interrupted.

"Emily."

"Oh, just call her Miss Miller," Madison said lightly. "We will not see her again anyway. A name is not that important."

Everyone brushed over it with laughter.

Only Ben Wallace, sitting across from Luke, kept staring at my face as if trying to remember something.

I had met him two months ago at a Miller family event.

I gave him a small nod.

Luke noticed him staring and said with a teasing edge, "What, are you interested in my ex-girlfriend?"

Madison patted Luke on the shoulder.

"She is your ex. Why do you care?

"Do you not want to win our bet?"

This time, Luke did not answer.

His friends soon changed topics.

"Madison, I heard your dad is going after the Miller Southside project."

"Not officially," Madison said. "But Carter Group is very well prepared."

"Maybe you should convince your dad to partner with Luke.

"Only your families could handle a project like that. Once you two land it, give the rest of us a little piece too."

Madison glanced at me, then smiled sweetly at Luke.

"I am willing, of course. But whether my dad agrees depends on Luke."

Luke placed the shrimp he had just peeled into my bowl.

"It is her birthday. Do not talk business."

Madison's smile stiffened. She raised her glass.

"Look at me, stealing the spotlight. Miss Miller, you do not mind, do you?"

The wine in her glass poured over my dress without spilling a drop elsewhere.

I wiped it calmly, looked at every face around the table, then locked my eyes on Madison.

"I do mind.

"This dress is from Chanel's latest collection. Thirty thousand dollars.

"The items Miss Carter used at my house yesterday have all been thrown away. Total value: nineteen hundred dollars.

"Since Miss Carter is clearly so generous, please pay for everything together. Card or cash?"

"Are you robbing me?"

Even Luke looked at me with disapproval.

"Emily Miller, that is too much."

"Luke, where did you find this girlfriend? No, ex-girlfriend?"

"Latest Chanel collection? She knows where she bought it."

"We came over in the middle of the night to help set up her birthday party, and now she treats us like suckers."

Ben, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

"Emily Miller. I remember now."