When Jace left, I pressed my face against the second-floor window and watched.

He was dressed sharply today — black suit, an aura of cold restraint.

Before getting into the car, he glanced up in my direction.

[The male lead's heading to the banquet! The show's about to start!]

[I've reread this part of the original eight hundred times — the male lead hears someone mention "Chloe" at the banquet and immediately starts acting strange!]

[The heroine isn't even there in person, but her name alone is the strongest memory trigger!]

[Once the male lead remembers, the first one getting dealt with is that incubus peeping from the window up there!]

I yanked the curtains shut.

My chest felt like someone was squeezing it.

I knew who he was going to see.

She wouldn't be there, but her name would be enough to bring everything back.

I stared at the ceiling for a while, then pulled out my phone and called my best friend.

"Mona, let's go drinking."

Half an hour later, I was buried face-first in a cushion at a bar booth, muffling my complaints:

"Tell me he's not insane. Kisses my forehead in the morning, then goes off thinking about another woman at night?"

Mona chewed on her straw, unimpressed. "Babe, aren't you the one trying to divorce him? Who cares who he's thinking about?"

"That's different!"

"How is it different?"

I choked, then managed: "I'm allowed to file for divorce first. He's not allowed to think about someone else first!"

Mona rolled her eyes. "Selene, you're something else."

She set down her straw, then her face suddenly lit up. She waved at someone behind me.

"Over here!"

I turned. A young man was walking toward us.

White T-shirt, silver-gray hair, pointed ears traced with the faint pattern of snake scales.

His eyes were a pale amber, and when he smiled, they curved into soft crescents — like a big, sweet puppy.

"And this is?"

"My new little friend. Serpentfolk. Pure-hearted puppy-boy type."

Mona pushed him into the seat next to me. "You like serpentfolk, right? This one's way better than that iceberg husband of yours — at least he smiles!"

The serpentfolk boy greeted me sweetly, his voice soft: "Hi there, I'm Luca."

He was undeniably cute.

I sat there rigid, every thought in my head circling back to what would happen if Jace found out I was out meeting another serpentfolk.

A second later, I shoved the thought aside. He was off seeing his first love, wasn't he?

I shook my head, shaking Jace out of it.

"Selene? Are you okay?"

The serpentfolk boy leaned closer. "Your face is really red. Are you too warm?"

"N-no, I'm fine!"

I scooted back, but he leaned in further, all smiles, and held out a cocktail.

"Try this, I mixed it myself. It's sweet."

I took the glass and took a perfunctory sip.

He rested his chin in his hand and watched me, eyes sparkling.

"You're so pretty."

"Your tail is really pretty too. Can I touch it?"

Mona was making frantic eyes at me from across the table, mouthing "go for it, go for it."

I took a deep breath and told myself: right, that's right, time to start a new life.

I squeezed out a smile. "So, how old are you?"

"Just came of age."

He blinked. "But don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

I was still searching for a response when he suddenly leaned in again, whispering:

"You smell amazing."

His breath grazed my neck. I flinched.

For some reason, the gesture reminded me of Jace.

Every time he got close, he'd watch my reaction, then murmur in my ear with that low, rough voice:

"Selene, your tail's peeking out again, hm?"

I bit my lip.

The serpentfolk boy was still moving closer. I was about to push him away when a man's voice came from behind me, laced with amusement.

"Well, well. Isn't this our dear Selene?"

I froze.

Three or four men stood in the doorway of the booth, all in suits.

The one in front — I recognized him. One of Jace's business associates, surnamed Johnson.

And there was Jace, in his black suit, face expressionless.

Those slit pupils cut through the dim light, fixed directly on me.