Right before I died, he leaned in and whispered,

"If it weren't for you, Gloria and I would've been together. So if there's a next life... let me go."

That was it. Whatever love I had left burned out.

Gone.

So when I came back, I avoided Evan like my life depended on it.

Eight years. No contact. No mistakes.

And I still ran into him.

***

I had zero interest in wasting time on either of them.

I just wanted to find Mia.

But Gloria couldn't drop it. She needed to feel taller.

"That no-cap bid must've drained you. All that, just to fight me over Evan?" She smiled. "Don't bother. What you spent wouldn't even buy one of my bags."

Her little squad snickered right on cue.

"Wow. Side chicks are snatching men out loud now? Zero shame?"

I pressed my lips together. Counted to three.

Then said, deadpan, "Ms. Leach. I'm married."

The word 'married' hit Evan like a slap.

He snapped toward me. "You're married?"

I didn't even get a chance to answer.

He laughed—cold, ugly.

"At least make the lie believable," he said. "Did you forget how you once begged your parents to let you marry me?"

I froze.

I didn't even know he knew.

Back then, my parents saw it. Evan's heart wasn't with me.

They said no.

I didn't listen. I was stubborn. Desperate.

I begged all night.

They caved when they saw how broken I was.

And yeah—our family needed the Pattersons' money.

But that kind of love?

That stayed in my past life.

This time around, all I wanted was distance. From Evan. From all of it.

I sighed, kept my voice cool. Flat. "That was a long time ago. I've forgotten."

"Forgotten?" Gloria laughed, like I was cute. "Please. Like you could ever find someone better than Evan."

Then someone in the crowd gasped. Pointed at me.

"Wait—that dress. Isn't that the new Louis Vuitton piece? I saw it in a magazine. It's VVVIP-only. You can't even buy it with money."

Gloria's stare snapped to my dress.

And the jealousy? Immediate. Burning.

Then it hit her. And she sneered. "So what, you married some rich old guy for cash?"

She looked me up and down. "And now he can't satisfy you, you're crawling back to Evan?"

She even dragged Evan a step behind her.

"Evan, stay away. Women who sell themselves for money?" She scoffed. "Who knows what diseases they carry."

Evan frowned, disgust written all over his face. "Robyn, I can't believe you've sunk this low."

I didn't look at him. My eyes stayed on Gloria. "Gloria Leach, spreading lies is illegal. Want me to call the cops?"

She saw it—I wasn't bluffing.

So she backed off, muttering, "Broke nobody acting superior. If that dress isn't some man's gift, it's gotta be fake."

I didn't respond.

I turned away. Went to find Mia.

Then a voice cut through the crowd.

"Just got word—Mr. Ainsworth is coming personally to pick up his wife and daughter. Anyone seen Mrs. Ainsworth or Miss Ainsworth?"

The room froze.

Ripples everywhere.

No one was more stunned than Gloria.

"You mean that Adrian Ainsworth?" she blurted. "The one on Forbes' global top ten? He's really back in Carmoria?"

Evan nodded, eyes lit up. Hopeful. Greedy. "That's him. If we get a foot in with Ainsworth Corp, we go even higher."

He smiled. "He's famous for spoiling his wife. Wonder who got that lucky."

***

While everyone was still buzzing, the auction manager rushed in with security, faces tight.

"Excuse me—has anyone seen a woman with a six-year-old girl?"

The noise spiked. Someone connected the dots fast.

"You mean Mrs. Ainsworth and her daughter? I just saw a little girl in a princess dress near the kids' zone."

That was all it took.

The crowd surged toward the children's area—hungry, desperate.

First one there might get a line into the Ainsworths.

Evan and Gloria shoved ahead, not even glancing back.

I stayed quiet. Followed from the back.

Like I expected, I spotted Mia a few minutes later—still in her dress, climbing the play set like rules didn't exist.

I walked past everyone and called up, "Come down."

Her face lit up. Arms out.

"Carry me!"

I stepped forward to lift her—

and Gloria cut in front of me.

"Robyn, you really are addicted to being a side chick," she sneered. "First you throw yourself at Evan, now you're clinging to a kid who doesn't know better?

"I heard Mrs. Ainsworth is gorgeous, and Mr. Ainsworth worships her.

"A shameless tramp like you? Get lost."

Evan looked at me like I'd disappointed him all over again.

"Robyn, I didn't think you'd sink this low. Mr. Ainsworth isn't someone you mess with. Leave. Now."

The auction manager glanced at me, tense. "Ma'am, please leave immediately, or I'll call security."

Gloria caught it all. The smugness flashed in her eyes. She stepped forward, smiling fake-sweet at Mia. "Come here, sweetheart. I'll help you down."

Mia swerved away. Slid down the slide on her own.

Then—

in front of everyone—

she ran straight into me.

"Mommy! You finally came to get me!"

I didn't hug her.

I looked down, voice firm. "Didn't you promise not to run off? I'm telling your daddy you didn't listen. At all."

Mia's face fell apart instantly. Tears loading.

"I'm sorry! Don't tell Daddy." She sniffed. "If he knows, I won't get cake!"

She clutched my hand, pouting hard.

The room went dead quiet.

Evan and Gloria looked like they'd been hit offline.

Gloria screeched, disbelief cracking her voice. "You're her mom? That's impossible!"

The manager went pale. "Y-You're Mrs. Ainsworth?"

I nodded, calm. "If Mr. Ainsworth means Adrian, then yes. I'm his wife."

He wiped his forehead, forcing a smile. "Mrs. Ainsworth, I'm so sorry. I didn't recognize you. Please don't take it personally."

I wasn't interested in dragging it out.

I lifted Mia, ready to leave—

when someone grabbed my arm.

Evan. Eyes red. Locked on the kid in my arms.

"Who is she?" His voice shook. "You're really married?"

Before I could answer, a voice cut through the crowd.

"Mr. Patterson," it said coldly, "why are you blocking my wife and daughter?"