Chapter 79

JACKSON'S POV

Elise.

My heart stirred in my chest as if it had missed a beat, and I froze. I didn't expect to see her. I wasn’t prepared for how breathtaking she looked. She seemed different—more confident.

She stood tall with her hair falling in curls down her back with a bow at the top of her hair. She wore a lovely blue dress with heels. The Elise I remembered was timid, sometimes shrinking back in the presence of others, mostly quiet. But this woman, this Elise, commanded attention without even trying. She hadn't said anything yet but I could feel her aura.

Our eyes met, and I could have sworn the world stopped turning. She looked right at me, her gaze steady, and then—she smiled.

A smile. Not the shy, hesitant one I used to know, but a genuine smile, as if seeing me with Gina didn’t hurt her at all. It was as if she was content, maybe even happy. My chest tightened for some reason.

"Jackson," Gina sneered "Look who the cat dragged in"

I blinked, realizing Gina was there as we