Chapter FiftyFour

That night, after a quick stop at her apartment for me to freshen up and change, we hit the club.

It was a buzzing place, the music loud and infectious, the energy electric. I felt a strange sort of freedom as we stepped into the thrumming crowd.

Maybe it was the relief of having left London behind, or maybe it was the thrill of being back in New York with my best friend. Either way, I decided to give in to the moment.

Annie grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the bar, ordering us both drinks. The bartender slid two brightly colored cocktails our way, and Annie raised hers in a toast.

“To new beginnings,” she said, clinking her glass against mine. “And to letting go of complicated billionaire boyfriends.”

I laughed, the sound surprised but genuine. “To letting go.”

We downed our drinks, and Annie dragged me onto the dance floor. The music pulsed, wrapping around us, and I let it carry me. For the first time in a long time, I felt light.. unburdened, even if just for a while.

Annie w