Page 107 of Steel Beauty

Because in moments like this, the reality of who I am feels unbearable. I’m just a girl born into chaos, and not the beautiful kind––but the kind that sticks to you, leaving jagged scars you can’t hide.

I wasn’t born for a life of chandeliers and sprawling estates, of private jets and penthouses perched above glittering cityscapes. Eight- or nine-figure bank accounts—hell, maybe even ten—are as far from my reality as the moon.

This isn’t my world, and it never will be.

It’s temporary. Three months to be exact.

His gaze holds mine, steady and unrelenting. It’s too much. The intensity, the rawness, the possibility of being truly seen.

And as “At Last” swells into its final notes, the lyrics feel like they’re taunting me.

“I need to visit the ladies’ room,” I say, slipping free of his grasp. My smile feels brittle, barely held together.

His brow furrows, confusion flashing across his face, but he doesn’t press. “Of course.”

As I turn away, the last notes of the song fade into the background, and with every step, the ache inside me grows heavier, threatening to consume me whole.

I slip away from the dance floor, his words echoing in my mind, heavy and unsettling.

Like this world—this life—is meant for you.

My pulse races as I grab my bag from the table, clutching it tightly as I make my way to the bathroom.

The romantic haze of the evening clings to me, but as I push open the bathroom door, I’m flooded with relief at the solitude waiting inside. Within the stall, I pause, standing still as the quiet wraps around me. I close my eyes, my heart pounding against my ribs. His words settle over me with a heaviness I hadn’t anticipated, far more than what tonight was supposed to hold. This was meant to be light—fun. So why does it feel like the ground beneath me has shifted? Why does it feel like he’s offering me something I’m not sure I know how to hold?

I exhale shakily, stepping out and making my way to the sink. The cool counter beneath my fingertips steadies me as I glance at my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed, my breathing uneven. I take a slow, deliberate breath, trying to steady myself. Pulling a lipstick from my bag, I touch up my makeup, focusing on the familiar routine—a small attempt to regain control over the moment.

As I finish touching up my lipstick, the bathroom door swings open. A striking tall blonde strides inside, her presence demanding attention. She pauses, folding her arms with casual arrogance as her sharp gaze zeroes in on me.

Unsure of what else to say, I offer a polite but wary, “Hello.”

Her smirk curls into something sharp, cutting. “Ah, the Southern belle,” she drawls, her tone thick with mockery. “I see Alex has gone international. Guess no woman in Australia wants him after they got a glimpse of the real Alex Sebring.”

It doesn’t take much to piece together who she is. “Celeste.”

Her smirk deepens, her satisfaction practically radiating. “Oh, he’s mentioned me? I hope he gave me a glowing review.”

I cross my arms, my stance firm. “Only as someone desperate for likes and views. Pathetic really.”

Her smirk falters for a split second before it sharpens again. “You should do a search on him, read the stories, watch the video. Then you’ll see for yourself what kind of man you’re really with.”

I shake my head. “I haven’t seen the video, and I don’t care to. You know why? Because it reveals more about you than it ever could about him.”

Her eyes narrow. “You think you know him? Trust me, sweetheart, you’ve barely scratched the surface.”

I meet her gaze head-on, my voice unwavering. “You’re right—I don’t know the Alex you once knew. But I know the man he is now, and that’s all I care about.”

Her smirk falters for a heartbeat before she recovers. “You’re making a mistake,” she hisses, each word laced with venom.

I tilt my head, a slow, confident smile curving my lips. “If it is, it’smymistake to make—not yours. So don’t lose any sleep over it.”

I turn toward the door but pause, glancing back over my shoulder with a slow, deliberate smile. “Oh, and Celeste? It’s clear you haven’t forgotten how good Alex is in bed. He told me all about your little attempt after the game. ‘Maybe we should slip away for a bit. I could remind you of what you’ve been missing.’Pathetic doesn’t even begin to cover it. That’s embarrassing—for you.”

With that, I stride out, my heels clicking purposefully against the marble floor, leaving her bitterness—and her desperate attempts to rattle me—far behind.

My stomach twists as I step back into the reception and spot Alex across the room, locked in a tense exchange with a man I’ve never seen before—but I know exactly who he is. The energy between them is charged, sharp enough to cut through the air, drawing a small crowd of curious onlookers. Alex’s jaw is set, his fists clenching at his sides, the calm control I’ve come to rely on unraveling right in front of me.

This is bad. Really bad. The storm inside him is visible in every taut muscle, every shift of his eyes, and I can tell he’s moments away from losing the grip he’s barely holding on to.

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