Page 141 of Branded Hearts

Yet, inevitably, my thoughts circle back to Bradley. I know I handled this all so poorly, but what’s done is done. I keep telling myself that things happen for a reason. I’m a firm believer in this.

If Brad and I were truly meant to be together, then things would have worked out differently. I’ve tried to remain positive, but that doesn’t stop the ache in my chest, the desperate prayer inside me that things might still change.

Yet, deep down, I’m not sure anymore.

What surprised me the most were the texts from Olivia. She’d questioned my feelings for him, and I’d confessedeverything—tellingher it was too late.

Her response, “We’ll see,” still lingers in my mind, cryptic and unsettling.

Shaking off those thoughts, I focus on the task at hand: greeting people and mingling.Twotasks I’m familiar with. This can’t be too hard, right? But as I survey the room, insecurity creeps in. Everyone is dressed in trendy, expensive clothing, while I’m wearing a borrowed dress from my mum—a figure-hugging black midi dress paired with a distressed denim jacket and worn-out ankle boots. Kat did my hair in loose curls and applied light makeup, but still, I feel out of place. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I catch the eye of the gallery owner, Valerie, as she makes her way over to me.

“Nerves kicking in?” she asks, her words smooth yet thick with an accent I can’t quite place.

“You bet,”I reply nervously, with a forced laugh.

“Don’t be,” she reassures me. “Your works are phenomenal.”

I glance around the room, taking in the packed gallery. It’s surreal.

“Grab a drink and mingle. I’ll catch up with you later.”

I nod at her, and my phone vibrates.

I smile and quickly type back.

I had told her not to come initially, wanting to handle this on my own, but as time ticks on, I realise I want them here.

Of course they are. Wait…

Huh? But she drove it this morning.

I pay no mindto her words. Just knowing they’ll be here is enough for me. I smile at someone passing by, and they smile back. My phone vibrates again, and this time my heart skyrockets when I see a text from Bradley.

Despite everything that has happened, just seeing his name on the screen sends a rush through me. Butterflies erupt in my chest, and I can’t help the way my pulse quickens. He still has this effect on me, no matter what.

He’s still so caring, so attentive to my feelings. I should have told him to come. I’m such an idiot.

My breathing quickens. Heart racing.How could he know that?He’s not here to see how incredibly nervous I am.Is he just saying that?Trying to make me feel better? His wordsare just... They mean so much to me. But they also twist the knife of longing in my chest, reminding me of what could have been.

My heart drops. I look around quickly, eyes wide. How does he know what I’m wearing?

He can’t be here. Is he here? No.

I spin around, and there he stands, right in front of me. My breath catches in my throat, and I struggle to breathe.

All the restraint I’ve maintained seems to shatter, and I battle the urge to cry and rush into his arms. Speechless, I watch as he strides over, towering above me. He’s impeccably dressed in a black shirt, my favourite plaid jacket of his, black jeans, and his steel-capped boots. Despite the crowd in suits and fancy attire around him, he’s all I see, rugged and handsome as ever.

“Hi, sunshine.”

Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry.

“Brad…” is all I can manage to say. My voice wavers as I stutter, frowning. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

“I caught a flight this morning,” he explains. “Kat gave me the keys to her car, and I came here as soon as I could.” So that explains Kat’s car situation.

I shake my head, trying to process everything. “You… you came all this way?”

He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. “Of course, I did. Ineededto see you, Amelia.”

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