Page 47 of Breaking
Attached was a photo-Troy, standing in his tuxedo, Lila pressed close against him, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder in an intimate way. The way she tilted toward him, her smile just a little too soft, the way his hand hovered near her waist-it wasn't a mistake. It wasn't something that could be easily dismissed.
Her pulse pounded in her ears as she scrolled down. Comments from unnamed sources filled the space below the image.
It was bound to happen. They were childhood sweethearts.
She’s a perfect match.
Their families have always been close.
The divorce has been in the works for a while now, according to sources close to the couple.
Jenna sucked in a breath, her hands tightening around the phone. It wasn't just the rumours-it was the certainty in the comments.
Dylan frowned. "They really think she's a better match?" His voice dripped with disbelief. "They have no idea what they're talking about."
Dani nodded, arms crossed as he looked at his own screen.
"And look at this-someone's confirming the divorce is happening. Probably one of his colleagues or family members."
Jenna's stomach churned. She placed the phone down and exhaled. "I need to go to bed."
Dani and Dylan exchanged concerned glances, but Jenna turned, walking up the stairs without another word. She wasn't going to cry. Not now and not over this. After all, this is what she wanted.
She should not be mourning something that was never really hers. But somehow, this made it feel more final.
Chapter 38
Troy
The Bradshaw family arrived at the gala in splendour, as expected. It was an event their name had been tied to for years, a gathering of Brighton's elite, filled with old money, business moguls, and socialites who thrived on exclusivity. The grand ballroom of the venue was a vision of opulence-massive crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over polished marble floors, the clink of champagne glasses and murmured conversations blending into an ambient hum of wealth and power.
Troy Bradshaw had no interest in being here.
He had arrived separately from his family, unwilling to deal with his mother's veiled comments or his sister's nervous glances. His father had been dead for years, but his presence still lingered like a shadow over these events-a man who had valued legacy over love, prestige over parenthood. Troy had learned early that familial bonds had no place in the Bradshaw household, only expectations.
And then there was Lila.
She had arrived separately as well, making her entrance with the practiced grace of someone who knew exactly how to draw attention without seeming to demand it. Draped in a midnight blue gown that clung to her curves, she was a picture of calculated elegance, her dark hair swept into an intricate updo, a diamond necklace resting just above her collarbone. Troy had kept a watchful eye on her across theroom. She was always lingering just close enough to be within reach, never too far to be forgotten.
Troy made a deliberate effort to keep his distance. He engaged in conversation with a group of acquaintances who were into the technical side of the job near the bar, keeping his focus sharp, ensuring that Lila remained outside his periphery. He refused to be drawn into her games tonight.
But Lila had a way of slipping past defences.
While he was mid-conversation with an old acquaintance, a sudden shift in the air made the hairs on his neck stand on end. Before he could react, he felt the feather-light touch of fingers brushing against his shoulder. A seemingly casual gesture-except it wasn't.
He turned just as the camera flash went off.
The sharp click of the lens was like the snap of a trap.
Troy's stomach clenched as he took in the scene in that split second-the smug satisfaction in Lila's eyes, the way she subtly angled herself toward him, her hand lingering just long enough for the moment to be immortalized. And standing just a few feet away, a reporter, lowering his camera with an unmistakable look of triumph.
Rage surged through him. He stepped back, shrugging off Lila's touch as though it burned him. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Get away from me." His voice was low, controlled, but laced with fury.
Lila's smile never faltered. Her eyes hardened with an expression he had never seen before. "Just making sure things fall into place. If you are not brave enough, I will just have to do the job."
The words chilled him.
Troy clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists at his sides. He wanted to yell, to demand an answer, but he already knew what this was. A perfectly timed photograph. A moment that would be circulated by morning. A whisper that would soon become a roar.
