CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 79 HEARTBREAK ONCE MORE

Caroline’s POV

We made our way to the elegant restaurant on the third floor of the mall. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with soft lighting that created an intimate ambiance perfect for our group dinner.

After being seated at a spacious round table, we all studied the menus, discussing our favorite dishes. I settled on grilled salmon with asparagus, while Eleanor opted for her usual pasta primavera.

As I finished placing my order, Draven leaned toward the waitress and added, "And please include a chocolate cake for dessert."

My heart warmed at his thoughtfulness. He remembered my favorite dessert without my having to mention it. My feelings grew with each of these small gestures that showed how much attention he paid to me.

Ava beamed at us from across the table. "I can’t thank you all enough! With your purchases today, I’ve already hit my monthly sales target. Please let me treat you all to dinner tonight."

Eleanor quickly jumped in, "Don’t be silly! You don’t need to pay with all these gentlemen present." She shot Joseph a meaningful look.

Joseph caught her hint immediately. "Of course dinner’s on me! It would be my honor to treat everyone, especially my goddess." He winked at Ava, who blushed adorably.

We all cracked up at his dramatic act. Everyone was feeling pretty chill.

Once our food arrived, we all enjoyed the delicious meal along with some wine. Under the table, I felt Draven’s warm hand find mine, his fingers gently intertwining with my own. Rory stirred contentedly within me at his touch.

"Ava," Draven said after taking a sip of his wine, "do you enjoy working at the boutique?"

"I do enjoy it," she replied thoughtfully. "But it’s not my forever career. The hours can be exhausting, especially working weekends and holidays. And not all customers are as wonderful as these ladies." She smiled at us gratefully.

"Would you be interested in working with me at Thorne Enterprises?" Draven asked, surprising us all.

I thought what a wonderful opportunity this would be for Ava. Working at Thorne Enterprises had been an incredible experience for me, despite everything that had happened.

Ava looked touched but hesitant. "Draven, I appreciate the offer, truly. But I know you’re just doing this as a favor to Joseph, and I can’t accept that."

"I would never extend a job offer merely as a favor," Draven replied firmly. "I need a new executive assistant I can trust,my current one will be leaving soon. And since I’m still hoping Caroline will return to her position, your business degree would be incredibly helpful. The hours are weekdays only during business hours, and the compensation package is quite competitive."

Ava looked at me uncertainly, seemingly asking for my opinion.

"It’s an excellent opportunity, Ava," I encouraged her. "Working there really is wonderful, and there’s tremendous room for growth. You should definitely discuss the details with Draven."

"So now you want to steal both my employee and my goddess?" Joseph exclaimed with mock indignation. We all laughed at his theatrical protest.

The conversation flowed easily after that. Ryan was in the middle of recounting a hilarious story about the three of them getting drunk last weekend when I noticed three women approaching our table. Before anyone could react, they had practically thrown themselves onto the laps of Draven, Joseph, and Ryan.

I recognized one of them immediately—Ella Howard, daughter of Howard from Finance. My blood ran cold as I watched her drape herself over Draven.

"Hello, handsome! I’ve missed you so much," Ella purred, pressing a quick kiss to Draven’s lips before he could pull away. The other women were doing the same to Joseph and Ryan.

"I was just telling the girls about our incredible night of passion in your office during Clara’s farewell party," Ella continued, running her fingers through Draven’s hair. "That leather couch... fuck, you were rough with me that night. I can still feel where you marked me."

Had he fucked her on his office couch? The same couch where he’d made love to me? My stomach churned. Was this who he really was all along? Just another player using his office to sleep with beautiful women?

I felt sick. I couldn’t believe he’d had a one-night stand with her at Clara’s farewell party. Just the day before that party, he was in the Puma Globe office, kissing me, begging me to come back to him. Was that it? Begging for my love while fucking this insufferable woman on his couch?

Tears burned in my eyes as my world crumbled around me. How could he do this? One day pleading for me to return, claiming he loved only me, and the next day screwing her? The betrayal cut deeper than any knife could. Rory whimpered in distress, feeling my heart shatter all over again.

I fought back tears, trying to act like I didn’t care. But inside, I was screaming. How many times would he break my heart before he was satisfied? I thought what we had was real, special. But maybe I was just another conquest on his leather couch.

So this was his idea of being sorry? He had even insisted I attend that party. Was it to humiliate me by flaunting another woman?

"Beauty and I were so disappointed you didn’t invite us to Clara’s party too," the woman on Ryan’s lap whined in a nasal voice. "We could have had some fun too, Ryan, like we always do. Remember how wild things got at the after-party?"

The girls and I exchanged glances, all of us radiating the same emotions—hurt, anger, and betrayal.

Eleanor stood up abruptly, grabbing Nate by his jacket lapel.

"Come on, Nate, it’s getting late. We need to take the girls home," she announced coldly. "Let’s go, ladies. These three can handle the bill."

"We’re leaving too, Luke," Kyle said, standing up with undisguised fury. "What a disappointment from all three of you, but you, Alpha Draven—you’re the absolute worst."

We hurried out of the restaurant, ignoring their shouts for us to wait, that they could explain everything.

"How could they do this to us?" Ruby fumed as we rushed toward the elevator.

"Draven has some nerve," Eleanor spat, jamming the elevator button repeatedly.

"Ladies, things aren’t exactly what they appear to be. You should talk to them first," Nate attempted to reason with us, but our collective glare made him step back. "Sorry, forget I said anything."

"Go home now, Nate.I’m taking the girls home, and we’ll talk later," Eleanor commanded. "But you’d better not be defending those jerks."

"The same goes for you, Luke," Kyle added angrily.

"Come on, Kyle, I’ll drive you home too," Eleanor said, pulling Kyle toward her car.

"Eleanor, we live together.We’re going to the same place. You don’t need to drive her," Luke protested, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

We all piled into Eleanor’s car. As she dropped each of us off at our homes, they all tried to comfort me, but it was useless. How could I possibly be with Draven now? He had hurt me again, and this time the wound felt even deeper than before.

With Rory howling in anguish inside me, I wondered if Rory and I would ever heal from this betrayal.