Chapter 776

Jace had been our only real connection, but now? He wasn’t tied to either of us anymore. Life’s funny like that.

“Oh? Haven’t seen him lately?” I asked, my smile faint but knowing.

Tanya didn’t dodge it. “No, I haven’t.”

“Already missing him?” I teased, half-joking.

“Maybe a little,” she replied, unexpectedly blunt.

“Then go find him.”

Tanya smirked. “If I could find him, do you think I’d waste my time asking you?”

Talking to Tanya was like tiptoeing through a minefield—one wrong move, and boom. The more combative she got, the calmer I felt. Crazy, isn’t it? The guy who used to bend over backward for you just vanished. Men’s hearts—so ‘reliable,’ right?

“No need to rub it in,” she snapped.

I studied her for a moment. She wasn’t the same Tanya from before. I couldn’t help but wonder what Jace would think if he saw her like this.

“Do you regret it?” I asked casually, leaning against the doorframe.

“No.” Her answer was sharp, no hesitation.

Which, of course, only made it more obvious. That kind of firm denial? Always a dead giveaway someone’s hiding what’s really in their heart.

I tilted my head, considering her. “If you hadn’t been so obsessed with chasing wealth, you and Desmond might actually be happy together right now.”

Tanya didn’t respond, so I sighed. “After everything I’ve been through, I’ve realized no amount of money or status compares to a simple, peaceful life.”

I wasn’t trying to poke at her—I was just saying how I felt.

“These days, my favorite thing is taking a walk. Every time I see a couple riding a bike together or carrying groceries home, I think, that must be what happiness looks like.” I gave her a soft smile. “You’ve had that before, haven’t you?”

She wanted more, always more. Sure, she hadn’t made it to the top, but in this bar? She was still someone people looked up to. But I didn’t buy for a second that, on nights like this, surrounded by loud music and fake smiles, she didn’t feel that creeping emptiness.

Tanya’s expression darkened, but she stayed defiant, letting out a cold laugh. “That’s just your perspective.”

Then she stood abruptly. “Keira, you’ve gotten real chatty lately. What, trying to be some kind of savior? If so, save it for somewhere else—you’re barking up the wrong tree.”

She said it like she owned the place.

Still, I didn’t bother snapping back. If letting her talk down to me made her feel better, I’d let her have it.

I stepped out of the bar and froze when I saw Yuna waiting for me. I’d assumed she didn’t want to see me and had already left.

“What are you doing singing in a place like this? Out of money?” I asked bluntly.

“No, I’m not. But if there’s money to make, why not make it?”

Hard to argue with that logic.

I had to admit, Yuna was fiercely independent. Even though she could’ve leaned on Hayden, she chose to earn her own way.

Thinking about Tanya’s schemes and the chaotic vibe of the bar, I couldn’t help but say, “This place isn’t clean or safe. If you want to sing, you can always—”

She cut me off before I could finish. “Aren’t you here in the middle of the night, too? And with how chummy you seemed with Tanya, you must be a regular.”

The jab was sharp, but it was the assumption that made me laugh. She had no idea I owned the bar.

“Fair enough,” I said.

“I’m heading back to school next week,” Yuna said, as if to remind me.

I nodded. “Need anything from me?”

Despite her attitude lately, she was still a kid in my eyes. Her little digs didn’t bother me. It reminded me of how…