Chapter 1

1.

On the day of my engagement with Ethan, Chloe called him off the spot.

One phone call from Chloe, and he was gone.

"Chloe's got a high fever," he explained, "She's home alone and scared. Someone has to be with her."

When Julian finally showed up three days later, he said, "We still have time, Mia. Once she's feeling better, we can just go to Vegas and get married."

Instead, I accepted an offer from DARPA.

When I saw Julian again, his eyes were bloodshot. "Where have you been for the last five years? I'll do anything, just come back to me."

Five years later, I saw Julian for the first time at the White House.

It was the award ceremony for the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

He was a rising star in the field of artificial intelligence, seated in the front row.

I was a representative for a classified Department of Defense project, sitting in a corner of the second-floor banquet hall.

When the host called his name, the room erupted in applause.

He stood up and walked to the stage with an easy confidence.

Under the spotlight, he looked thinner than he did five years ago. The brilliant edge of genius he once had seemed to have been worn down by something.

My colleague next to me whispered, "That Dr. Julian Thorne is so young and accomplished. I heard he hasn't taken a real vacation in years, all for some AI project."

I said nothing, watching the stage in silence.

Julian's acceptance speech was brief. When he finished, his eyes scanned the entire hall, as if searching for someone.

Finally, his gaze locked onto my position.

I couldn't see his expression from this distance, but I knew he had seen me.

After the ceremony, I left early. I was walking down a backstage corridor on Capitol Hill when someone blocked my path.

"Amelia."

Julian's voice was raspier than I remembered. He stood before me, his tall frame casting a shadow over me. His eyes churned with emotions I couldn't decipher.

"You're back. Why didn't you call me?"

Before I could answer, a familiar voice cut in from behind me.

"Julian! Why didn't you wait for me?"

Chloe Baxter hurried over, linking her arm through Julian's and pressing her body against his.

She saw me, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face before melting into a smile. "Amelia! When did you get back to D.C.? You should have told us! My parents would love to see you."

She spoke in the exact same tone as five years ago. As if there was never any bad blood between us. As if I had just returned from a long vacation.