After 999 Nights, He Said We Were Never Together Chapter 07

After 999 Nights, He Said We Were Never Together Chapter 07

Halfway through Ryan’s birthday celebration, he and Isabelle publicly announced their wedding date.

Only then did Sophie realize the event wasn’t merely Ryan’s birthday party.

It was also their engagement party.

Thunderous applause filled the room as the guests offered their congratulations.

Sophie sat alone in a corner and watched Ryan and Isabelle kiss, their faces glowing with happiness.

She felt nothing.

Later, as the couple moved from table to table greeting their guests, Isabelle approached with her arm linked through Ryan’s and raised her glass with a bright smile.

“Miss Whitfield, you and Ryan are so close. Would you be one of my bridesmaids?”

“I’m sorry. I already have plans that day, so I won’t be able to attend the wedding.”

Sophie’s immediate refusal changed Ryan’s expression.

He gave her a cold look, his voice unusually stiff.

“Whether you come doesn’t matter. Just send a gift.”

Sophie nodded lightly.

“Don’t worry. Considering how long we’ve known each other, I’ll send something appropriate.”

Her tone sounded sincere, as though she truly wished them well.

Ryan remembered what she had said in the department store a few days earlier, and complicated emotions

flashed in his eyes.

Cheerful piano music began before he could think of a response. He took Isabelle’s hand and led her onto

the dance floor.

A spotlight followed them as they moved together, light and graceful as butterflies.

The guests watched with envy and admiration.

“They look perfect together, but they’ve only been dating a little over a month. Isn’t an engagement this fast a little reckless?”

“Ryan has loved Miss Monroe for years. Now that he finally has her, of course he wants to make it official as

soon as possible.”

Sophie leaned back against the sofa and watched in silence, her thoughts drifting.

Ryan had been the one who taught her ballroom dancing.

At first, they had no rhythm together. In heels, she stepped on his feet again and again.

He never got angry. He only leaned close with a wicked smile and whispered,

“One kiss for every time you step on me.”

That day, Sophie learned to dance.

Ryan’s legs ended up covered in bruises, and her lips were swollen from his kisses.

She had believed he liked her too. She thought she occupied the place of a girlfriend in his life, even if neither

of them had said it aloud.

Then Isabelle returned, and Sophie saw with her own eyes how carefully Ryan courted her.

Only then did she understand how ridiculous her assumptions had been.

As she sat lost in thought, a man approached, bent slightly, and invited her to dance.

She intended to refuse, but he persisted. Everyone else was dancing, and she didn’t want to dampen the

mood, so she finally accepted.

Though they had never met, they moved together with surprising ease beneath the soft music.

The man’s warm palm seemed to steady her. Slowly, Sophie relaxed and allowed herself to become absorbed

in the dance.

It was the first time Ryan had seen her smile all evening.

His face immediately darkened.

His displeased gaze kept drifting toward her, and he missed several steps because of it.

Isabelle noticed his distraction and followed his line of sight, something flickering in her eyes.

When the music shifted, everyone on the floor changed partners.

Sophie looked up and found Ryan holding her hand.

She paused, then lowered her eyes.

They had barely completed one turn when disaster struck.

The crystal chandelier above them came loose and crashed down.

Ryan instinctively released Sophie’s hand and lunged toward Isabelle, pulling her out of danger.

Left where she stood, Sophie barely managed to regain her balance. The falling fixture grazed her shoulder and carved a long gash across her hand.

Blood poured out and spread across her white dress.

Pain shot along every nerve. She cried out, her face turning whiter than paper.

Only a few steps away, Ryan held Isabelle and comforted her softly before hurrying from the room.

Not once did he look back at Sophie.