Thirty-five-year-old Andrea Montgomery sat in her chic living room, scrolling down her phone's email inbox when she spotted the name that sent shivers down her spine. Nicky Taylor, her ex-husband, sent her an Update on the upcoming charity auction where he would be the chief guest.
She should have been over him years ago, but it turned out she had not moved on from the man. Their time together had been short, but the passion between them burned bright. Andrea couldn't help but wonder what it would be like seeing Nicky again, especially now that he was a successful art gallery owner and the object of envy for many.
Her mind went back to the time with Nicky. She was young and naïve with a passion for event planning, and Nicky, her wealthy boyfriend, treated her like a queen. However, Nicky's family objected to their relationship, citing their social differences, and pressured him to marry someone more suitable.
The memory of the bitter break up made Andrea’s heart drop, but she knew seeing Nicky again was inevitable. The charity auction was the talk of the town, and as a respected event planner, she was contracted to manage it. It would be an excellent opportunity to prove to Nicky that she had moved on with her life, but deep down, Andrea hoped for a second chance with Nicky.
A day before the event, Andrea got caught up in finishing the decor in a large ballroom when she heard a familiar voice behind her. Turning back, Andrea met with a sharp and warm smile that filled up her heart. It was Nicky.
His cool demeanor was heartwarming to Andrea, and their conversations flowed like they had never been apart. The spark they had between them ignited almost instantly, and Andrea finds herself falling for Nicky again.
Over the next couple of days, they spent all their free time together, but the reality of their differences caught up with them. Nicky had become the very embodiment of societal norms – rich, successful, and living the high life of luxury. In contrast, Andrea lived within the standards and societal expectations of the middle-class community she grew up in.
When Andrea's successful event planning business was offered a chance to work on a prestigious event that Nicky was making, she seized the opportunity. With the two spending more time together, they realized that they both still had feelings for each other, but social pressure and expectations got the best of them.
As the event came to an end, Nicky and Andrea exchanged goodbyes with a heavy heart. Andrea viewed their romance as a reflection of the unrealistic nature of society's expectations and pressures; that true love could only exist between two people with financial backgrounds on par.
Andrea can't take the heartbreak, thus making the decision to maintain her safe relationship with Peter, an act of self-preservation. But deep down, Andrea knew that this was not who she was meant to be with. It was a bittersweet ending as she watched Nicky drive away in his fancy car.
Nevertheless, the time spent together helped Andrea release her past burdens, and she left with her head held high, knowing that the choices she made were for the best. She discovered the strength to walk away from societal pressures, and although the love she wanted was nowhere to be found, Andrea felt a sense of freedom that she had never experienced before. Thus, the story ends with Andrea finding peace with herself and her past and looks forward to a hopeful future.
