A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER Chapter 70: CHAPTER SEVENTY

ASHLEY

Today was the day.

The day I’d been planning, stressing over, and obsessing about for weeks. The day that, at one point, had felt so far away that I wasn’t sure it would ever come. But now, standing in front of the glass doors of my boutique, the golden sign above them gleaming under the soft morning light, it was real.

I was opening my store today.

BLUME & ESSENCE.

I let out a slow breath, smoothing down the front of my tailored dress. The fabric was soft, elegant, hugging my frame just right, but it did nothing to ease the nerves coiling in my stomach.

"Ashley," Violet’s voice broke through my thoughts, her tone laced with amusement. "You’re grinning like a crazy person."

I turned to her, arching a brow. "Am I?"

"Oh, definitely," she teased. "One second, you look like you’re about to pass out, and the next, you look like you won the lottery."

I laughed, shaking my head. "I kind of feel both."

Violet looped her arm through mine. "Well, you should feel proud. Look at this place, Ash. It’s beautiful."

She wasn’t wrong.

The boutique was everything I had envisioned—sophisticated yet warm, luxurious yet inviting. Black-and-gold accents wove a thread of elegance through the space, while the soft glow of the chandeliers cast a golden sheen over everything, making the glass perfume bottles sparkle like tiny treasures. Floral arrangements, carefully selected to complement the scents in my collection, added a touch of warmth, the delicate aroma of fresh roses and jasmine mingling in the air.

Shelves lined the walls, displaying beautifully packaged perfumes and scented candles, each one a product of my years of dedication. And in the center of the boutique, under the softest spotlight, stood a sleek glass display showcasing my signature collection—the scents I had spent years perfecting.

I took it all in, my chest swelling with something that felt like pride.

It was mine.

All mine.

"You did this," Violet murmured beside me, giving my arm a firm squeeze. "Despite everything. You made this happen."

I swallowed hard against the lump forming in my throat. "I did, didn’t I?"

"Damn right, you did."

This was real. This was happening.

I turned to face the doors, the golden Blume & Essence sign gleaming above them. The store was still closed to the public, but that didn’t matter right now. Today wasn’t about sales or customers—it was about celebrating this milestone.

"You ready?" Violet asked, practically vibrating with excitement.

I let out a slow breath, squared my shoulders, and nodded. "Let’s do this."

She grinned. "Then open those damn doors already!"

With a shaky laugh, I stepped forward and placed my hand on the lock, my fingers momentarily hesitating over the cool metal. It felt symbolic somehow—like the last barrier between me and the next phase of my life.

Then, with a deep inhale, I twisted the key.

The lock clicked open.

Violet let out a dramatic gasp, clutching her chest. "Oh my God. The moment we’ve all been waiting for!"

I rolled my eyes at her theatrics but couldn’t stop the smile from stretching across my face. I pushed the doors open, letting the morning air spill into the boutique, letting the world see what I had created.

Violet clapped her hands together. "And just like that, Blume & Essence is officially open!"

A thrill shot through me at the words.

Violet turned to me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Now, let’s pop some champagne, shall we?"

I laughed. "You act like you haven’t been waiting for this part all morning."

She gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing?" Then she grabbed the bottle from the counter, waggling her brows. "But, uh, yeah, I totally have."

I shook my head fondly. "Go on, then."

She didn’t waste a second. In one swift motion, she twisted the cork, and with a satisfying pop, the bottle let out a celebratory fizz.

"To Blume & Essence," Violet declared, pouring two glasses. "To your hard work, your determination, and to proving every single doubter wrong."

I clinked my glass against hers, the sound ringing through the boutique like a promise. "To new beginnings."

We took a sip, the crisp bubbles tingling against my tongue, cooling the warmth blooming in my chest.

For a moment, I just stood there, letting it all sink in.

The boutique. The journey. The fact that I was here, in this moment, living the dream I had once been terrified to chase.

Violet nudged me playfully. "Alright, boss lady. Now that we’ve toasted, we need to capture this moment for the ‘gram."

I groaned. "Do we have to?"

"Obviously." She held up her phone, already angling for the perfect shot. "This is history in the making, Ash. You need a proper picture to look back on when you’re an even bigger deal."

I rolled my eyes but stepped beside her anyway. She snapped a few pictures in front of the boutique, then more inside—some serious, some silly, and some where I was dramatically clutching my heart like I had just won an award.

"Okay, this one is iconic," Violet snickered, showing me a picture where I was mid-laugh, eyes crinkled, joy written all over my face.

I stared at it for a beat longer than necessary.

I looked... happy. Genuinely, unfiltered, unapologetically happy.

I exhaled, the tension in my shoulders loosening. "Yeah. I think I’ll post that one."

"You better," Violet said, sending it to me. "Caption: 'Business owner era unlocked.'"

I let out a small laugh. "Not bad."

Violet plopped onto one of the plush seats near the perfume display, swirling her drink. "So, how does it feel?"

I settled beside her, staring around at the boutique—my boutique. "It feels… surreal."

"In a good way?"

I nodded. "In the best way."

And yet…

A tiny part of me felt the sharp, nagging sting of something missing. Or rather, someone.

Kyle.

I had expected Kyle to be here. He knew today was my store opening. With the way things had been shifting between us, a part of me—foolish, hopeful—had thought he’d come.

But he didn’t.

“Ash?” Violet’s voice jolted me from my thoughts.

I blinked, forcing a small smile. “Sorry, just… thinking.”

She gave me a knowing look but didn’t push. Instead, she raised her glass. “To new beginnings.”

I clinked mine against hers, swallowing the lump in my throat. New beginnings.

***

That night, curled up on my couch, exhaustion finally settling into my bones, I scrolled through my phone. Notifications flooded my screen—comments, messages, tags. 

Proud of you, Ash! Your store is gorgeous! Can’t wait to visit!

I smiled, my chest warming at the outpouring of love. My fingers absently kept scrolling—until one notification made me pause.

Unknown sender.

A message. No—a video.

Sent a week ago. Unopened.

My pulse ticked up as I clicked on it. The screen flickered to life, and for a moment, I couldn’t process what I was seeing.

Then—

The air in my lungs vanished.

My throat went dry, my body locking in place as the video played out before me.

No. No, no, no…

I gripped the phone tighter, my fingers trembling. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out every other sound.

No no,it can't be.