Chapter 2

As I saw all those dishes—some salty, some sweet—and the pear his mom handed me, even though I didn't like pears, it was clear Ryan didn't really care about me. He didn't even know what I disliked eating.

If he actually cared, he would've told his parents what I like before I even showed up.

If Ryan couldn't respect his own mom and barely paid attention to me, was I supposed to keep a guy like that around for laughs?

After I broke up with Ryan, he kept blowing up my phone with calls and texts, begging me to take him back. Once I blocked him on every app, he started hitting up our mutual friends, hoping they could talk me into giving him another chance.

I laid it all out for them—exactly how he and his dad treated his mom that day. If anyone else tried to plead his case after that, all it did was show me who else had their values just as twisted as his.

I wanted nothing more to do with Ryan, but he just wouldn't let me go.

Half a month later, Ryan showed up at my office with Helen in tow.

"Olivia, I brought my mom here to apologize to you," Ryan said, trying to sound all sweet and sincere.

He gave me a fawning smile, then nudged Helen. "Go on, apologize to Olivia."

Helen looked totally flustered, but her face was nothing but sincere. "Olivia, it's all my fault, dear. I didn't know you don't eat pears. Don't blame Ryan, he's not at fault. Please don't be upset with him."

Looking at the gray streaks in her hair, I felt a little sad for her.

"Mrs. Chapman, let's talk in my office," I said.

Ryan tried to come along, but I had my assistant hold him back.

Once we were in my office, I poured Helen a glass of water.

Helen was already sitting on the couch, but when I brought her the water, she immediately stood up and took the paper cup from me with both hands, giving me a nervous smile. "Someone like you shouldn't be doing this for me—you're the boss of a big company."

I smiled, "I'm not the boss, just another employee working for someone else."

She sat back down and said, "I'm really sorry about that day when you came to our house. Ryan kept telling us over and over to make sure you felt welcome, but I messed up. It was my fault, please don't blame Ryan."

Leaning back in my chair, I spoke slowly, "I really was upset. But it's not for the reason you think."

"Then... why was it?" Helen looked puzzled.

I dodged her question and asked, "What did Ryan say to you?"

Helen's eyes welled up with tears as she lowered her head. "He said it was all because I gave you a pear. Out of all the fruit, he said, I picked the pear on purpose."

She blurted out, desperate, "But I really didn't mean it, you have to believe me."

I couldn't help but laugh, a cold, mirthless thing as I shook my head.

Seriously? That was what Ryan told her.

I didn't push it and changed the subject. "Mrs. Chapman, don't you feel hurt by all this?"

Helen quickly waved her hands, as if worried I might misunderstand. "No, I don't feel wronged at all. It's all my fault. I'm not very educated and only end up holding Ryan back. I really should be the one apologizing to you."

I laid it out for her. "Ryan said you spent years in the village taking care of his grandma, and only moved to the city after she passed away. He even said that if I didn't want you around after we got married, he'd just send you back to the village. Doesn't that bother you?"

"I... I..." Helen stammered, her head hanging even lower, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I've always lived in the village. Ryan's dad always said I hit the jackpot just marrying him. Ryan made something of himself all on his own—I've only ever held them back, never been any real help. If they want to send me back to the village, well... that's just how it is."

I gritted my teeth in frustration.

Those two shameless, arrogant bastards.

I took a deep breath and said to Helen, "I need a live-in cook at my place. If you're interested, maybe I'll reconsider giving Ryan another shot. Think it over and come find me here tomorrow if you want."