Chapter 3

I didn't expect Nathan to follow me out right after I left the party.

He reached for my wrist, but Adam, ever dutiful, swiftly twisted his arm behind his back. Nathan, clearly not expecting this, looked even more furious.

"Let go! Do you know who I am?" Nathan snarled.

Adam didn't move, his eyes on me, waiting for my command.

I raised an eyebrow.

Seeing Nathan struggle more violently, I finally waved my hand, signaling Adam to release him. He obeyed instantly—no questions, no arguments, like a cold machine.

"Your employer is still inside, Nathan," I said.

Nathan rotated his wrist, shooting me a resentful look. "You promised me.

"You promised there would never be another man around you but me. Why did you accept Miss Bright's bodyguard?

"Why didn't you discuss it with me first?"

His tone was full of displeasure.

I found it laughable. I reached into my bag for my cigarette case, placed one between my lips, and searched for my lighter.

Nathan instinctively moved to light it for me, but Adam was faster this time. His left hand shielded the wind, his right flicked a Cartier lighter.

As the flame danced, Adam's gaze remained fixed, unwavering.

He looked like a zombie with a heartbeat.

Nathan couldn't help but pull me away from Adam.

"Charlotte, remember, you have a boyfriend," Nathan said through gritted teeth.

I took a drag, let the smoke fill my lungs, and exhaled a white plume before answering Nathan's earlier questions. "And did you discuss taking a job as Emily's bodyguard with me?

"If paparazzi had snuck into that party tonight, do you know what the headlines would say?

"'Payne Heiress Apparently Dumped, Boyfriend Becomes Another Woman's Bodyguard.'

"You're helping Emily slap me in the face. Do you realize that?"

My voice was soft, my eyes filled with contempt.

Nathan saw it, clenched his fists at his sides, his face darkening with fury. The anger burning in his chest, bottled up for who knows how long, finally erupted. "So you hired Adam just to get back at me?

"Charlotte, you have no idea why I took this job with Miss Bright.

"You're always so high and mighty, thinking you're so amazing. Throwing money and resources at me, pushing me to get my Master's, my PhD, so I should be grateful and offer myself to you, right?

"Do you know what people say about me out there?

"They say I'm a kept man.

"But the truth is, I didn't care. I love you, so I could endure it all. Now, I just want a little fairness, to find a shred of my self-respect. Is that so wrong?"

He asked me, his eyes red-rimmed.

I just watched him calmly.

Nathan wasn't wrong. But he shouldn't have climbed up by stepping on me. He shouldn't have been an ungrateful snake.

Three years ago, he first arrived in Harborton, a top-tier graduate hoping to find a decent job. But he soon discovered that in this city paved with gold, hard work alone wasn't enough.

He started spiraling, and that's when he met me.

That's what made him who he is today. Without me, Nathan Cole was nothing.

"Charlotte, I don't want to fight with you," Nathan said after a long pause, taking a deep breath.

Then he continued, "I won't quit this job. If you still love me, if you're willing to respect me just a little, let me continue. Emily is different from you.

"She genuinely appreciates my skills.

"If you want to keep Adam, fine. At least I know you'll be safe."

With that, he turned and walked away, looking all cool and unbothered.

But I knew exactly what he was doing—using his usual reverse psychology, pretending to be the bigger person so I'd chase after him, casting himself as the poor, misunderstood victim. He always played this game, acting like he was the one wronged.

When I loved him, I'd move heaven and earth for him. But now, he should be thanking his lucky stars I haven't taken his life.

Watching his retreating back, I let out a cold laugh.

My cigarette happened to burn out.

Adam, perceptive as ever, reached out to take the butt, not even fearing it might burn his palm. He wasn't talkative, but his presence was undeniable.

From the moment Emily gave him to me, his eyes hadn't left me.

It was starting to give me the creeps.