Chapter 3
[Claire has taken a break from work due to pre-wedding anxiety. Please don't upset her.] Edward's statement went viral while he was still in Glacieland.
The photo he posted was from my hospital stay last year.
I looked pale, with an IV in my hand. He sat by my bedside, holding my hand, looking tender and worn out.
Only I knew the real reason I ended up in the hospital was that he left me waiting outside Olivia's birthday party for four hours in the pouring rain, and I came down with a 104-degree fever.
Everyone in the comments section was gushing about how deeply he loved me.
[Honestly, after seven years of dealing with an unstable fiancée, Mr. Harris has done more than anyone could ask.]
[No wonder the wedding got postponed. Who'd want to marry someone who's always running off whenever there's drama?]
Then, HR called to tell me I was being put on leave.
"Mr. Harris says you need to rest. Your key clients are being reassigned to Ms. Warren for now," they said.
Three years of projects I'd managed, clients I'd fought for, and all-nighters I'd pulled were gone, just like that, because I was "emotionally unstable."
A coworker sent me a screenshot in private.
Edward had posted in the management group chat: [Don't reach out to her. The more you pay attention, the more she'll pull the vanishing act to get what she wants.]
Olivia replied: [We need to be tougher this time. Otherwise, she'll be more impossible to deal with after the wedding.]
When I rushed to the office, my access card was already deactivated.
The receptionist spotted me and quickly alerted security.
She said, "Ms. Bennett, Mr. Harris said you're not allowed in the office."
"My personal stuff is still in there," I said.
"Ms. Warren will take care of it for you," the receptionist replied.
Through the glass door, I spotted the desk I used to sit at.
I seemed to see Olivia in my seat, signing papers with the pen my dad had gifted me.
And I seemed to see her look up and flash me a smile.
The security guard stepped forward.
I didn't try to push my way in. Instead, I pulled out my phone, took photos of the entry log and what was happening, then turned and walked away.
Edward called me right after.
"Finally decided to reach out to me?" he said.
"Take down that statement and restore my work access," I said.
"See? You still can't keep your cool," he replied.
The fireplace was popping in the background, and his voice was soft, as if he were coaxing a stubborn kid who didn't get it.
"Claire, I'm not picking on you. You broke off the engagement and walked out without telling anyone. You seriously need to cool off," he said.
"You called off the wedding first," I shot back.
"I just postponed it. You went and canceled the whole party. That's not the same thing at all," he said.
He paused, his voice gentler. "Come back. Your card, your position, and the house are all restored today. And the jewelry set you wanted? I made sure it's still waiting for you."
My stomach suddenly cramped up.
Every time we argued, hearing him say "come back" made me feel safe, like it was second nature.
Now, even though I knew it was all a setup, my body responded to his gentleness before my mind could stop it.
I reached for my stomach medicine.
The label on the bottle had the dosage times written out in his handwriting.
For a split second, I almost blurted, "When are you coming back?"
I dug my nails into my palm and then pulled up the screenshot of the logbook.
"Cut off her resources before giving her a way back. She'll mistake obedience for love." I read it out loud to him.
There was a brief silence on the line.
Then, he asked, "Did you go through my tablet?"
"Yes, I did," I replied.
He didn't sound guilty at all.
He sighed, "It's how I keep notes on us. Jason came up with the name. It's just guys messing around. Don't take it so seriously."
"What about the hidden cameras?"
"What cameras?"
He sounded totally innocent.
Olivia shouted from the other room, "Hey, it's time for the live stream."
Edward said, not giving me a chance to respond, "I'm back in two days. You better be home before I land. Don't make things difficult for us."
About half an hour later, Olivia went live on stream.
Edward was right behind her, putting the sapphire bracelet on her wrist.
The host asked about their relationship.
Olivia tilted her head up to look at him.
Edward didn't deny a thing.
"She's the one I have to take care of for the rest of my life," he said.
Someone asked, "What about your fiancée?"
Without looking up, he finished fastening the clasp and said with total certainty, "She'll understand."
Ten minutes after the live stream ended, I got a delivery from him.
There was a bowl of oatmeal with no nuts and a box of stomach medicine.
The note said: [Don't get mad on an empty stomach. Wait for me to come back.]
I stared at that bowl of oatmeal for ages and then left it outside my door with the stomach medicine.