Chapter 5

The day Andrew went public with Sophie, I was at the hospital for a check-up when he called. "Don't pay any attention to those rumors online."

His voice was steady, like he was handling some routine business. "Someone leaked that I have a secret girlfriend, and she's in the industry. Now everyone's trying to figure out who it is."

He paused, his voice dropping lower. "Sophie got caught on camera coming and going with me, and now everyone online is calling her a homewrecker, saying she's getting between us."

I clenched my phone, saying nothing.

He continued, "She can't have any scandals right now. Her new movie's about to drop. So I told PR to announce she's my girlfriend."

He paused, then added, "Once things settle down, I'll break up with her and let everyone know about us."

I stared at the people coming and going in the hospital hallway, and suddenly, it all felt ridiculous. "Andrew, you called to tell me this?" I asked.

He sounded a bit impatient. "I'm explaining it to you. You're always the one who keeps things together. You're not going to cause any drama this time, right?

"I had my assistant bring over a few luxury brand endorsements for you. Pick whichever you want to help you chill out."

Before I could say anything, Sophie's soft voice came through the phone. "Drew, come check if this necklace goes with my outfit."

Andrew lowered his voice. "I've got something to do. We'll talk later." He hung up.

That afternoon, his assistant showed up, as Andrew had promised. He handed me a stack of brand deals and a fancy gift box.

"Ms. Grant, Mr. Lane said you could pick whichever endorsement you want. Everything's already arranged," the assistant told me.

I opened the box and found a diamond bracelet. Inside, it was engraved with the initials A&L, meaning Andrew and Lily.

How ironic. He had our initials engraved on the bracelet, like it meant something. Yet in a heartbeat, he replaced me and gave the title of his girlfriend to Sophie.

I snapped the box shut and handed it back to the assistant. "No, thanks. Go tell him. After all this time, I was never after these things he offers."

The assistant stood there, looking lost and out of place.

I picked up my bag, walked past him, and calmly left the hospital room.

The trending topics on Facebook were still up: [#Andrew&Sophie Relationship], [#SorryForLily], and [#SophieIsNotTheOtherWoman].

Some people in the comments were calling me out, saying I was riding Andrew's coattails and now I was getting what I deserved.

But there were also people sticking up for me, saying I never responded to any of it for three years.

I read all the comments one after another before closing the web page. Then, I tabbed WhatsApp and unpinned Andrew's chat, which had been at the top of my messages for three years.

Andrew had sent a message: [Don't you like the brand endorsements? I can get you a few more.]

I didn't reply.

On the day Ethan James and I announced our engagement, Andrew didn't react at all.

Back then, if my phone so much as buzzed, he'd be all over me, demanding to know who it was.

Before I made that post on Facebook, I was half-expecting him to suddenly call, his voice cold as ice, telling me, "Stop messing around."

It turned out that I was overthinking it. Maybe that was for the best.

The Facebook post was scheduled to be posted.

After I finished my shower, my phone was already flooded with missed calls. Some were from my dad, and the rest were from folks in the business who knew about Andrew and me these past three years.

As soon as I picked up, they'd say, "Lily, congrats! Finally tying the knot." But right after, they'd start fishing for info. "Does Mr. Lane know about this post?

"Did you move on, or are you trying to get back at him?

"And what about Sophie? What are you planning to do about her?"

Listening to all this so-called concern, I felt drained.

None of them were here to congratulate me. All they wanted to know was how Andrew's caged bird managed to break free after three years.

It had been three years.

At first, I didn't want to go public, afraid it would mess things up when my career was taking off.

But as the rumors kept spreading, I brought it up to him, saying maybe we should go public.

Yet Andrew always said, "Let's wait a bit longer." He meant to wait until he was established, the company was listed, and everything was safe.

I kept waiting. After three years of being hidden away, I was fed up.

My dad called, his voice tight with worry. "Lily, where are you? Stay off the internet, and don't go out."

It wasn't until I checked the trending searches on my phone that I realized the trending topics were exploding.

Andrew and Sophie got caught on camera in Pilano, kissing by the River Serene.

And on the very same day, I announced my engagement to Ethan.

With both stories dropping at once, the comments section was a total circus.

The top comment read: [The Best Actress winner finally dropped the act. There was never a place for her by Mr. Lane's side.]

I stared at that line but didn't feel a thing.

"Lily, are you okay?" My dad's voice came through the phone, urgent and hoarse. "I've already had people working to keep the news under wraps. Don't look at any of it."

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the late-night lights of Kaelmont, and suddenly my eyes stung.

"Dad, you don't have to," I wanted to say, but in the end, I kept it to myself.

The James Family was a business powerhouse in Southport, and they cared more about reputation and dignity than anything else.

Even if I didn't care, the James Family sure did.

I gripped my phone, my voice soft but resolute. "Dad, I want to go back to Southport. Once I've sorted things out here, I'll leave."

A brief silence followed on the other end. Then my dad's voice came through, choked with emotion. "Alright. Come home. I'll bring you home."

I murmured a soft grunt and ended the call.

Staring at the black screen, I whispered, "Andrew, I don't want you anymore."

No matter the memories of our three years or him, I'm leaving it all behind.