Chapter 3
The next day, Andrew sent me an Instagram DM request. His message said he wanted to explain my car maintenance issue.
I had back-to-back meetings all day and barely had time to breathe. By evening, I rushed to catch a flight to Caston City for my uncle's birthday dinner.
I didn't check my phone until I landed, and that's when I accepted his request.
Andrew immediately sent a voice message. He claimed the guy who serviced my car was a temp worker who stopped showing up and wouldn't answer his phone.
I didn't respond. When I went back to the main screen, I accidentally clicked into his Instagram profile.
His latest post was from half an hour ago. The photo showed Vanessa sitting on our living room couch, holding a bowl of soup.
I could see my expensive auction painting hanging on the wall behind her and the custom rug I'd ordered spread across the floor.
But what made my blood boil was Andrew wearing my favorite pajamas and slippers.
He leaned close to Vanessa with a huge grin on his face, holding up his phone with one hand and throwing up a peace sign with the other.
The caption read: [Finally get to take care of you while you're sick. People can say whatever they want, but the truth always comes out. Made you homemade soup from scratch. Hope you feel better soon.]
I took a screenshot and sent it to Vanessa. I typed out a message and hit send.
[You're at my house, he's wearing my clothes, and he's all over my girlfriend. Is this what you call innocent?]
Vanessa replied within seconds: [Ethan, Andrew spilled soup on his shirt while he was cooking. He's just borrowing your clothes temporarily. He's trying to help, so don't read too much into it.]
I let out a cold laugh and typed back.
[Trying to help? More like trying to move in. He spilled soup on himself so he could play house in my clothes? What's next? He thinks if he acts like he belongs there, he can just take my place?]
Vanessa's voice turned sharp. [Could you be a little less harsh?]
Vanessa: [You're never around, and he came all the way here to take care of me. Can't you be more understanding?]
She kept going. [Ethan, you weren't like this before. Why are you so controlling now? So cold?]
I stared at my phone screen and laughed bitterly.
Controlling? Cold?
When Brooks Holdings' funding fell through, I led my team through a month of nonstop overtime to secure the investment she needed.
When her mom was in the hospital, it was this "cold" person who dropped a multi-million dollar acquisition and spent two weeks at her bedside.
She used to tell me she loved my drive in business, my ability to make hard calls without hesitation.
But now that she had her sweet, gentle angel by her side, suddenly I was too controlling and harsh?
My uncle insisted I stay with him, so I didn't make it back until the third day. I caught the earliest flight home.
The fingerprint lock was still there, but my access had been deleted.
I stood outside the door and rang the doorbell.
Andrew answered.
He was wearing one of Vanessa's oversized shirts, the hem barely covering his thighs. His hair was damp, like he'd just stepped out of the shower.
"Ethan?" he said, looking startled. "What are you doing here? Ms. Brooks is still asleep—"
I cut him off. "I can't come to my own place anymore?"
"Move," I said flatly.