Chapter 3
After the meeting, Edward stopped me in the hallway.
"Charlotte, what's your problem?" He gritted his teeth. "Do you feel accomplished embarrassing me in front of everyone?"
I couldn't be bothered to look at him. I just stared past his shoulder out the window.
"I was just stating the facts. You disappointed me, Edward," I said.
"Disappointed?" Edward snorted, like I'd just told him the greatest joke in the world. "And who are you to say you're disappointed in me? Don't forget, I was the one who dumped you!"
"Is that so?" I smiled softly at him. "Then why are you so worked up over my opinion? Are you regretting it?"
Edward's expression froze, and for a moment he was completely stunned.
I brushed past him without hesitation and headed straight into the elevator.
Just as I was about to walk out of the company, Sophia came running after me.
Her voice was trembling, choked with sobs. "Charlotte, please don't be mad at Edward. He's always putting up a tough front, but deep down, he's soft-hearted. You still mean a lot to him."
I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at her, her delicate face streaked with tears.
"Sophia, do you know what I admire most about you?" I asked. "It's how you act all clueless when you know exactly what's going on."
Her expression shifted, and then she flashed a smug, confident smile.
"Charlotte, Edward can't live without me. You'll never win against me," she said.
From a distance, Edward was storming over, his face thunderous.
This was straight out of a textbook drama.
If we were going by the usual trope, I was supposed to go off and slap her right now.
Then Edward would swoop in all worried, hold Sophia tight, and probably yell at me for being cruel.
But I wasn't about to let her put on that act.
I whipped out my phone, flashed that strange text right in front of her eyes.
"The secret that could destroy Edward for good... It's about you, isn't it?" I pressed.
Sophia's eyes flickered, shrinking with sudden panic.
It was only for a split second, but I caught it clear as day.
She quickly recovered, shaking her head vigorously.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about!" she stammered.
"It's fine." I put my phone away, giving her a sly, meaningful smile. "Sooner or later, I'll know the truth."
Back in my office, I wasted no time and called up my private investigator.
"I need you to dig up everything on Sophia Goodwin. Pay special attention to any connection she has with Edward Sterling," I said.
Two days later, an encrypted file landed in my inbox.
The file revealed that Sophia's whole backstory was a sham.
She wasn't some rich heiress back from abroad. She was actually just an orphan from a small village, and she'd even changed her name.
I'd already figured as much. She never acted like the glamorous international socialite she pretended to be.
As I scrolled down, an old, faded traffic accident report suddenly crashed onto my screen.
I stared at it, eyes wide, practically boring holes through the monitor.
Huh, it all made sense now. All of it made sense!
I always knew Edward was partial to Sophia, always had feelings for her and put her first.
But I never thought he'd actually go to such extremes for her.
My phone started buzzing like crazy—it was Edward calling.
I hung up, but he just kept calling back.
Again and again, relentless, like he was out for my blood.
Finally, I picked up, but stayed silent.
Edward sounded wasted and on edge, his voice barely keeping it together.
"Charlotte, what do you even want from me? Haven't you stirred up enough drama already?" Edward barked.
He continued, "Seriously, are you really blowing things up over something so petty? Don't test me, Charlotte. My patience is running thin!"
As I let his angry shouting wash over me, all I felt inside was a numb, lifeless void.
The voice that once sent shivers down my spine now just sounded twisted and repulsive to me.
Only after a long stretch of silence did I finally let out a low, hollow laugh.
"Edward, I miss you," I whispered.