Chapter 2
Time started to tick by.
I stood there and didn't move an inch, holding the cake.
The crowd around me was frozen, like someone had hit pause on a movie.
The receptionist's mouth was hanging open, completely stunned.
The cleaning lady's face went pale, and she shrank back quietly.
A few guys in suits, who were about to get into the elevator, stood there, stuck. They didn't know whether to step forward or retreat.
Every single pair of eyes was fixed on me.
Curiosity, fear, and disbelief were written on their faces.
A minute passed.
The lobby was filled with barely suppressed whispers.
"Who is she, daring to talk to Mr. Goodman like that?"
"Is she crazy? Trying to make the Goodman Group change its name? Who does she think she is?"
"Look at what she's wearing. She doesn't look like anybody special"
"This is going to be a real show. Wonder how Mr. Goodman will handle it."
I kept my face blank as I listened.
In my world, only the seconds ticking by on my phone screen existed.
Two minutes passed.
The whispers faded away.
The air felt thick and suffocating again.
Everyone's breathing grew quieter.
All eyes were fixed on the elevator.
They were waiting for the outcome and waiting to see what Ryan would do.
Was he going to send security to drag me, a crazy woman, out, or would he really come down?
I was waiting too.
Those three minutes felt like a century.
In my mind, I replayed every single moment of the eight years I'd spent with Ryan.
We first met in college, then held our simple wedding right after graduation.
He had nothing at first, then he built Goodman Group.
I stuck with him through all the hardships, pulling countless all-nighters by his side.
He promised that once the company went public, he'd give me the grandest wedding in the world.
He said I was his only weakness, but also his strongest armor.
He said he'd love only me for his whole life.
Those words echoed in my ears.
But now, they said he had a pregnant wife.
It felt like there was a bloody hole in the deepest part of my heart, and the cold wind was howling right through it.
The three minutes were up.
The crisp chime shattered the dead silence in the lobby.
It was the exclusive elevator for the CEO arriving on the first floor.
Everyone whipped their heads around, their eyes locking onto the golden metal doors.
The doors glided open, parting slowly to each side.
Ryan was standing inside.
He was wearing the dark gray suit I'd picked out for him that morning, broad-shouldered, sharp and handsome.
But right now, the face I'd stared at for eight years was cold as ice.
His sharp gaze sliced through the crowd and locked right onto me.
There was shock, anger, and something I couldn't begin to figure out in his eyes.
And right beside him, there was a woman, Lydia Lynn.
She was wearing a spotless white maternity dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and her face was pale.
One hand was pressed against her waist, while the other latched onto Ryan's arm tightly.
Her baby bump was obvious even through her dress.
When she saw me, her eyes flickered with panic, then quickly shifted to a pitiful, delicate look.
She snuggled closer to Ryan, like a scared little deer.
Ryan didn't push her away.
My heart hit rock bottom right then.
He actually brought her down here.
He decided to air all this dirty laundry right in front of everyone.
Ryan strode out of the elevator.
Lydia clung to his arm, half-hugged and shielded by him as she followed close behind.
The crowd parted for them.
He walked toward me as his leather shoes struck the marble floor, every click echoing like a blow to my chest.
He finally stopped right in front of me. His tall figure towered over me.
"Evelyn," Ryan said, his voice icy. "What do you want?"