Chapter 3

The second the car pulled away, Emily dropped all pretense.

She fiddled with her seatbelt, frowning. "Oh no, this thing won't click. Mr. Carter, could you help me?"

Ryan didn't hesitate. He leaned right over to buckle her in.

From the back seat, I saw Emily lean in way too close, her chest pressing against Ryan's arm on purpose.

Ryan didn't pull away. If anything, the corner of his mouth twitched up.

For the rest of the drive, Emily kept chatting with Ryan in that sickeningly sweet voice.

"Mr. Carter, Mr. Carter, what does your company do? It must be pretty impressive," she remarked.

"You drive so well. Way better than any taxi driver I've ever had," she added.

Every few seconds, she'd tap his arm or flick her hair so it landed on his shoulder.

They chatted and laughed like I wasn't even there.

I clenched my shirt, my nails digging into my palm. I wanted to call them out so many times, but seeing how much Ryan enjoyed it, I just swallowed my words.

Then, Emily turned to me with that fake innocent smile.

"Olivia, you went to a bar with that client yesterday, right? He didn't do anything to you, did he?" she asked.

"Abbie told me that guy is a total creep. He never signs a deal unless he gets something extra. You managed to close that one-million-dollar deal. So..." she remarked.

She didn't even have to finish her sentence. Her words stung worse than any insult.

Ryan's face went dark. He slammed the brakes, pulling over to the curb.

He whipped around to glare at me, his eyes blazing with suspicion and anger. "Olivia, is what she said true?"

I was so upset, tears welling up in my eyes.

I blurted out, "Ryan, don't believe her. I only met with the client for business. Nothing shady happened at all. Emily, why are you spreading these lies?"

Emily ducked her head and mumbled, "Olivia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it... I just heard those things and blurted them out. I never meant to upset Mr. Carter."

Then, she suddenly looked up, acting all flustered. "Oh gosh. I messed up again. Luckily, I didn't mention that you got drunk with Mr. Williams last week and checked into a hotel together."

"That's a lie," I shouted, shaking with anger. "I never went to a hotel with Mr. Williams last week."

Emily didn't even look at me. Instead, she grabbed Ryan's arm, putting on her sweetest act.

"Mr. Carter, don't be mad at Olivia. Everyone at work says she'll do anything for a deal, and Mr. Williams is always taking her out for fun. I know Olivia just wants to do a good job. She didn't mean anything by it," she said.

Her words made Ryan's anger flare up.

He glared at me, pure disgust in his eyes. "Olivia, I had no idea you were this shameless. You won't even let me kiss you, but you sleep around behind my back."

"I'm not." I sobbed, trying to defend myself, but he wouldn't even listen.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I shoved the car door open and bolted out.

I looked back. Ryan didn't chase after me. He hit the gas and sped off with Emily.

The night wind hit my face, cold and sharp. That was when it hit me—so-called "love" didn't stand a chance against rumors.

That night, I wandered the streets for hours. My phone never rang.

I kept thinking Ryan would call and apologize, but when I finally dragged myself home past midnight, all I got was a single text from him.

My hands were shaking as I tapped it open. The words cut deeper than I expected.

It read: [Olivia, we're over. A slut like you doesn't deserve to be with me. Em is kinder, smarter, and way more decent than you. Don't contact me again, or I'll make you regret it.]

'Em?' I thought, stunned.

He was already calling her by that nickname.

I stared at the screen until the tears blurred everything.

The next morning, I showed up at work with swollen, red eyes.

Emily strutted over in a brand-new dress and heels, her face glowing with smugness.

She leaned in, her voice just loud enough for everyone nearby to catch every word.

"Olivia, I'm so sorry. Ryan came home with me last night and never left. He said I make him feel at ease and that I get him better than you. Oh, and Ryan looks adorable in his sleep. His eyelashes are so long," Emily said.

Whispers rippled through the office. Some people snickered. Others gave me looks that mixed pity with contempt.

Emily wasn't finished. She pulled out her phone and shoved it in my face, showing off a selfie of her snuggled up with Ryan.

"Look, we took this this morning. Ryan said he's posting it on Instagram," she bragged, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

In the picture, he had his arm around her shoulder, beaming. My chest ached.

I shot up, ready to knock the phone out of her hand. But she was quick. She stepped back, pretending to be scared.

"Olivia, don't be mad. You can't force love," she said, acting like she was the victim.

Her performance was flawless. Now, to everyone else, I was just the crazy ex who couldn't let go.

Emily kept bragging, but I had already calmed down.

I pulled out my phone and called my uncle.

He ran an investment firm. Ryan's startup was still afloat only because of my uncle's funding.

"Uncle, pull the plug on Ryan's company and cut off all our deals with him," I said, my voice steady, not a hint of hesitation.

My uncle paused for a second, then understood. "Did that jerk mess with you? Don't worry. I'll handle it right away."

After hanging up, I called my dad's assistant and told him to schedule an executive meeting for the afternoon.

Yeah, my dad was the CEO of Sterling Enterprises, and I was his only daughter, the future heiress.

I started working entry-level because my dad wanted me to get some experience and see if Ryan was worth keeping.

If Ryan could treat me well when he thought I was from an ordinary family, my dad would've given us his blessing and backed his company.

But now, none of that mattered anymore.